The Red Hat logo

Our logo was introduced in 2019 as part of the Open Brand Project, an initiative to update and simplify our corporate logo and brand system in collaboration with the Red Hat® community.

Red Hat logo on a dark background.
Red Hat logo on a light background.
Single color Red Hat logo on a red background.

Our logo is made up of two parts: the hat and the wordmark. The hat is the same fedora worn by Shadowman–the figure featured in our previous logo–and is an embodiment of the trust and goodwill we’ve built with customers, partners, and the community as we’ve grown. Our company name appears in bold in the wordmark, created from our open source font.

Logo variations and clear space

Our logo has three versions that give us the flexibility to choose the one that best fits the available space. The logo can be vertical or horizontal, and the wordmark can be large or small. Logos A and B should be the logos you use most often. Logo C and the hat alone should be reserved for specific circumstances.

Clear space is the area around the logo that should not have text, distracting graphics, or other logos. This space ensures that nothing interferes with the visual impact of our logo.

Logo A

Logo A

Logo A is the preferred logo for most applications. It fits best in spaces that are wider than they are tall.

Minimum required clear space is the height of the letter "e" all the way around the logo. More is better.

A diagram shows the Red Hat logo version A with proper clear space.
Logo B

Logo B

Logo B fits best in spaces that are more square. The hat and wordmark are the same size as they are in logo A, but they’re stacked instead of side by side.

Minimum required clear space is the height of the letter "e" all the way around the logo. More is better.

A diagram shows the Red Hat logo version B with proper clear space.
Logo C

Logo C

Logo C should only be used for large-scale signage. The combination of small text and a stacked layout is ideal for making the most of larger square spaces, like signage.

Minimum required clear space is double the height of the letter "e" all the way around the logo. More is better.

A diagram shows the Red Hat logo version C with proper clear space.
The hat

The hat

The hat in our logo is an important symbol of our shared culture and commitments. How we portray the hat affects how people perceive Red Hat as an organization. It can be used independently in some situations, but only when the context of the Red Hat brand is clear.

A diagram shows the hat with proper clear space.
An skinny horizontal email header features version A of the Red Hat logo with appropriate clear space.

Do this: Use the version of the logo that fits best in the available space.

Image showing miuse: An skinny horizontal email header features version C of the Red Hat logo.

Not this: Don't use a version of the logo that is too wide or tall for the available space.

The upper left corner of a document shows version A of the Red Hat logo, aligned with the left margin and with plenty of clear space.

Do this: Use appropriate clear space around the logo.

Image showing misuse: The upper left corner of a document shows version A of the Red Hat logo crammed against the edges of the document with no margin or clear space.

Not this: Don't use small margins that make the logo feel cramped.

Background variations

When the logo has color behind it, the first priority is visibility. Switch the color of the wordmark accordingly. Black type is best for light backgrounds, while white type is best for dark backgrounds. You can learn more about color contrast and accessibility on the color page.

The Red Hat logo in reverse—with a red hat, black hat band, and white text—sitting on a black background.
Red Hat logo on a light background.
The Red Hat logo in standard color—with a red hat, black hat band, and black text—sitting on a light red background.
The Red Hat logo in reverse color—with a red hat, black hat band, and white text—sitting on a dark purple background.

Sometimes printing costs or visual constraints mean that we need to use the logo in one color. When you can, choose the red version so that the hat is red. Use the white version on a red background.

Two versions of the Red Hat logo—one in one-color black and one in one-color red—sitting on a light gray background.
Two versions of the Red Hat logo—one in one-color white and one in one-color red—sitting on a black background.
Two versions of the Red Hat logo in one-color white sitting on a red background.

If you’re placing the logo on an image or video, place the logo somewhere without visual clutter and use the version of the logo with the best color contrast.

Red Hat logo in use

We’re protective of our logo. Why? Because as an open source company, our trademarks are the most important intellectual property we own. By using our logo consistently and correctly, we make sure it’s protected and will serve us well for years to come.

Image showing misuse: The Red Hat logo with a white band on the hat.

Not this: Don't change the color of the band or remove it from the full color logo.

Image showing misuse: The Red Hat logo with a drop shadow and a gradient on the hat.

Not this: Don't add gradients or shadows.

Image showing misuse: The Red Hat logo in purple.

Not this: Don't change the colors of the logo. Use one of the approved colorways.

Image showing misuse: The Red Hat logo, stretched and distorted horizontally.

Not this: Don't stretch or distort the logo.

Image showing misuse: The Red Hat logo with the hat moved to the right side of the text and enlarged.

Not this: Don't scale or move parts of the logo independently of each other.

Image showing misuse: The Red Hat logo in grayscale.

Not this: Don't use the full color logo in grayscale. If color is limited, use a one-color option.

Image showing misuse: The hat hanging off the letter M in the IBM logo.

Not this: Don't place the logo on a cluttered background that makes the hat or the text difficult to make out.

Image showing misuse: The Shadowman logo and Tux the Pengiun.

Not this: Don't use legacy logos or Tux the penguin (the Linux® mascot), with or without the Red Hat logo.

Image showing misuse: An AI-generated image showing 2 people talking in an office. The person on the right is wearing a t-shirt with an AI-generated Red Hat logo.

Not this: Don't generate images of the logo or fedoras using AI.

Screenshot of a browser window showing the hat used as the favicon for the Red Hat website.

For small spaces where the logo can’t fit, like a favicon, you can use the hat. Read more about using the hat alone.

Photograph of a coffee tumbler with Red Hat logo B version printed on the front.

The stacked logo with large type (Logo B) makes the best use of the available space on this travel mug.

The top of Red Hat Tower, featuring a red band with a one-color white logo.

The space on top of Red Hat Tower is wide and narrow, so we chose a horizontal logo. We also needed our name to be visible from far away, so we chose the version with large type (Logo A).

In video, we use an animated version of the Red Hat logo for outros. Read more in the Red Hat video standards (Login required).

Red Hat trademarks

Aside from the Red Hat logo, our trademarks include the Red Hat wordmark and the names of certain products, services, and technologies. Using our trademarks correctly in documentation, web pages, marketing materials, and collateral is as important as using the logo correctly.