Fiber Optic Color Code Chart (TIA-598 Fiber and Jacket Colors)
This chart gives the standard 12-color fiber sequence, the usual treatment of fibers 13 to 24, and the jacket colors you see on OM1 to OM5 and OS2 cable. Use it at the splice tray, the break-out kit or the patch panel to identify a strand without guessing.
| Item | Color / value | Note |
|---|---|---|
Fiber 1 | Blue | First fiber in the 12-color sequence |
Fiber 2 | Orange | |
Fiber 3 | Green | |
Fiber 4 | Brown | |
Fiber 5 | Slate (gray) | |
Fiber 6 | White | |
Fiber 7 | Red | |
Fiber 8 | Black | |
Fiber 9 | Yellow | |
Fiber 10 | Violet | |
Fiber 11 | Rose (pink) | |
Fiber 12 | Aqua | Last fiber of the first 12 |
Fiber 13 | Blue with tracer | Colors repeat with a stripe or ring tracer in many cables; check the cable datasheet |
Fiber 14 | Orange with tracer | |
Fiber 15 | Green with tracer | |
Fiber 16 | Brown with tracer | |
Fiber 17 | Slate with tracer | |
Fiber 18 | White with tracer | |
Fiber 19 | Red with tracer | |
Fiber 20 | Black with tracer | Tracer is often yellow on a black fiber |
Fiber 21 | Yellow with tracer | Tracer is often black on a yellow fiber |
Fiber 22 | Violet with tracer | |
Fiber 23 | Rose with tracer | |
Fiber 24 | Aqua with tracer | |
Buffer tube order | Same 12-color sequence | In loose tube cable the tubes use the same order; the first tube is blue |
Jacket: OM1 (62.5/125) | Orange | Multimode, legacy |
Jacket: OM2 (50/125) | Orange | Multimode, legacy |
Jacket: OM3 | Aqua | Laser-optimized 50/125 |
Jacket: OM4 | Aqua (some vendors use heather violet) | Confirm with the cable datasheet |
Jacket: OM5 | Lime green | Wideband multimode |
Jacket: OS1 / OS2 | Yellow | Singlemode |
Connector boot: UPC | Blue | Common convention for singlemode UPC |
Connector boot: APC | Green | Common convention for angled polish; never mate APC to UPC |
Fiber and tube colors follow the sequence in TIA-598 (and the matching IEC convention). Jacket and boot colors are common practice and some vendors differ, so confirm against the cable datasheet.
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How to use the chart
Search for a fiber number or a color to find its position. Count fibers in each buffer tube from the first fiber (blue) and work through the sequence. For cables above 12 fibers, check whether the cable groups fibers in colored buffer tubes or uses tracers on fibers 13 to 24, because the two construction styles look different in the tray.
- Identify the tube first, then the fiber inside the tube.
- Keep the same fiber order at both ends of the link.
- Record the mapping on the splice record or patch panel map.
The standard behind the colors
TIA-598 defines the identification sequence blue, orange, green, brown, slate, white, red, black, yellow, violet, rose, aqua for fibers and for loose tubes. Jacket colors identify fiber type at a glance: orange for older multimode, aqua for OM3 and OM4, lime green for OM5 and yellow for singlemode. Connector boot colors such as blue for UPC and green for APC are a convention that helps prevent angled and flat polish from being mated.
Common mistakes
Mixing up black and slate, or rose and red, is common under poor light, so use a clean white background. Do not assume a yellow tracer or a black tracer: both exist. Never trust jacket color alone to decide the fiber type before connecting a transceiver. Verify the fiber type from the print markings or the datasheet, since some cable vendors use non-standard jacket colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the order of fiber optic colors?
The standard sequence is blue, orange, green, brown, slate, white, red, black, yellow, violet, rose, aqua. It repeats for each group of 12 fibers, either in colored buffer tubes or with tracer marks on the second set.
What color is OM4 fiber cable?
OM4 is usually aqua, the same as OM3, although some vendors use heather violet to separate it from OM3. Always check the printed legend on the jacket or the datasheet before assuming the grade.
What color is singlemode fiber cable?
Singlemode OS1 and OS2 cable is conventionally yellow. Patch cords for singlemode are also yellow, usually with blue boots for UPC connectors or green boots for APC connectors.
How are fibers 13 to 24 identified?
Practice varies. Some cables repeat the 12 colors with a stripe or ring tracer on fibers 13 to 24, and others group 12 fibers per colored buffer tube. Follow the cable manufacturer's datasheet for the exact scheme.
Netray can tie fiber and cable assembly records into your ERP routing and traveler so the color map and test data stay with the work order.
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