A dark blue field with the state seal centred. A rising sun, cabin, river, and buffalo hunt set the scene, while above sits a sunflower, the state flower. “Kansas” is spelled beneath in gold, leaving no doubt.
Blue field with state seal above sunflower and word ‘Kansas’ below.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag Statute
The official state flag shall be a rectangle of dark-blue silk or bunting, 3 feet on the staff by 5 feet fly. The great seal of the state of Kansas, without its surrounding band of lettering, shall be located in the center of the flag. The seal shall be 17 inches in diameter. Above the seal shall be a sunflower on a bar of twisted gold and blue. The sunflower shall be 6 inches in diameter, and the bar shall be 9 inches in length. The top of the sunflower shall be located 2 inches beneath the top side of the flag. The letters KANSAS shall be imprinted in gold block letters below the seal, be 5 inches in height, and be imprinted with a stroke 1 inch wide. The first letter K shall commence with the same distance from the staff side of the flag as the end of the last letter S is from the fly side of the flag. The bottom edge of the letters shall be 2 inches above the base side of the flag.
Source: 2024 Kansas Statute Code, § 73-702 (2024)
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Legislative adoption
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- Buffalo
- Design type
- State seal on blue field
- Complexity
- 9/10
- Readability
- 3/10
- Seal-based design
- Yes
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
State Seal
Depicts agriculture, pioneers, and a rising sun.
Sunflower
Official state flower and nickname.
Motto
‘Ad Astra per Aspera’ means ‘To the stars through difficulties.’
Design Breakdown
The Kansas flag can be described in a simple build order. This is useful for students learning how flags are constructed.
- Start with the base field described in the construction.
- Add the main shapes first (large stripe, field divisions, or background forms).
- Place the primary symbol(s) in their main position(s) (centre, canton, etc.).
- Finish with details like text, small emblems, and final color fills.
Construction note: Blue field with state seal above sunflower and word ‘Kansas’ below.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Features one of the most famous Latin mottos among state flags
- Strongly represents frontier life through imagery
- One of many seal-on-blue-field designs
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Rich narrative symbolism
- Clear historical storytelling
- Strong representation of frontier history
Common criticism
- Highly detailed seal
- Includes text and Latin motto
- Poor visibility at distance
- Difficult to reproduce accurately
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove the state seal
- Eliminate text and motto
- Create a sunflower-based design
- Adopt a more distinctive non-blue-field flag
Notable proposals
- Sunflower flag redesign concepts
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Kansas state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Interpret Kansas’s motto.
- Identify agricultural symbols on the seal.
Print this
Printable classroom handouts for this flag page.
Cite this page
Copy and paste a ready-made citation.
MLA
APA
Note: Citation formats can vary by school. These are common classroom defaults.
Seal Deep Dive
State Seal
The Kansas state seal centered on a dark blue field.
Attributes: Rising sun, River and steamboat, Cabin and plowman, Native American on horseback, Buffalo, Thirty-four stars
Meaning: Westward expansion, agriculture, commerce, Native heritage, and Kansas as the 34th state
Motto
The Latin motto 'Ad Astra per Aspera' displayed above the seal.
Attributes: Latin text
Meaning: To the stars through difficulties, reflecting hardship and perseverance
State Name
The word 'KANSAS' displayed beneath the seal.
Attributes: Gold capital letters
Meaning: Clear labeling of the state
Historical Timeline
Kansas admitted as 34th state.
Official flag design adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: State seal on blue field
Complexity: 9/10
Readability: 3/10
Fascinating Facts
Sunflower is central to Kansas’s identity.
State motto highlights perseverance.
The sunflower appears above the state seal.
The state seal is the main feature on the blue field.
The motto 'Ad Astra per Aspera' means 'To the Stars Through Difficulties.'
Thirty-four stars on the seal represent Kansas as the 34th state.
The rising sun symbolizes a hopeful future.
The word 'Kansas' was added below the seal in 1975.
State Information
- Population
- 2,937,880
- Area
- 82,278
- Founded
- 29 Jan 1861
- Region
- Midwest
