Objective To investigate use requirements of pilots for inner color in aircraft cabin design. Methods Compared to the light and dark color system boards with rank-order method, 198 Chinese pilots participated in the experiment. Pilots were asked to rank 24 pieces of color boards according to the fitness as aircraft cockpit interior and select their favorite colors in daily life from standardized color cards. Results (1) In light color system, the lowest grades were E and C boards, and the highest grades were L and K. At the same time, the pilots’ favorite to 12 light colors had statistical significance (P < 0.001). (2) In dark color system, the lowest grades were E′, H′, and A′ boards, and the highest grades were L′ and K′. The pilots’ favorite to 12 dark colors had also statistical significance (P < 0.001). (3) Pilots’ favorite to daily colors had no significant effect on their choice in cockpit color. Conclusions Through the pilots’ comparing color boards and questionnaire investigation, the decorating colors that fit control devices and cabin walls in aircraft were proposed. Pilots’ favorite to daily colors had no effect on their choosing colors for cockpit decoration.