Saffron
Also known as: Freesia, Fresh Scent, Phellodendron Amurense, Sun Wukong’s Crown
Saffron is a medium, vivid yellow that reads as cheerful and optimistic. It shines in cheerful branding and kids' apps. Set it against a blue accent when you want the combination to pop. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (12.79:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Saffron color codes
- HEX
- #F4C430
- RGB
- rgb(244, 196, 48)
- RGBA
- rgba(244, 196, 48, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(45, 90%, 57%)
- HSV
- hsv(45, 80%, 96%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 20%, 80%, 4%)
- LAB
- lab(81.8 8.1 74.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(84.0% 0.160 89.2)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: gold#FFD700 · ΔE 5.8
- RAL 1018 — Zinc yellow#FACA30 · ΔE 1.5 · 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 Saffron works
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent — pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece — a top, scarf, or shoes — against neutral basics.
- Branding: High-energy brand material: strong for food, fitness, and youth-facing marks — use sparingly in UI.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, empty-state illustrations — not text.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Saffron
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Saffron 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 1.64:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 12.79:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a Saffron background: #000000
Palettes featuring Saffron
Saffron with its complement
Soft neighbors of Saffron
Saffron triad
Similar colors
- Buzz#F0C641 · ΔE 1.8
- Bumblebee#FFC82A · ΔE 2.1
- Orangina#FEC615 · ΔE 2.3
- Goldfinger#EEBB11 · ΔE 2.4
- Goldenrod#FDCB18 · ΔE 2.5
- Superstar#FFCC11 · ΔE 2.9
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Saffron is closest to Night Snow.
Saffron FAQs
What color is Saffron?
Saffron is a medium yellow with the hex code #F4C430. In HSL terms it has a hue of 45°, 90% saturation, and 57% lightness.
What is the hex code for Saffron?
The hex code for Saffron is #F4C430. In RGB it's rgb(244, 196, 48), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 20%, 80%, 4%).
What colors go well with Saffron?
Saffron pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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