Electrical Tape Colors and Color Coding

Electrical Tape Color Coding, made easy

Conductors of a three-phase system are usually identified by a color code, to allow for balanced loading and to assure the correct phase rotation for induction motors. Colors used may adhere to International Standard IEC 60446, older standards, or to no standard at all, and may vary even within a single installation. For example, in the U.S. and Canada, different color codes are used for grounded (earthed) and ungrounded systems. Please check with your local code enforcement authority. (Here is where we drop our shameless plug: Merco M809 Colored Electrical Tape comes in 9 colors to meet most all coding requirements.)
Country	L1	L2	L3	Neutral	Ground
US - common	Black	Red	Blue	White	Green
US - common	Black	Red	Blue	or Gray	Green
US - alternate	Brown	Orange	Yellow	White	Green
US - alternate	Brown	or Violet	Yellow	or Gray	Green
Canada - mandatory	Red	Black	Blue	White	Green
Canada - isolated 3 phase installations	Orange	Brown	Yellow	White	Green
The EU and all countries who use European CENELEC standards April 2004 (IEC 60446), Hong Kong from July 2007	Brown	Black	Grey	Blue	Green
Older European - varies by country	Black	Black	Black	Blue	Green
Older European - varies by country	or Brown	or Brown	or Brown	Blue	Green
UK until April 2006, Hong Kong until April 2009, South Africa, Malaysia	Red	Yellow	Blue	Black	Green
India, Pakistan	Red	Yellow	Blue	Black	Green
Australia and New Zealand (per AS/NZS 3000:2007 this link is a pdf download)	Red	White (prev. Yellow)	Dark Blue	Black	Green
People's Republic of China and the Former USSR (Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan) (per GB 50303-2002 Section 15.2.2)	Yellow	Green	Red	Blue	Green
Malaysia	Red	Yellow	Blue	Black	Green