Yellow
Also known as: Dusky Yellow , Bat-Signal , Duckie Yellow , Yell for Yellow
Yellow is a medium, vivid yellow that reads as bright and alert. It earns its place in kids' apps and summer palettes. Reach for a white companion shade to give Yellow maximum contrast. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (19.56:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Yellow color codes
- HEX
- #FFFF00
- RGB
- rgb(255, 255, 0)
- RGBA
- rgba(255, 255, 0, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(60, 100%, 50%)
- HSV
- hsv(60, 100%, 100%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 0%)
- LAB
- lab(97.6 -15.7 93.4)
- OKLCH
- oklch(96.8% 0.211 109.8)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen. Vivid colors like this typically lose some intensity in CMYK print. Request a physical proof for brand-critical work.
Temperature
Undertone
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warm
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: yellow #FFFF00 · ΔE 0.0
- RAL 1026: Luminous yellow #FFFF00 · ΔE 0.0 · 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 Yellow 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, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Yellow
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Yellow by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 1.07:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 19.56:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Yellow background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Yellow
Yellow with its complement
Soft neighbors of Yellow
Yellow triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Banana King #FFFB08 · ΔE 1.0
- Giraffe #FEFE33 · ΔE 1.5
- Lemon #FFF700 · ΔE 2.1
- Busy Bee #F4FF00 · ΔE 2.2
- Marsupilami #FDF200 · ΔE 3.2
- Triforce #F0F00F · ΔE 3.2
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Yellow is closest to Cloud Break .
FAQ
Yellow FAQs
What color is Yellow?
Yellow is a medium yellow with the hex code #FFFF00. In HSL terms it has a hue of 60°, 100% saturation, and 50% lightness.
What is the hex code for Yellow?
The hex code for Yellow is #FFFF00. In RGB it's rgb(255, 255, 0), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 0%).
What colors go well with Yellow?
Yellow pairs naturally with white tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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