The Facebook logo is a white lowercase “f” on a blue field, paired with a lowercase “facebook” wordmark in blue. The 2005 wordmark was made by the San Francisco agency Cuban Council with type designer Joe Kral, using a modified Klavika typeface by Eric Olson. Facebook’s own design team redrew the lettering in 2015 and darkened the blue in September 2023.

What Is the Facebook Logo?

Facebook f icon, a white lowercase f on a blue rounded square

The Facebook logo has two parts: the “f” icon, a white lowercase letter on a blue background that is used for apps and profile pictures, and the “facebook” wordmark in lowercase, with a single-story “a”. The wordmark is set in Facebook Sans, the company’s custom typeface. Since 2019, “FACEBOOK” in capitals has been Facebook’s corporate wordmark for the company, a separate thing from the app logo.

Symbol White lowercase “f” on a blue background
Designer/agency 2005 wordmark: Cuban Council with Joe Kral; 2015 redraw: Facebook design team with Eric Olson; 2023 refresh: Facebook design team
Current version since September 2023
Colors (hex) Blue (#1877F2 for the 2019 to 2023 icon; the darker 2023 blue has no hex published by Meta) and white #FFFFFF
Typeface Facebook Sans (custom); earlier a modified Klavika
Previous major version 2015 to 2023 wordmark with #1877F2 icon (single-story “a”, slimmer letters)

How Has the Facebook Logo Evolved Over Time?

Facebook logo history from the red Facemash banner of 2003 to the bracketed thefacebook logo, the 2005 white-on-blue wordmark, the 2015 version and the blue wordmark from 2019

Facebook has had several looks since 2003, and the old logos on this timeline are the ones people search for most: the 2004 and 2005 versions.

The Facemash Logo (2003)

Facemash was the “hot or not” style site Mark Zuckerberg built at Harvard in 2003, using photos taken from online face books. Its logo was the word FACEMASH in white capitals on a red banner. Zuckerberg faced expulsion over the site and the charges were dropped. No designer is credited for the logo.

TheFacebook Logo (2004 to 2005)

TheFacebook launched on February 4, 2004, limited at first to Harvard College students. Its logo was the lowercase word “thefacebook” in light blue letters inside square brackets, on a darker blue background. The name came from the printed face books Harvard handed to students.

The 2005 to 2015 Facebook Logo

In 2005 the company dropped “the” after buying the facebook.com domain. A logo with white lowercase “facebook” on a blue rectangle, in a modified Klavika, was used from August 23, 2005 to July 1, 2015. Cuban Council is the agency credited for the 2005 logo, and Joe Kral modified Klavika, a typeface Eric Olson of Process Type Foundry designed in 2004. The Adweek account says Parker and Zuckerberg “supposedly” sought out Cuban Council, so the commission details are not confirmed.

The 2015 Facebook Logo

Facebook 2015 wordmark in white lowercase letters on a blue screen, shown on a monitor and a tablet

On July 1, 2015 Facebook changed the full-name wordmark; the white “f” on blue stayed. Facebook’s in-house designers made the custom lettering with Eric Olson. The double-story “a” became a single-story “a”, the letters became slightly lighter and less tall, and the contrast between thick and thin strokes was removed. Creative director Josh Higgins said the goal was to feel “more friendly and approachable”.

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The 2019 Facebook Logo

On November 4, 2019 Facebook introduced a new corporate logo: the word FACEBOOK in capitals, meant to separate the company from the app. The app kept its blue logo, and the brand blue used for the icon in this period is widely listed as #1877F2.

The Current Facebook Logo (2023 to Present)

In September 2023 Meta updated the Facebook logo with a darker blue, described by the company as “a more confident expression of Facebook’s core blue”, and adjusted the “f” for contrast. The wordmark was redesigned with the custom Facebook Sans typeface. Designboom credits the design team at Facebook and names no individuals.

What Do the Design Elements of the Facebook Logo Mean?

The logo is a plain lowercase “f” and a lowercase name, and neither Facebook nor its designers have described a hidden meaning in it. The lowercase wording keeps a casual tone, and the “f” works as a small icon on phones and browser tabs. The 2019 caps wordmark was designed to separate the company from the app.

Why Is the Facebook Logo Blue?

Facebook’s site is blue because Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind, as the Facebook Wikipedia entry notes. Blue was the color he could see best, and it has stayed through every logo since 2004.

What Are the Facebook Logo Colors?

Facebook blue #1877f2 and white swatches

The 2019 to 2023 Facebook blue is widely listed as #1877F2, with white for the “f”. The 2023 refresh deepened the blue, and Meta described a new set of secondary blues, but it has not published a hex code for the new shade, so no exact current hex is confirmed. The blue behind the 2005 to 2015 wordmark is widely cited as #3B5998.

What Font Does the Facebook Logo Use?

Facebook wordmark above a specimen grid of uppercase and lowercase letters on a blue background

The 2005 to 2015 wordmark used Klavika, designed by Eric Olson of Process Type Foundry and modified by Joe Kral. Facebook then replaced it with custom lettering made with Olson in 2015, and the current wordmark uses Facebook Sans, Meta’s custom typeface.

How Does the Facebook Logo Fit Into Meta’s Brand Identity?

In October 2021 Facebook, Inc. renamed itself Meta Platforms, and the company’s blue infinity-shaped logo now stands for Meta. The “f” icon stands for the Facebook app alone, next to Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. That is why Facebook’s logo kept its own look when the parent company got a new one.

How Should the Facebook Logo Be Used?

Use the “f” icon to point people to your Facebook Page and take the artwork from Meta’s official brand resources, not from copies online. Don’t change its color or proportions, and don’t use it in a way that suggests Meta endorses your business.

FAQ on the Facebook Logo

What Font Does the Facebook Logo Use?

The 2005 to 2015 wordmark used a modified Klavika, designed by Eric Olson and customised by Joe Kral. Since 2015 Facebook has used custom lettering, and the current wordmark uses Facebook Sans.

What Color Is the Facebook Logo?

Facebook blue and white. The 2019 to 2023 icon blue is widely listed as #1877F2. The September 2023 refresh deepened the blue, and Meta has not published a hex for the new shade.

Why Is the Facebook Logo Blue?

Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind, and blue is the color he sees best, which is why Facebook’s primary color is blue.

Who Designed the Facebook Logo?

The 2005 wordmark is credited to the agency Cuban Council, with Joe Kral modifying Eric Olson’s Klavika. Facebook’s in-house team redrew the lettering with Olson in 2015, and its design team handled the 2023 refresh.

What Did the Old Facebook Logo Look Like?

From August 2005 to July 2015 it was white lowercase “facebook” on a blue rectangle in a modified Klavika. The 2015 version has a single-story “a” and slimmer letters.

What Did the 2004 Facebook Logo Look Like?

In 2004 the site was TheFacebook. Its logo was the word “thefacebook” in light blue letters inside square brackets on a darker blue background.

What Did the 2005 Facebook Logo Look Like?

It was the word “facebook” in white lowercase letters, with a double-story “a”, on a blue rectangle. The company had dropped “the” after buying the facebook.com domain.

When Did Facebook Last Change Its Logo?

September 2023, when Meta introduced a darker blue and a redesigned wordmark set in Facebook Sans.

What Is the Difference Between the Facebook Logo and the Meta Logo?

The Facebook “f” represents the Facebook app. Meta’s blue infinity-shaped logo represents the parent company, which renamed itself from Facebook, Inc. in October 2021.

Can I Use the Facebook Logo on My Website?

You can use the “f” icon to link to your Facebook Page, as long as the artwork comes from Meta’s official brand resources, is not altered, and does not imply Meta’s endorsement.

Conclusion

The Facebook logo has changed in small steps: a red Facemash banner in 2003, a bracketed “thefacebook” in 2004, a Klavika wordmark in 2005, friendlier lettering in 2015, the capitals corporate wordmark in 2019 and a deeper blue in September 2023. The blue itself goes back to the first logo in 2004, and it reportedly comes from Zuckerberg’s red-green color blindness.

If you need an old version, the date ranges above are the ones to match: 2005 to 2015 for the Klavika wordmark, and 2015 to 2023 for the single-story “a”.

Sources

  • Engadget, Facebook has a new logo, but the differences are subtle (July 1, 2015) – https://www.engadget.com/2015/07/01/facebook-new-logo/
  • Designboom, Facebook’s new and rebranded logo (September 21, 2023) – https://www.designboom.com/design/facebook-rebrands-logo-darker-shade-blue-09-21-2023/
  • Adweek, Who Developed The Original Facebook Logo? – https://www.adweek.com/digital/who-developed-the-original-facebook-logo/
  • Graphéine, Behind the scenes of Facebook’s visual identity – https://old.grapheine.com/en/logo-news/behind-facebooks-visual-identity
  • Wikipedia, Facebook – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook
  • The Next Web, Facebook has a new logo but your app will look the same (November 4, 2019) – https://thenextweb.com/news/facebook-has-a-new-logo-but-your-app-will-look-the-same

Bogdan Sandu
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Written by Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu is a seasoned designer who has been designing websites since 2008. Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients. His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8. He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.