Rating Scale
8-10 = Great
4-7 = Average (4-5 being mediocre, 6-7 being decent)
1-3 = Awful
1. New Mexico
This was also ranked first place by NAVA, and it isn't hard to see why. Its simple design, warm Spanish colors, and sacred Native American symbol perfectly encompasses the Hispanic culture of this state with solid simple imagery.
Rating = 10/10
2. Texas
This is a solid flag right here, and probably the most iconic state flag in the United States. It's simple, yet its large stripes and big star makes it feel bold and powerful at the same time.
Rating = 10/10
3. Tennessee
Another great flag. The 3 stars, representing the 3 geographic divisions in Tennessee, are iconic to this state, used by the USS Tennessee and the NFL's Tennessee Titans. It's simple, balanced, uses 3 colors, strong symbolism, what more can I say?
Rating = 10/10
4. Colorado
This flag is seen everywhere in Colorado, and its not hard to see why. The yellow and red encompass this state's Hispanic vibe, while the blue and white encompass this state's alpine vibe. This is also the right way to make a flag with lettering in it, by making it a component instead of a line of text.
Rating = 10/10
5. Arizona
Like with the flags of Colorado and New Mexico, the red and yellow in this flag nicely encompass Arizona's Hispanic vibe. The brown star and the blue field at the bottom are also neatly symbolic of this states mining history. The only thing keeping this flag from a 10/10 rating is how the brown star contrasts with the yellow up top.
Rating = 9/10
6. Maryland
This flag may not be simple in design, but it feels unique and powerful at the same time. The yellow and black look great together and contrast perfectly, and this flag also uses strong religious symbolism with the red and white cross thing. This is great right here.
Rating = 9/10
7. South Carolina
Sure, it uses the same background color as the many shitty seal-on-blue state flags, but don't let that fool you. The moon and palm tree are a strong symbol within South Carolina, and its easy to see why. This design looks clean, comforting, and nicely encompasses southern charm that this state is known for.
Rating = 9/10
8. Ohio
The overall design of this flag is nice, as it uses three colors, strong symbolism, and it feels related to the American flag. What makes this flag stand out the most though is its burgee shape, as its the only US state flag not to be square or rectangle. Only downsides to this is that the shape does raise the risk of the flag fraying in the wind, and the stars furthest right should be centered a bit better, but very good design overall.
Rating = 8/10
9. Alabama
The use of the St. Andrew's Cross does nicely pay homage to both the Spanish and the Confederate history of this state. This is another strong symbol right here, but its downsides are that the symbol isn't unique enough to Alabama, and the red X on a white background doesn't give all that powerful of emotion. Still, for being a strong and simple design, this is the last flag here to get a great rating.
Rating = 8/10
10. Wyoming
This would get a great rating, and would rank higher than Alabama and possibly even Ohio, if it weren't for the state seal within the buffalo. The people of Wyoming know this as well, they sell hats of this state flag without the state seal. The buffalo itself is a great symbol, just get rid of the seal.
Rating = 7/10
11. Rhode Island
Remove the "Hope" and center the anchor, and this design could perhaps work. I'd also probably suggest making the stars and anchors completely blue instead of yellow, as it would contrast far better with the white background.
Rating = 7/10
12. California
The bear is a strong symbol, the red stripe and the red star look great. However, this flag also contains text, which is a big no-no in vexillology. Still though, this is the flag with text that can almost get away with it, mainly because this flag is very iconic. But still, a flag should be iconic without the need of text.
Rating = 7/10
13. Georgia
This flag has the potential for a great design. First, remove the stars to make it less identical to the CSA flag. Second, simplify the seal in the middle by removing the person, the ribbons, and the text, then enlarge it a bit, and violla, you have a great state flag.
Rating = 7/10
14. Hawaii
The Union Jack obviously is the biggest no-no within this flag, especially since Hawaii was never a British colony. One reason it ranks higher than some others though is because it doesn't use text, and it does give off a tropical island vibe, as the Union Jack canton is also seen on the flags of other tropical paradises such as the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. Still though, this flag shouldn't look like the flag of a British colony. Plus there should be a solid color for the top stripe instead of white.
Rating = 6/10
15. North Carolina
Remove the "N" and "C", as well as the ribbons with dates both above and below the star. Then switch out the red and blue so it doesn't look like the flag of Texas flag. That is mostly the design the original 1861 flag of North Carolina used.
Rating = 6/10
16. Arkansas
The design itself is a neat remix of the Confederate Battle Flag, allowing it to show its history without being blatantly racist. But of course, what ruins this flag is the "Arkansas" text. Get rid of the text, and re position the stars so they're centered, and this could work. Maybe also get rid of the stars on the narrow blue field as well.
Rating = 6/10
17. Alaska
This is a simple design meant to represent big dipper, but the stars feel too scattered, and it feels like there's too much blue empty space on this flag, like an unfinished kindergarten project. Still though, this is the last flag on this list to get a decent rating.
Rating = 6/10
18. Mississippi
This is the lowest ranking a text-less state flag is going to get. Obviously, the Confederate Battle Flag in the canton has got to go, but also, the blue and red stripes on this flag also look awkward as they do not go all the way in and touch the canton.
Rating = 5/10
19. Oklahoma
The Osage shield is a nice symbol made too complex by laying the pipe and olive branch on top of it. Also, this flag has the states name on it. Remove the text, branch, pipe, and change the background color from blue to white, and this could stand out. Until then, this is just the best of the seal-on-blue bunch, which isn't a good accomplishment.
Rating = 5/10
20. Indiana
This design is actually pretty iconic, but still flawed nonetheless. Like with Alaska's, the stars on this flag feel too scattered, but at least Alaska's flag used its stars to showcase the Big Dipper. Here, it just looks like they're all placed at random, plus this flag has text of this states name.
Rating = 5/10
21. Massachusetts
The shield does help make this flag a bit distinct, but the person inside is too detailed, and the ribbon is also an unnecessary inclusion. Remove the ribbon and the swimming arm up top, plus the guy inside the shield, and make the star inside the shield bigger and center it inside, and it could work.
Rating = 4/10
22. Missouri
This is a defaced Dutch flag right here, however the Dutch colors do help it stand out and keeps it from getting an awful rating. Still, there are too many stars in this flag, both within the seal, and within the round narrow patch of blue surrounding the seal, and there's way too much complexity within the center.
Rating = 4/10
23. Iowa
A defaced French flag, but like with Missouri's, the French colors do help Iowa's flag stand out and keeps it from getting an awful rating. Still, the eagle looks like it has a broken neck, and the ribbon looks way too messy.
Rating = 4/10
24. Washington
This is the last state flag on this list to get an average rating. While the design of this flag is bad, what saves it from an awful rating is the fact that the center image is merely an image of George Washington and isn't too complex, and the green background on this flag does encompass the green forestry feel of this state.
Rating = 4/10
25. Illinois
Now we're in the awful section. This flag is too complex, and uses too many colors, yet also feels inconsistent since the grass isn't a solid green field. The ribbon is also very messy, and the word "Sovereignty" is upside down on it.
Rating = 3/10
26. Florida
This is Florida's state seal placed on Alabama's flag. A unique and well-known state like Florida deserves way better. Get rid of the seal, and change the white to yellow to differentiate this flag from Alabama's, as well as to give a Hispanic feel to the state flag. Until then, this is just awful design.
Rating = 3/10
27. Delaware
What keeps this from getting a 1 or 2 rating are the colors on this flag made to represent the uniform of George Washington. The picture inside is way too complex, yet also looks lazy at the same time, as the people look more like mannequins than actual people. Also, the date at the bottom uses a typewriter font, which looks bad.
Rating = 3/10
28. Oregon
This would be a decent, if not, great flag if they just used the beaver on both sides, as well as perhaps invert the colors. The front design is terrible, the letters spelling out "State of Oregon" look like they were cut out and glued on by a kindergartner. The center image is too complex as well.
Rating = 3/10
29. New Jersey
Terrible flag design, but at least the tan background helps it stand out a bit.
Rating = 2/10
30. Louisiana
Oh wow. Baby pelicans trying to breastfeed from their mother? Oh, and the mother is bleeding because of this? This is just terrible design, only ranking higher than others because it's simpler in design. Still terrible though.
Rating = 2/10
31. Pennsylvania
This would perhaps look nice as a promotion for like a horse race or something, but is obviously a terrible design for a flag.
Rating = 2/10
32. Maine
This sort of picture would look nice in a log cabin, or on a food can or something, but again, terrible as a flag.
Rating = 2/10
33. Vermont
Like with Maine's and Pennsylvania's, the picture itself is neat, just not good for a flag design. What makes it slightly worse than those aforementioned two is the use of gradients on this flag.
Rating = 2/10
34. Wisconsin
Like with the three flags above, the picture in the middle looks good as a stand alone picture, but fails as a flag. What makes this one rank lower though is the big bold letters for the states name and the date.
Rating = 2/10
35. Utah
Wow, Utah, how pathetic. While all three of your Four Corners neighbors (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico) all have top tier flag designs, you went with a shitty seal-on-blue flag, and your seal looks like it belongs as a flag of a federal agency rather than a US state. Shame, if Utah had a great flag like the rest of the Four Corners states, that region would be America's Vexillology Holy Grail.
Rating = 2/10
36. Michigan
This is the last flag on this list to not get a 1/10 rating. Like with many mentioned above, this would look good as a picture on something else, like on a can of beer or something, but not on a state flag. What makes this rank lower however is that the eagle on this flag looks hideous, no matter what this picture is placed on. Its legs look like pants, its right foot is fatter than its left, and it has a white beak, which doesn't save any colors since it already has yellow feet.
Rating = 2/10
37. Nevada
Now we're scraping the bottle of the shit barrel. The worst part about this flag is that the image is in the canton, with nothing but empty space covering the rest of the flag. This one could maybe be decent, not great, but decent, if the image was centered, but the fact they decided to put it in the canton makes this flag look empty and unfinished.
Rating = 1/10
38. Kansas
At this point, the big bold name on the state flag is actually what's keeping it from being even further down the list, because at least is makes it distinguishable, albeit in a bad way. The picture in the middle looks garbage ugly, and it uses gradients to make matters worse. It has a sunflower, sure, but the sunflower should encompass the entire central part of this flag, with the state seal and the state name gone.
Rating = 1/10
39. Montana
Same case as Kansas, only the picture inside Montana's flag is even worse. Is that plow larger than those trees? Are those even trees, or are they bushes?
Rating = 1/10
40. Nebraska
Sorry, limiting the number of colors does not change the fact that this flag is shit. I can barely tell whats going on in there.
Rating = 1/10
41. New Hampshire
Identical to Nebraska's, only this one does incorporate many colors, and the "*1776*" is closer to the word "Seal" than the word "Hampshire".
Rating = 1/10
42. North Dakota
Deformed Eagle. The state banner is not outlined. There's no solid yellow field for the sun/crown thingy above the eagle. Nothing looks centered. Godawful design.
Rating = 1/10
43. West Virginia
The picture in the middle looks way too small, you can barely even tell what the hell is going on in there. It looks ugly nonetheless.
Rating = 1/10
44. Connecticut
Poorly drawn grape vines inside a plain white shield. Need I say more?
Rating = 1/10
45. Virginia
Virginia, one of the most unique and most historic states in the country, has a kinky femdom session as its states flag. Just, why?
Rating = 1/10
46. Minnesota
My God, this one's laughably awful. The stars all look scattered, the picture in the center looks like it belongs in Candy Land, and this flag uses an ugly light shade of blue.
Rating = 1/10
47. South Dakota
How sad. When your state is so insignificant that even its flag has to advertise its biggest tourist attraction... Pathetic.
Rating = 1/10
48. Kentucky
The text at the top is almost unreadable, as well as not centered. Nothing much more to say about this one.
Rating = 1/10
49. Idaho
The word "Idaho" is written twice on this flag. Not only is the picture in the center too complex, but there's even a picture within the picture. What in the hell were they thinking when designing this flag?
Rating = 1/10
50. New York
Why is this one the worst, you may ask? Well, not only is this another seal-on-blue flag with a terrible center image with a face on the sun, mannequin women, and an eagle that looks like a seagull, but... this is supposed to be the flag of NEW YORK! The empire state, the same state that's had the biggest city in the US since shortly after it became a country! This is one of the most unique and well-known states in the union, why the hell is its flag so atrocious?
Rating = 1/10
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