Yellow

Also known as: Dusky Yellow, Bat-Signal, Duckie Yellow, Yell for Yellow

With its warm undertone, Yellow (#FFFF00) comes across as cheerful and optimistic. Designers reach for it in cheerful branding and kids' apps. 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.

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)

Color intelligence

sRGB safeShifts in CMYK print

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

CoolWarm

warm

Nearest standard colors

  • 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, 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 Yellow

Tints (lighter)

Shades (darker)

Tones (muted)

Color harmonies

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

Contrast & accessibility

Aa — on white

contrast 1.07:1

AA failAAA failAA large fail

Aa — on black

contrast 19.56:1

AA passAAA passAA large pass

Best text color on a Yellow background: #000000

Palettes featuring Yellow

Yellow with its complement

Soft neighbors of Yellow

Yellow triad

Similar colors

Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Yellow is closest to Cloud Break.

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.

Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer — free, instant, private.