Multi-pair telephone cable colour code
Multi-pair telephone and communications cables use a standardised 25-pair colour code to identify every conductor in a bundle. The system is built on two groups of five colours, combined to produce 25 unique pair identifications. For cables larger than 25 pairs, the 25-pair groups are wrapped together with coloured binder threads or ribbons, allowing technicians to identify any pair in cables of up to 600 pairs and beyond.
This guide covers the full colour code for cables from 1 pair up to 100 pairs, including binder sequences. For a focused explanation of how the 25-pair tip and ring system works, see our 25-pair colour code guide. For pinouts and pair assignments on common plugs and sockets, see our Internal cable pair assignment guide.
How the system works
The 25-pair colour code uses two groups of five colours:
- Major colours (tip): White, Red, Black, Yellow, Violet
- Minor colours (ring): Blue, Orange, Green, Brown, Slate
Each pair is identified by a combination of one major colour and one minor colour. The tip conductor shows the major colour with a minor colour band, and the ring conductor shows the minor colour with a major colour band. Pair 1 is White/Blue, pair 25 is Violet/Slate.
25-pair colour code (pairs 1 to 25)
| Pair | Tip (major + minor band) | Ring (minor + major band) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White/Blue | Blue/White |
| 2 | White/Orange | Orange/White |
| 3 | White/Green | Green/White |
| 4 | White/Brown | Brown/White |
| 5 | White/Slate | Slate/White |
| 6 | Red/Blue | Blue/Red |
| 7 | Red/Orange | Orange/Red |
| 8 | Red/Green | Green/Red |
| 9 | Red/Brown | Brown/Red |
| 10 | Red/Slate | Slate/Red |
| 11 | Black/Blue | Blue/Black |
| 12 | Black/Orange | Orange/Black |
| 13 | Black/Green | Green/Black |
| 14 | Black/Brown | Brown/Black |
| 15 | Black/Slate | Slate/Black |
| 16 | Yellow/Blue | Blue/Yellow |
| 17 | Yellow/Orange | Orange/Yellow |
| 18 | Yellow/Green | Green/Yellow |
| 19 | Yellow/Brown | Brown/Yellow |
| 20 | Yellow/Slate | Slate/Yellow |
| 21 | Violet/Blue | Blue/Violet |
| 22 | Violet/Orange | Orange/Violet |
| 23 | Violet/Green | Green/Violet |
| 24 | Violet/Brown | Brown/Violet |
| 25 | Violet/Slate | Slate/Violet |
Cables larger than 25 pairs: binder groups
For cables with more than 25 pairs, the conductors are grouped into 25-pair sub-units. Each sub-unit is wrapped with a coloured binder thread or ribbon. Binder colours follow the same major/minor sequence as the pair identification: the first binder is White/Blue, the second White/Orange, and so on. This system identifies up to 600 pairs (24 binder groups of 25 pairs).
Binder colour sequence (50 to 100 pair cables)
| Binder group | Binder colour | Pairs covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White/Blue | 1 to 25 |
| 2 | White/Orange | 26 to 50 |
| 3 | White/Green | 51 to 75 |
| 4 | White/Brown | 76 to 100 |
Within each binder group, the 25 pairs are identified by their own major/minor colour code as shown in the 25-pair table above. So pair 26 (the first pair in binder group 2) uses the same White/Blue conductor colours as pair 1, but is identified by the White/Orange binder around its 25-pair sub-unit.
Binder sequence for cables larger than 100 pairs
The binder colour sequence continues using the same major/minor logic. The next binder colours after White/Brown are White/Slate, Red/Blue, Red/Orange, Red/Green and so on, following the full 25-combination sequence. This allows the system to scale to 600 pairs (24 binder groups). For cables larger than 600 pairs, super-unit binders wrap multiple 600-pair bundles with solid major colours (white, red, black, yellow, then violet).
Cables smaller than 25 pairs
For cables with fewer than 25 pairs, the same major/minor scheme applies, simply truncated. A 10-pair cable uses pairs 1 to 10 (White and Red major colours combined with the five minor colours). A 5-pair cable uses pairs 1 to 5 (White major colour only). Binders are typically not used in cables of 25 pairs or fewer.
Quick reference: which colour combinations for which cable size?
| Cable size | Major colours used | Binder used? |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 5 pair | White only | No |
| 6 to 10 pair | White, Red | No |
| 11 to 15 pair | White, Red, Black | No |
| 16 to 20 pair | White, Red, Black, Yellow | No |
| 21 to 25 pair | White, Red, Black, Yellow, Violet | Optional |
| 26 to 600 pair | All five, repeated per 25-pair sub-unit | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
What are the major and minor colours in the 25-pair colour code?
The five major (tip) colours are White, Red, Black, Yellow and Violet. The five minor (ring) colours are Blue, Orange, Green, Brown and Slate. Combining one major with one minor gives 25 unique pair identifications, from White/Blue (pair 1) to Violet/Slate (pair 25).
What is the colour code for a 100 pair telephone cable?
A 100 pair cable contains four 25-pair sub-units, each wrapped with a different coloured binder. Within each sub-unit the pairs follow the standard 25-pair colour code. The four binders are White/Blue (pairs 1 to 25), White/Orange (pairs 26 to 50), White/Green (pairs 51 to 75) and White/Brown (pairs 76 to 100).
What is a binder in a telephone cable?
A binder is a coloured thread or ribbon wrapped around a 25-pair sub-unit inside a larger multi-pair cable. The binder colour follows the same major/minor scheme as the pair colours and identifies which group of 25 pairs you are looking at. This allows technicians to locate any individual pair in cables of up to 600 pairs.
What is the difference between tip and ring?
Tip and ring are the two conductors that make up a single telephone or communications pair. The tip wire carries the major colour with a minor colour band. The ring wire carries the minor colour with a major colour band. The terms come from the original telephone switchboard plugs, where one connection was made at the tip of the plug and the other at the ring around it.
Are the colour code conductors the same for all cable sizes?
Yes. The same 25-pair colour scheme is used in cables of all sizes, from 2-pair up to 600-pair. Smaller cables simply use a shorter section of the sequence, while larger cables repeat the full 25-pair scheme within each binder group.
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