diff --git a/.changes/next-release/feature-output-kv9v6h8p.json b/.changes/next-release/feature-output-kv9v6h8p.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0047720
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/next-release/feature-output-kv9v6h8p.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "type": "feature",
+  "category": "output",
+  "description": "Implement the --color flag (on/off/auto, like aws): color status values (ACTIVE=green, ERROR/FAILED=red, CREATING/PENDING=yellow) in text and table output. auto colors only when stdout is a terminal and NO_COLOR is unset; JSON output is never colored"
+}
diff --git a/go/internal/cli/output.go b/go/internal/cli/output.go
index 3469ad4..970670a 100644
--- a/go/internal/cli/output.go
+++ b/go/internal/cli/output.go
@@ -25,5 +25,6 @@ func Output(cmd *cobra.Command, data interface{}) error {
 		output = "json"
 	}
 
-	return formatter.Format(data, output, query, os.Stdout)
+	colorMode, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("color")
+	return formatter.FormatColor(data, output, query, os.Stdout, formatter.ColorEnabled(colorMode, os.Stdout))
 }
diff --git a/go/internal/formatter/color.go b/go/internal/formatter/color.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3978ce9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/internal/formatter/color.go
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package formatter
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// ANSI SGR codes used for status coloring.
+const (
+	ansiReset  = "\033[0m"
+	ansiRed    = "\033[31m"
+	ansiGreen  = "\033[32m"
+	ansiYellow = "\033[33m"
+)
+
+// statusColors maps an upper-cased status value to an ANSI color. Values are
+// the lifecycle/health states VKS and vServer return; anything not listed is
+// left uncolored.
+var statusColors = map[string]string{
+	// Healthy / done — green.
+	"ACTIVE": ansiGreen, "RUNNING": ansiGreen, "READY": ansiGreen,
+	"AVAILABLE": ansiGreen, "HEALTHY": ansiGreen, "SUCCEEDED": ansiGreen,
+	"COMPLETED": ansiGreen,
+	// In progress — yellow.
+	"CREATING": ansiYellow, "DELETING": ansiYellow, "UPDATING": ansiYellow,
+	"UPGRADING": ansiYellow, "PENDING": ansiYellow, "PROVISIONING": ansiYellow,
+	"RECONCILING": ansiYellow,
+	// Failure — red.
+	"ERROR": ansiRed, "FAILED": ansiRed, "UNHEALTHY": ansiRed, "DEGRADED": ansiRed,
+}
+
+// ColorEnabled decides whether output should be colored, mirroring the AWS CLI
+// --color flag: "on" always, "off" never, "auto" (or empty) only when w is a
+// terminal. Honors the NO_COLOR convention in auto mode.
+func ColorEnabled(mode string, w io.Writer) bool {
+	switch mode {
+	case "on":
+		return true
+	case "off":
+		return false
+	default: // "auto" or unset
+		if os.Getenv("NO_COLOR") != "" {
+			return false
+		}
+		return isTerminal(w)
+	}
+}
+
+func isTerminal(w io.Writer) bool {
+	f, ok := w.(*os.File)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	fi, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return fi.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice != 0
+}
+
+// colorCell wraps an already-padded cell in an ANSI color when color is enabled
+// and raw is a recognized status. Padding is done by the caller on the raw text
+// so column widths stay correct — the ANSI codes are zero-width and added
+// around the padded string.
+func colorCell(padded, raw string, color bool) string {
+	if !color {
+		return padded
+	}
+	if code, ok := statusColors[strings.ToUpper(strings.TrimSpace(raw))]; ok {
+		return code + padded + ansiReset
+	}
+	return padded
+}
diff --git a/go/internal/formatter/color_test.go b/go/internal/formatter/color_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a56569d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/internal/formatter/color_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package formatter
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestColorEnabledModes(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer // not an *os.File -> isTerminal() false
+	if !ColorEnabled("on", &buf) {
+		t.Error("on should force color even for a non-terminal writer")
+	}
+	if ColorEnabled("off", &buf) {
+		t.Error("off should never color")
+	}
+	if ColorEnabled("auto", &buf) {
+		t.Error("auto should be off when the writer is not a terminal")
+	}
+	if ColorEnabled("", &buf) {
+		t.Error("empty (auto) should be off for a non-terminal writer")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestColorEnabledNoColorEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("NO_COLOR", "1")
+	// on is explicit and ignores NO_COLOR; auto honors it.
+	if !ColorEnabled("on", &bytes.Buffer{}) {
+		t.Error("on should still color even with NO_COLOR set")
+	}
+	if ColorEnabled("auto", &bytes.Buffer{}) {
+		t.Error("auto should be off when NO_COLOR is set")
+	}
+}
+
+// With color on, a status value in table output is wrapped in ANSI codes, and
+// column alignment is preserved (padding is applied to the raw text).
+func TestFormatTableColorsStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	data := map[string]interface{}{"id": "c1", "status": "ACTIVE"}
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	formatTable(data, &buf, true)
+	out := buf.String()
+
+	if !strings.Contains(out, ansiGreen+"ACTIVE") {
+		t.Errorf("ACTIVE should be green-wrapped, got:\n%q", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, ansiReset) {
+		t.Errorf("colored output should reset, got:\n%q", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// With color off, output is plain (no ANSI codes) — unchanged from before.
+func TestFormatTableNoColorByDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	data := map[string]interface{}{"id": "c1", "status": "ERROR"}
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	formatTable(data, &buf, false)
+	if strings.Contains(buf.String(), "\033[") {
+		t.Errorf("color off should emit no ANSI codes, got:\n%q", buf.String())
+	}
+}
+
+// Non-status values are never colored, even with color on.
+func TestFormatTableLeavesNonStatusUncolored(t *testing.T) {
+	data := map[string]interface{}{"id": "c1", "name": "demo"}
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	formatTable(data, &buf, true)
+	if strings.Contains(buf.String(), "\033[") {
+		t.Errorf("no recognized status -> no color, got:\n%q", buf.String())
+	}
+}
diff --git a/go/internal/formatter/formatter.go b/go/internal/formatter/formatter.go
index 20dcc5b..cfc4db1 100644
--- a/go/internal/formatter/formatter.go
+++ b/go/internal/formatter/formatter.go
@@ -17,8 +17,15 @@ import (
 // mistaken for the rows — which previously produced empty table/text output.
 var knownListKeys = []string{"items", "listData", "data"}
 
-// Format formats and outputs the response data.
+// Format formats and outputs the response data (no coloring).
 func Format(data interface{}, outputFormat, query string, w io.Writer) error {
+	return FormatColor(data, outputFormat, query, w, false)
+}
+
+// FormatColor formats and outputs the response data, coloring status values in
+// text/table output when color is true. JSON output is never colored so it
+// stays valid.
+func FormatColor(data interface{}, outputFormat, query string, w io.Writer, color bool) error {
 	if w == nil {
 		w = os.Stdout
 	}
@@ -40,9 +47,9 @@ func Format(data interface{}, outputFormat, query string, w io.Writer) error {
 	case "json":
 		formatJSON(data, w)
 	case "text":
-		formatText(data, w)
+		formatText(data, w, color)
 	case "table":
-		formatTable(data, w)
+		formatTable(data, w, color)
 	default:
 		formatJSON(data, w)
 	}
@@ -61,7 +68,7 @@ func formatJSON(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\n", string(out))
 }
 
-func formatText(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
+func formatText(data interface{}, w io.Writer, color bool) {
 	if data == nil || isEmptyMap(data) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -69,7 +76,7 @@ func formatText(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 	if rows, ok := listRows(data); ok {
 		for _, item := range rows {
 			if m, ok := item.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
-				fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(mapValues(m), "\t"))
+				fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(colorValues(mapValues(m), color), "\t"))
 			} else {
 				fmt.Fprintln(w, fmt.Sprint(item))
 			}
@@ -78,13 +85,26 @@ func formatText(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 	}
 
 	if m, ok := data.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
-		fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(mapValues(m), "\t"))
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(colorValues(mapValues(m), color), "\t"))
 		return
 	}
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, fmt.Sprint(data))
 }
 
-func formatTable(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
+// colorValues colors each value that is a recognized status. Values are not
+// padded here, so the raw value doubles as both the padded and raw argument.
+func colorValues(vals []string, color bool) []string {
+	if !color {
+		return vals
+	}
+	out := make([]string, len(vals))
+	for i, v := range vals {
+		out[i] = colorCell(v, v, color)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func formatTable(data interface{}, w io.Writer, color bool) {
 	if data == nil || isEmptyMap(data) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -92,14 +112,14 @@ func formatTable(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 	// List response (top-level array, or object wrapping items/listData/data):
 	// render as a multi-column table.
 	if rows, ok := listRows(data); ok {
-		formatRowsTable(rows, w)
+		formatRowsTable(rows, w, color)
 		return
 	}
 
 	// Detail response (a single object): render as a two-column key/value table
 	// so its scalar fields are visible instead of being hijacked by a nested array.
 	if m, ok := data.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
-		formatKeyValueTable(m, w)
+		formatKeyValueTable(m, w, color)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -109,7 +129,7 @@ func formatTable(data interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 // formatRowsTable renders a slice of object rows as a multi-column table with a
 // header row. Columns are the sorted keys of the first row. Non-map rows are
 // printed one per line.
-func formatRowsTable(rows []interface{}, w io.Writer) {
+func formatRowsTable(rows []interface{}, w io.Writer, color bool) {
 	if len(rows) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -143,13 +163,13 @@ func formatRowsTable(rows []interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 	printRow(w, headers, colWidths)
 	printSeparator(w, colWidths)
 	for _, row := range strRows {
-		printRow(w, row, colWidths)
+		printColoredRow(w, row, colWidths, color)
 	}
 }
 
 // formatKeyValueTable renders a single object as a two-column FIELD | VALUE
 // table, with fields sorted for deterministic output.
-func formatKeyValueTable(m map[string]interface{}, w io.Writer) {
+func formatKeyValueTable(m map[string]interface{}, w io.Writer, color bool) {
 	if len(m) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -173,7 +193,7 @@ func formatKeyValueTable(m map[string]interface{}, w io.Writer) {
 	printRow(w, []string{"FIELD", "VALUE"}, widths)
 	printSeparator(w, widths)
 	for i, k := range keys {
-		printRow(w, []string{k, vals[i]}, widths)
+		printColoredRow(w, []string{k, vals[i]}, widths, color)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -185,6 +205,16 @@ func printRow(w io.Writer, cells []string, widths []int) {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(parts, " | "))
 }
 
+// printColoredRow is printRow that colors any cell whose value is a recognized
+// status. Cells are padded on their raw text first, so alignment is unaffected.
+func printColoredRow(w io.Writer, cells []string, widths []int, color bool) {
+	parts := make([]string, len(cells))
+	for i, c := range cells {
+		parts[i] = colorCell(padRight(c, widths[i]), c, color)
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(parts, " | "))
+}
+
 func printSeparator(w io.Writer, widths []int) {
 	parts := make([]string, len(widths))
 	for i, width := range widths {
@@ -241,6 +271,12 @@ func padRight(s string, n int) string {
 	return s + strings.Repeat(" ", n-len(s))
 }
 func FormatTableWithColumns(data interface{}, columns []string, query string, w io.Writer) error {
+	return FormatTableWithColumnsColor(data, columns, query, w, false)
+}
+
+// FormatTableWithColumnsColor is FormatTableWithColumns that colors status
+// values when color is true.
+func FormatTableWithColumnsColor(data interface{}, columns []string, query string, w io.Writer, color bool) error {
 	if w == nil {
 		w = os.Stdout
 	}
@@ -254,11 +290,11 @@ func FormatTableWithColumns(data interface{}, columns []string, query string, w
 	if data == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	formatTableColumns(data, columns, w)
+	formatTableColumns(data, columns, w, color)
 	return nil
 }
 
-func formatTableColumns(data interface{}, columns []string, w io.Writer) {
+func formatTableColumns(data interface{}, columns []string, w io.Writer, color bool) {
 	if data == nil || isEmptyMap(data) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -306,11 +342,7 @@ func formatTableColumns(data interface{}, columns []string, w io.Writer) {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(sepParts, "-+-"))
 
 	for _, row := range strRows {
-		parts := make([]string, len(row))
-		for i, val := range row {
-			parts[i] = padRight(val, colWidths[i])
-		}
-		fmt.Fprintln(w, strings.Join(parts, " | "))
+		printColoredRow(w, row, colWidths, color)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/go/internal/formatter/formatter_test.go b/go/internal/formatter/formatter_test.go
index 46e9b18..5c68dcb 100644
--- a/go/internal/formatter/formatter_test.go
+++ b/go/internal/formatter/formatter_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func TestFormatTableDetailObject(t *testing.T) {
 		"listSubnetIds": []interface{}{}, // empty nested array — must NOT blank the output
 	}
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	formatTable(data, &buf)
+	formatTable(data, &buf, false)
 	out := buf.String()
 
 	if strings.TrimSpace(out) == "" {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestFormatTableListResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		"total": float64(2),
 	}
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	formatTable(data, &buf)
+	formatTable(data, &buf, false)
 	out := buf.String()
 
 	for _, want := range []string{"id", "name", "c1", "alpha", "c2", "beta"} {
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestFormatTableTopLevelArray(t *testing.T) {
 		map[string]interface{}{"uuid": "s2"},
 	}
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	formatTable(data, &buf)
+	formatTable(data, &buf, false)
 	out := buf.String()
 	for _, want := range []string{"uuid", "s1", "s2"} {
 		if !strings.Contains(out, want) {
diff --git a/go/internal/vserverclient/client.go b/go/internal/vserverclient/client.go
index d220c18..f93f000 100644
--- a/go/internal/vserverclient/client.go
+++ b/go/internal/vserverclient/client.go
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ func Output(cmd *cobra.Command, cfg *config.Config, data interface{}) error {
 		output = "json"
 	}
 
-	return formatter.Format(data, output, query, os.Stdout)
+	colorMode, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("color")
+	return formatter.FormatColor(data, output, query, os.Stdout, formatter.ColorEnabled(colorMode, os.Stdout))
 }
 
 // OutputWithColumns formats and writes the API result to stdout.
@@ -92,8 +93,10 @@ func OutputWithColumns(cmd *cobra.Command, cfg *config.Config, data interface{},
 		output = "json"
 	}
 
+	colorMode, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("color")
+	color := formatter.ColorEnabled(colorMode, os.Stdout)
 	if output == "table" && len(columns) > 0 {
-		return formatter.FormatTableWithColumns(data, columns, query, os.Stdout)
+		return formatter.FormatTableWithColumnsColor(data, columns, query, os.Stdout, color)
 	}
-	return formatter.Format(data, output, query, os.Stdout)
+	return formatter.FormatColor(data, output, query, os.Stdout, color)
 }