Seal on a bedsheet

U.S. state flags featuring a seal on a monochrome field. As of 2025, half of U.S. states use a similar design

The seal on a bedsheet is a type of flag design which consists of a central emblem, symbol, or motif—often a seal or a related graphic—superimposed on a single-color field. Seal on a bedsheet designs are often used in U.S. state flags, most commonly with a blue field, though they are also found elsewhere.

As of 2025, approximately half of all U.S. states use a flag of this type. Even when the central emblem is not the official state seal, as is the case with flags such as the flag of Pennsylvania (which use the full coat of arms), flag designs in this style are often still colloquially referred to as a "seal on a bedsheet," or the abbreviation "SOB" (which has drawn reactions for its double meaning).

The term was popularized by vexillologists as a critique of the perceived lack of distinctiveness and visual appeal in many U.S. state flags. Critics argue that these flags are difficult to recognize at a distance, especially when flown alongside other similar designs, due to their reliance on intricate seals and dark blue backgrounds.

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