Standard Cable Color-Coding Reference: Understanding the 25-Pair Color Code

The 25-pair color code is a fundamental standard in telecommunications, ensuring proper identification and organization of telephone cables containing up to 26 pairs. For cables containing more than 26 pairs, additional color-coding systems such as Binder Color Code and Super Unit Binder Color are used to manage larger bundles.

Insulation Band-Marked Color Code

The 25-pair color code uses two sets of five colors each, with the Tip (T) color selected from the primary group and the Ring (R) color from the secondary group. The following table outlines the color combinations for pairs 1 through 26.

Insulation Band-Marked Color Code Table

Pair Number	Wire	Tip (T)	Ring (R)
1	Tip	White – Blue
	Ring		Blue – White
2	Tip	White – Orange
	Ring		Orange – White
3	Tip	White – Green
	Ring		Green – White
4	Tip	White – Brown
	Ring		Brown – White
5	Tip	White – Slate
	Ring		Slate – White
6	Tip	Red – Blue
	Ring		Blue – Red
7	Tip	Red – Orange
	Ring		Orange – Red
8	Tip	Red – Green
	Ring		Green – Red
9	Tip	Red – Brown
	Ring		Brown – Red
10	Tip	Red – Slate
	Ring		Slate – Red
11	Tip	Black – Blue
	Ring		Blue – Black
12	Tip	Black – Orange
	Ring		Orange – Black
13	Tip	Black – Green
	Ring		Green – Black
14	Tip	Black – Brown
	Ring		Brown – Black
15	Tip	Black – Slate
	Ring		Slate – Black
16	Tip	Yellow – Blue
	Ring		Blue – Yellow
17	Tip	Yellow – Orange
	Ring		Orange – Yellow
18	Tip	Yellow – Green
	Ring		Green – Yellow
19	Tip	Yellow – Brown
	Ring		Brown – Yellow
20	Tip	Yellow – Slate
	Ring		Slate – Yellow
21	Tip	Violet – Blue
	Ring		Blue – Violet
22	Tip	Violet – Orange
	Ring		Orange – Violet
23	Tip	Violet – Green
	Ring		Green – Violet
24	Tip	Violet – Brown
	Ring		Brown – Violet
25	Tip	Violet – Slate
	Ring		Slate – Violet
26	Tip	Red – White
	Ring		White – Red

Important Note

Some cable vendors may use a single color for the Tip wire, marking the Ring wire with two colors. For example, for Pair 1, there could be a solid white Tip wire and a White/Blue Ring wire twisted together. This variation requires different handling to avoid confusion.

Insulation Solid Color Code

Certain types of telephone wiring use solid color insulation rather than banded colors. This type of wiring is common in jumper wire, distribution frame wire, and station wire. The table below details the solid color code for sheathed station cables containing up to 8 conductors.

Insulation Solid Color Code Table

Pair Number	Wire	Tip (T)	Ring (R)
1	Tip	Green
	Ring		Red
2	Tip	Black
	Ring		Yellow
3	Tip	Blue
	Ring		Orange
4	Tip	Brown
	Ring		White

For cables containing more than 8 conductors using solid colors, pairs must be twisted together, and the band-marked color code is used.

Binder Color Code

For cables with more than 25 pairs, the standard color sequence is repeated, and each group of 25 pairs is wrapped in a Binder colored according to the table below. The White binder is optional for cables with 100 pairs or less.

Binder Color Code Table

Group Number	Pair Count Range	Binder Color (Tip – Ring)
1	1 – 25	White – Blue
2	26 – 50	White – Orange
3	51 – 75	White – Green
4	76 – 100	White – Brown
5	101 – 125	White – Slate
6	126 – 150	Red – Blue
7	151 – 175	Red – Orange
8	176 – 200	Red – Green
9	201 – 225	Red – Brown
10	226 – 250	Red – Slate
11	251 – 275	Black – Blue
12	276 – 300	Black – Orange
13	301 – 325	Black – Green
14	326 – 350	Black – Brown
15	351 – 375	Black – Slate
16	376 – 400	Yellow – Blue
17	401 – 425	Yellow – Orange
18	426 – 450	Yellow – Green
19	451 – 475	Yellow – Brown
20	476 – 500	Yellow – Slate
21	501 – 525	Violet – Blue
22	526 – 550	Violet – Orange
23	551 – 575	Violet – Green
24	576 – 600	Violet – Brown

Super-Units Binder Identification Colors

For cables with 900 pairs or more, four 25-pair groups are combined into “super units.” The table below shows the binder identification colors for super units in cables with 1,200 pairs or more.

Super-Units Binder Color Code Table

Pair Number Range	Group Number	Binder Color
1 – 600	1 – 24	White
601 – 1,200	25 – 48	Red
1,201 – 1,800	49 – 72	Black
1,801 – 2,400	73 – 96	Yellow
**2,401 –