Lemon Zest
Also known as: Glitter Yellow, Yellow Stagshorn, Naples Yellow, Wake Me Up
Lemon Zest is a soft, vivid yellow that reads as sunny and uplifting. It shines in summer palettes and highlights and warnings. Lemon Zest plays well with blue tones — the harmonies below show exactly which ones. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (14.99:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Lemon Zest color codes
- HEX
- #F9D857
- RGB
- rgb(249, 216, 87)
- RGBA
- rgba(249, 216, 87, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(48, 93%, 66%)
- HSV
- hsv(48, 65%, 98%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 13%, 65%, 2%)
- LAB
- lab(87.4 1.7 65.6)
- OKLCH
- oklch(88.7% 0.149 94.7)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: gold#FFD700 · ΔE 4.9
- RAL 1016 — Sulfur yellow#F1DD38 · ΔE 4.7 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck — Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Lemon Zest works
- Web & UI: Reads as an interactive accent: fills, hovers, focus rings. Keep body text in a darker neutral.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land — front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: Commands attention in logos and packaging; balance it with generous neutral space.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively — dividers, chart series, illustration accents — and let neutrals carry the type.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette — packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Lemon Zest
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Lemon Zest by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 1.40:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 14.99:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a Lemon Zest background: #000000
Palettes featuring Lemon Zest
Lemon Zest with its complement
Soft neighbors of Lemon Zest
Lemon Zest triad
Similar colors
- Anna Banana#F5D547 · ΔE 1.5
- Lemon Tart#FFDD66 · ΔE 1.7
- Tuscan Sun#FFD84D · ΔE 1.7
- Royal Star#FEDE4F · ΔE 1.9
- Maize#F4D054 · ΔE 2.0
- Venus#EED053 · ΔE 2.1
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Lemon Zest is closest to Icy Plains.
Lemon Zest FAQs
What color is Lemon Zest?
Lemon Zest is a medium yellow with the hex code #F9D857. In HSL terms it has a hue of 48°, 93% saturation, and 66% lightness.
What is the hex code for Lemon Zest?
The hex code for Lemon Zest is #F9D857. In RGB it's rgb(249, 216, 87), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 13%, 65%, 2%).
What colors go well with Lemon Zest?
Lemon Zest pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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