Every Carhartt tag is a sentence, if you know the grammar. The style code tells you what a piece is, the color code tells you what shade it left the factory, and the format of the code itself tells you roughly when it was made. Here's the full grammar lesson, era by era.
ERA 1 — THE 1990s AND EARLIER: ONE CODE PER STYLE AND COLOR
In the beginning, every style-and-color combination had its own unique code. The letters described features — "J" for jacket, "C" for coat, "B" for blanket-lined, "Q" for quilt-lined, and the less obvious "R" for thermal. The numbers carried the color.
Old styles carried the color number up front: the "6" in 6BLJ is Carhartt Brown (so: Carhartt Brown, Blanket-lined, Jacket). Styles introduced in the '90s put the color at the end: JQ2005 and JQ2007 are the same quilted Santa Fe Jacket, but "5" means Black and "7" means Natural. Even sizing lived in the code — CQ186 and CQ196 are the same coat, but the middle digit marks Regular vs Tall.
Catalog pages from the numbered-code era — the 6BLJ and JB242 in the wild. (Photo: u/anthonydelillo, r/Carhartt)
ERA 2 — 1997: THE GREAT SIMPLIFICATION
In 1997 Carhartt collapsed the whole system: one short style code per garment, with a three-letter color suffix. The 6BLJ (and its Tall sibling 6BLJT) became simply J01 BRN. The black JB105 became J01 BLK. The Hunter Green sandstone chore coat went from CB1043 to C02 HTG.
The collector's favorite detail: tags from 1997–1998 often show BOTH codes — the new one and the old one it replaced. Spot a double-coded tag and you've dated the piece to a two-year window instantly. (Photo: u/anthonydelillo, r/Carhartt)
The three-letter era on one of our own pieces: B136 MOS, 38×34 — style B136, color Moss. This is the format you'll see on most vintage worth hunting.
ERA 3 — 2012: NUMBERS TAKE OVER
From 2012, new styles got six-digit style numbers and colors started shifting to three-digit codes: Carhartt Brown became 211 alongside BRN, Navy picked up I26. The current Detroit Jacket — the 103828 — wears this format. A 2019 refresh added yet more new color names and codes.
THE CHEAT SHEET
Number fused into the style code (6BLJ, JQ2005) = pre-1997. Three-letter color after a short style code (J01 BRN, B136 MOS) = 1997 through the early 2010s. Both codes on one tag = 1997–98 transition. Six digits + numeric colors (103828, 211) = 2012 onward. Cross-check against the care-tag date code — our guide How to Date Vintage Carhartt by Its Tag shows you where — and you can place nearly any piece.
Credit: this is a condensed take on the r/Carhartt community's monumental color-code archive by u/anthonydelillo, which lists hundreds of codes with photo examples: reddit.com/r/Carhartt/comments/szhe0p.
THE COMPLETE CODE LISTS
Every code from the r/Carhartt archive — most link to a photo of the color on a real garment (source thread: reddit.com/r/Carhartt/comments/szhe0p).
THE 1997+ THREE-LETTER COLOR CODES
ABL - Authentic Blue ALD - Almond ALE - Aloe ANW - Antique White APH - Asphalt AQU - Aqua ARG - Army Green ASH - Ash ASP - Aspen AVO - Avocado BAS - Basil BBH - Blueberry Heather BBR - Bison Brown BBT - Brown Boot BBY - Blueberry BDK - Blue Dusk BGB - Bright Blue BGP - Bright Purple BGR - Bright Red BHR - Bright Raspberry BIR - Birch BKC - Black Chambray BKH - Black Heather BLB - Blue Black BLC - Blue Collar BLG - Blue Green BLK - Black/Double Black BLL - Bluebell BLM - Bright Lime BLS - Bluestone BLU - Blue Sandstone BLZ - Blaze Orange BOG - Bright Orange BOR - Bordeaux BPK - Bright Periwinkle BRD - Barn Red BRE - Bright Rose BRG - Burgundy BRH - Brown Heather BRK - Brick BRK - Bark BRN - Carhartt Brown BRS - Brass BRY - Berry BRZ - Bronze BTB - Bright Blueberry BTO - Burnt Orange BTP - Bright Pink BTR - Butter BTY - Brilliant Yellow BUC - Buckskin BYM - Bay Mist CAP - Camo-AP CAY - Cayenne CBB - Carbon Black CBL - Blue Chambray CBM - Cherry Blossom CBR - Canyon Brown CBT - Cobalt CFB - Cornflower Blue CHC - Charcoal Camo CHH - Charcoal Heather CHI - Chili CHL - Chocolate CHR - Charcoal CHT - Chestnut CLH - Coal Heather CLR - Clear CLY - Clay CML - Camel CMO - Camouflage CMT - Cement CNB - China Blue COA - Coal COB - Cobalt COF - Coffee COP - Copper COR - Cork CRH - Carbon Heather CRI - Crimson CTS - Cactus CUB - Country Blue CYP - Cypress Green DAS - Dark Shadow DBD - Dark Barn Red DBL - Dark Blue DBY - Dusty Blueberry DCB - Dark Cobalt Blue DCW - Dark Classic Wash DEC - Desert Camo DEG - Deep Grape DEP - Deep Purple DES - Desert DFE - Dark Coffee DGR - Dark Green DGY - Dusk Gray DKB - Dark Brown DKG - Dark Gray DKH - Dark Khaki DKI - Dark Indigo DKR - Dark Red DKT - Dark Tan DKV - Dark Vintage DKW - Dark Worn In DMB - Denim Blue DMS - Dark Moss DNM - Blue Denim DNY - Dark Navy DOL - Dark Olive DPB - Deep Blue DPH - Deep Purple Heather DPM - Dusty Plum DPS - Deepstone DRB - Drab DST - Darkstone DTC - Dark Blue Chambray DTL - Dark Teal DUR - Dusty Rose DVB - Dark Vintage Blue DWD - Driftwood DWN - Deep Wine DYN - Dusty Navy DYO - Dusty Orange DYP - Deep Purple DYW - Dusty Yellow ECU - Ecru ELB - Electric Blue ELM - Elm ELY - Electric Yellow EVG - Evergreen FAT - Fatigue FBI - Faded Blue Indigo FDK - Field Khaki FGN - Fern Green FHB - French Blue FIO - Faded Indigo FLM – Flame FOC - Forest Green Chambray FPL - Faded Petal FRB - Frontier Brown FST - Frost FTG - Forest Green FWD - Firewood GBH - Glass Blue Heather GKH - Golden Khaki GLD - Gold GPE - Grape GRL - Greenland GRN - Green GRY - Gray GSD - Grapeseed GTA - Green Tea GVL - Gravel GYL - Golden Yellow HBK - Heather Black HBL - Heather Blue HDK - Heritage Dark HGY - Heather Gray HNY - Honey HTG - Hunter Green ICB - Indigo/Carhartt Brown IDC - Indigo Chambray IDP - Indigo Prewash IDR - Indigo Rinse IFB - Infantry Blue IND - Indigo INR - Independence Red INT - INdigo/Natural JAB - Java Brown KBN - Khaki/Brown KCM - Khaki/Camo KHI - Khaki KLG - Kelly Green KMS - Khaki/Moss LAH - Lava Heather LBR - Light Brown LCW - Light Classic Wash LDN - Loden LEA - Leaf LGB - Light Worn In Blue LGY - Light Gray LIL - Lilac LKB - Lake Blue LLM - Light Lime LME - Lime LMS - Limestone LOC - Light Olive Camo LOV - Light Olive LPW - Light Periwinkle LSE - Light Sienna LTA - Light Aqua LTC - Light Blue Chambray LTK - Light Khaki LVB - Light Vintage Blue LVN - Light Vintage LWB - Light Weathered Blue MAZ - Maize MBL - Medium Blue MCH - Mocha MDO - Midnight Indigo MDS - Midstone MDT - Midnight MDW - Medium Worn-In MHC - Mahogany Chambray MHR - Mulberry Heather MHY - Mahogany MKG - Musk Green MLL - Mallard MLS - Multi-stripe MNB - Mineral Blue MNG - Mineral Green MNT - Midnight Teal MOR - Medium Orange MOS - Moss MRH - Marsh MRN - Marine MRS - Morning Rose MSC - Moss Chambray MTG - Metal Gray MTL - Metal MUS - Mushroom NAT - Natural NHT - Night NTC - Natural Chambray NVH - Navy Heather NVY - Navy OLH - Oatmeal Heather OLV - Olive ONX - Onyx ORG - Orange OBM - Orange Blossom OTM - Oatmeal PBL - Patriot Blue PCB - Pacific Blue PGN - Pine Green PLM - Plum PKR - Pink Rose PNE - Pine PNK - Pink PNY - Peony PRL - Purple PRT - Port PRW - Prewash PTA - Petunia PTB - Petrol Blue PTL - Petrol PTN - Prairie Tan PTP - Petal Pink PUR - Pure PUT - Putty PWK - Periwinkle RBH - Raspberry Heather RBY - Raspberry RED - Red RDM - Rigid Denim RDO - Red Orange RDW - Redwood RSB - Rosebud RST - Rust RYL - Royal SAG - Sage SBH - Shale Brown Heather SBN - Shale Brown SBT - Sherbet SBY - Strawberry SCA - Scarlet SCU - Scout Blue SDL - Saddle SIE - Sienna SKB - Sky Blue SLB - Slate Blue SLM - Salmon SND - Sand SPC - Spruce SPN - Spinach SRB - Sapphire Blue SRW - Straw STB - Steel Blue STL - Steel STM - Storm STN - Stone STW - Stonewash TAN - Tan TAP - Taupe TCT - Terracotta TEC - Terracotta TGN - Tangerine TLB - Teal Blue TMB - Timber TNS - Tanstone TRB - True Blue TUQ - Turquoise ULT - Ultramarine VEM - Vintage Elm VIO - Vintage Indigo VNT - Vintage Night VOL - Vintage Olive VPG - Vapor Gray VRS - Vintage Rose WAL - Walnut WET - Wheat WHC - White Chambray WHT - White WIL - Willow WIN - Wine WNB - Worn Brown WRB - Worn In Blue WRN - Worn WRS - Wild Rose WTB - Weathered Blue WTM - Watermelon WWH - Winter White YLW - Yellow
2012 - SIX-DIGIT STYLE NUMBERS & THREE-DIGIT COLOR CODES
In 2012, Carhartt changed their style code format again. Instead of letters followed by numbers, new style codes consisted of six numbers, such as "101074" or "103828", followed by a dash and the color code. New color codes were also introduced that consisted of three numbers instead of three letters, such as "001" for "Black". Pre-existing letter color codes such as "BRN" or "BLK" are still used for some styles. Here are some examples of the new style and color code format: Example 1: Relaxed Fit Force Tappen Cargo Pant 101148-257 - "101148" is the style, "257" is the color "Yukon" Example 2: Blanket-Lined Duck Detroit Jacket 103828-BRN - "103828" is the style, "BLK" is the color "Black" List of colors: 001 - Black 004 - Carbon Black 005 - Black Multi 010 - Charcoal/Shadow 011 - Coal 013 - Black Heather 014 - Brown/Dark Brown 016 - Gravel/Black 019 - Black/White 020 - Granite Heather 021 - Charcoal Heather 022 - Charcoal 024 - Carbon Heather/Black 025 - Dark Gray 026 - Carbon Heather 027 - Concrete 029 - Shadow 032 - Taupe Gray 033 - Gray 034 - Heather Gray 039 - Gravel / Stucco 051 - Light Gray 058 - Asphalt Heather 062 - Black/Dark Khaki Digi Camo 066 - Asphalt 070 - Slate Heather 071 - Rugged Gray Camo 073 - Gravel Duck Camo 074 - Coal Heather 075 - Steel 077 - Graystone 081 - Gravel/Shadow 093 - Heather Gray/Coal Heather 096 - Asphalt Heather/Emberglow Lining 099 - Shadow Space Dye 100 - White 103 - Natural 107 - Antique White 110 - Marshmallow Space Dye 111 - Winter White 201 - Dark Brown 202 - Dark Coffee Heather 204 - Beech Tree 205 - Coffee 207 - Mahogany 209 - Dark Canyon Brown 211 - Carhartt Brown 217 - Tarmac 219 - Barrel Heather 220 - Sequoia 222 - Carhartt Brown/Dark Crimson Plaid Lining 223 - Rust 224 - Dark Cedar 227 - Burnt Sienna 232 - Tan 233 - Peppercorn 235 - Light Brown 237 - Dark Tan 239 - Light Brown/Black Lining 245 - Mid-Brown/Navy 246 - Mid Brown 247 - Sandstone 248 - Brown Heather 250 - Khaki 251 - Desert 253 - Dark Khaki 254 - Desert/Driftwood 255 - Dark Khaki Duck Camo 256 - Dark Tan Chambray 257 - Yukon 260 - Driftwood 261 - Sand 264 - Golden Khaki 266 - Cottonwood 267 - Driftwood/Realtree Max-5® 274 - Stone 278 - Oatmeal Heather 285 - Field Khaki 288 - Ecru 291 - Beige Heather 292 - Champagne Beige 293 - Canyon Heather 294 - Rugged Khaki Camo 296 - Wheat 300 - Green 301 - Army Green 305 - Elm 306 - Peat307 - Olive 309 - Duffel Bag Green 310 - Bronze Green 313 - Spruce Green Heather (2013) / Botanical Green 314 - Mossy Oak® Break-up Infinity® 315 - Burnt Olive Heather 316 - Moss 323 - Brite Lime 325 - Lime 327 - Sour Apple 331 - Seaglass 333 - Herb 334 - Sea Glass Heather 341 - Green Heather 344 - Army Green Heather 345 - Juniper 348 - Bronze Green/Olive 349 - Cedar Green 351 - Foliage 354 - Elm Heather 355 - Moss/Black Lining 358 - Dark Green 360 - Spruce Green 365 - Canopy Green 369 - Forest Green 375 - Grape Leaf Heather 378 - Elm Green 379 - Burnt Olive Camo 383 - Woodland 384 - Basil (2013); Dark Green/Driftwood 387 - Moss Heather 388 - Everglade Heather 391 - Burnt Olive 393 - Hunter Green Heather 394 - Tea Leaf 396 - Fir Green / Military Olive 397 - Military Olive Heather 398 - Forest Night 399 - Grape Leaf 400 - Dark Indigo 401 - Classic Dark 402 - Indigo 403 - Midnight 405 - Soft Blue Heather 407 - Denim 410 - Dark Navy 412 - Navy 413 - Dark Cobalt Blue Heather 414 - Stonewash/Blanket Lining 415 - Dark Vintage Blue 416 - Blue Nights 417 - Premium Dark 418 - Navy Heather 420 - Trailblazer 423 - Rustic Worn 424 - Blue Mist Heather 425 - Dark Stream Heather 428 - Infantry Blue 431 - Blue Topaz / Light Indigo 432 - Cobalt Blue 433 - Cyan Blue 434 - Royal 437 - Steel Blue 438 - Cool Blue 439 - Expedition 442 - Mint / Blue Green 443 - Dark Teal 445 - Federal Blue 446 - Light Huron Heather 450 - Aqua Sky / Lead 451 - Midstone 454 - Coastline 455 - Lead Heather 457 - Aegean Blue 461 - Light Worn In Blue 462 - Dark Indigo Heather 463 - Chambray Blue (2013 / Navy Space Dye 464 - Midnight Sky 465 - Medium Blue 466 - Bay Harbor 468 - Classic Wash 470 - Bluestone 471 - Dark Cobalt Blue/Red 472 - New Navy 475 - Cornflower (2013); Superior Blue 476 - Dark Blue 477 - Light Chambray 478 - Coastal Blue Chambray (2013) / Huron Heather 479 - Dark Worn In Blue 481 - Patriot Blue Heather 482 - Deep Blue 484 - Deepstone 485 - Timeworn Indigo 486 - Bluemarine 487 - Weathered Blue 488 - Patriot Blue 489 - Nautical Blue 490 - Blue Chambray 491 - Erie 492 - Rinsed Blue / Dark Blue/Navy 492 - Dark Blue/Navy 496 - Worn In Blue 497 - Tumbled Blue / Lead Space Dye 498 - Superior 499 - Denim Blue Chambray 501 - Plum 515 - Dusty Plum 518 - Fudge Heather 547 - Sparrow 548 - Dark Sparrow Space Dye 549 - Sparrow Heather 552 - Sparrow Nep 553 - Grape Juice 554 - Grape Juice Heather 556 - Nightshade 563 - Purple Sage 600 - Red 602 - Bordeaux 603 - Red Brown Heather 605 - Cherrystone 607 - Crimson 608 - Dark Crimson 609 - Cinnamon Red 614 - Port 622 - Cranberry 623 - Candy Apple (2013); Cranberry Heather 624 - Crab Apple 629 - H Red 636 - Red Heather 640 - Dark Red 641 - Chili Heather 642 - Electric Red 643 - Deep Wine 644 - Fired Brick Heather 645 - Port Heather 646 - Carhartt Burgundy 647 - Chili 648 - Merlot 649 - Russet Brown 654 - Raspberry 655 - Raspberry Heather 660 - Wild Rose Heather 667 - Burlwood 668 - Burlwood Heather 670 - Bright Pink 677 - Tulip Pink 678 - Bright Pink Heather 680 - Dried Rose 690 - Rose 691 - Rose Heather 692 - Tulip Pink Heather 695 - Glazed Pink Heather 701 - Yellow 704 - Carhartt Gold Heather 716 - Honey Ginger 721 - Sunglow 723 - Mustard Yellow 733 - Sunshine 734 - Sunshine Heather 800 - Orange 803 - Spice 806 - Blackened Orange 820 - Blaze Orange 822 - Hunter Orange 824 - Brite Orange 825 - Brite Orange/Heather Gray 827 - Bold Orange 903 - Frontier Brown 908 - Canyon Brown 909 - Dark Coffee 910 - Dark Khaki Digi Camo 911 - Java Brown 913 - Worn Brown 914 - Java Brown Chambray 915 - Light Shale Brown 914 - Realtree-Max 5® 917 - Dark Brown Chambray 918 - Hickory 931 - Merlot Heather 932 - Dark Crimson/Black 934 - Raisin Heather 961 - Realtree Xtra®/Brite Orange 962 - Clean Rinse 964 - Coldwater 965 - Hickory Stripe 966 - Blue Ridge 967 - Khaki/Camo 968 - Bedrock 969 - Rinsed Light Blue 971 - Cornflower Heather 972 - Deep Indigo Wash 975 - Assorted 976 - Medium Vintage 977 - Realtree Xtra® 980 - Frontier 981 - Navy Heather 983 - Rinsed Dark Blue 984 - Stream Blue 986 - Realtree Xtra®/Brite Lime 987 - Wintergreen 988 - Dark Cobalt Blue 991 - Flint Stone 994 - Mint Heather (2013); Ink Blue Heather 995 - Aqua Sky Heather / Dark Blue Ridge
2019 - NEW COLORS, NEW CODES
In 2019 Carhartt changed the color code format yet again to accommodate new colors. The new format is a one or two letter prefix followed by one or two numbers, such as "N04" for "Black". The six-digit style codes continue to be used for newly introduced styles. Example 1: Women's Relaxed Fit Sherpa-Lined Denim Jacket 105446-H87 - "105446" is the style, "H87" is the color "Beech" Example 2: Loose Fit Midweight Logo Sleeve Graphic Sweatshirt K288-GA0 - "K288" is the style, "GA0" is the color "Jade Heather" Here is a list of the new letter and number style codes following the format that was introduced in 2019. Note that similar colors are grouped together. A07 - 1972 Duck Camo B00 - Oiled Walnut Heather B22 - Dark Brown Stripe B25 - Nutmeg B26 - Nutmeg Heather B33 - Oak Brown B39 - Warm Taupe Geo Aztec C01 - Antique Brass E00 - Greige E07 - Asphalt Heather Neptune E20 - Heather Gray/Black E31 - Folkstone Gray E39 - Shadow Stripe E40 - Folkstone Gray Space Dye E42 - Ash Violet E49 - Earthen Clay Heather E57 - Oyster Gray G02 - Balsam Green G32 - Ink Green G34 - Fog Green G54 - North Woods G55 - North Woods Heather G59 - Boreal Heather G68 - Pastel Lime G72 - Basil G73 - Basil Heather G77 - Basil Snow Heather G82 - Sea Green Heather G86 - Succulent Heather G87 - True Olive Snow Heather G99 - Arborvitae H11 - Light Cobalt Heather H13 - Tourmaline Heather H15 - Scout Blue/Powder Blue Marl H26 - Tidal Heather H36 - Tidal Snow Heather H39 - Houghton H42 - Arcadia H45 - Canal H47 - Canyon H53 - Scout Blue Heather H54 - Blue Lagoon Heather H55 - Scout Blue Snow Heather H62 - Laurel H69 - Night Blue H70 - Night Blue Heather H71 - Marine Blue H72 - Marien Blue Heather H73 - Alpine Blue H74 - Alpine Blue Heather H75 - Lakeshore H76 - Lakeshore Heather H79 - Night Blue/Alpine Blue Marl H82 - Hazel H84 - Glacier H85 - Zion H86 - Basin H87 - Beech H97 - Linden I10 - Freight I26 - Navy I34 - Dusk Blue L01 - Arborvitae Heather L04 - Slate Green L05 - Slate Green Heather N00 - Dusty Black N04 – Black N07 - Black Heather Neptune N24 - Black/Arborvitae O04 - Umber O12 - Hot Coral O17 - Copper Penny P01 - Rose Smoke Heather P07 - Claystone Heather P15 - Ash Rose P18 - Hibiscus P19 - Hibiscus Heather P31 - Ash Rose/Marshmallow Marl Q02 - Ginger Heather Q07 - Cantaloupe Q15 - Jasper Heather Q20 - Sunset Q23 - Sunset Space Dye Q24 - Burnt Sienna Heather Q27 - Marigold Heather Q37 - Desert Orange R00 - Clay R01 - Red Barn Heather R07 - Dark Barn Red Heather R09 - Oxblood R16 - Mineral Red R18 - Iron Ore R22 - Flame R49 - Earthen Clay Heather R51 - Currant Heather R60 - Beet Red Heather R64 - Chili Pepper R66 - Chili Pepper Heather R72 - Red/Winter White V10 - Graystone V11 - Graystone Heather V14 - Crepe V15 - Crepe Heather V20 - Crepe Snow Heather V23 - Nocturnal Haze Heather V26 - Blackberry V27 - Blackberry Heather V37 - Amethyst Fog V44 - Soft Lavender V45 - Soft Lavender Heather W03 - Malt W07 - White Truffle Y12 - Yellowstone Heather Y20 - Dijon/Winter White Marl Y23 - Dijon Heather Y24 - Pale Sun GA0 - Jade Heather GA7 - Basil/Jade Marl
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