Shades of Yellow: Names and Hex Codes
This is a working reference for the most useful shades of yellow, with accurate hex codes, RGB values, and quick notes on where each one shines. Yellow is the brightest color the eye perceives, so small shifts in hue and saturation change the mood dramatically — a clean lemon feels fresh and digital, while a muted mustard feels vintage and grounded. Use the table below as a citable palette, then read on for how the shades group together and how to deploy them.
For the broader symbolism behind the color, see our guide to yellow color meaning, and for pairing ideas start with colors that go with mustard. For neighboring warm families, see our shades of orange and shades of brown references.
Shades of yellow: full table
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | #FFFF00 | 255, 255, 0 | Pure primary yellow; maximum brightness. |
| Gold | #FFD700 | 255, 215, 0 | Web “gold”; warm, premium, metallic feel. |
| Amber | #FFBF00 | 255, 191, 0 | Deep glowing yellow-orange; traffic-light warm. |
| Mustard | #FFDB58 | 255, 219, 88 | Muted, earthy yellow; retro and editorial. |
| Lemon | #FFF700 | 255, 247, 0 | Cool, zesty, slightly green-leaning yellow. |
| Canary | #FFFF99 | 255, 255, 153 | Soft pale yellow; gentle and friendly. |
| Saffron | #F4C430 | 244, 196, 48 | Rich golden-orange spice tone. |
| Honey | #EBA937 | 235, 169, 55 | Warm amber-gold; cozy and natural. |
| Naples Yellow | #FADA5E | 250, 218, 94 | Classic artist’s pigment; soft and creamy. |
| Banana | #FFE135 | 255, 225, 53 | Bright, fruity, cheerful mid-yellow. |
| Flax | #FCE883 | 252, 232, 131 | Pale wheaten yellow; understated. |
| Jasmine | #F8DE7E | 248, 222, 126 | Light warm yellow with a touch of cream. |
| Citrine | #E4D00A | 228, 208, 10 | Gemstone yellow; slightly olive depth. |
| Maize | #FBEC5D | 251, 236, 93 | Corn yellow; bright and approachable. |
| Flavescent | #EEDC82 | 238, 220, 130 | Pale golden tan; vintage paper tone. |
| Olive Yellow | #CCCC00 | 204, 204, 0 | Darker, greenish yellow; earthy. |
| Goldenrod | #DAA520 | 218, 165, 32 | Deep antique gold; classic web color. |
| Mikado Yellow | #FFC40C | 255, 196, 12 | Vivid signage yellow; high energy. |
| Process Yellow | #FFEF00 | 255, 239, 0 | CMYK printing yellow; clean and bright. |
| Cornsilk | #FFF8DC | 255, 248, 220 | Near-white pale yellow; great backgrounds. |
| Lemon Chiffon | #FFFACD | 255, 250, 205 | Soft pastel yellow; airy and light. |
| Khaki Yellow | #F0E68C | 240, 230, 140 | Muted sandy yellow; CSS “khaki.” |
| Bright Yellow (Orange-leaning) | #FFAA1D | 255, 170, 29 | Marigold-adjacent; warm and bold. |
| Aureolin | #FDEE00 | 253, 238, 0 | Cool primary watercolor yellow. |
| Old Gold | #C9B037 | 201, 176, 55 | Tarnished, muted metallic gold. |
| Dark Goldenrod | #E1AD01 | 225, 173, 1 | Deep amber-gold; rich and serious. |
| Cream | #FFFDD0 | 255, 253, 208 | Palest warm yellow; reads as off-white. |
| Lemon Yellow | #FFF44F | 255, 244, 79 | Vivid pastel-bright lemon. |
Bright and pure yellows
The center of the family is Yellow (#FFFF00) itself, joined by Process Yellow (#FFEF00), Aureolin (#FDEE00), Mikado Yellow (#FFC40C), and Lemon Yellow (#FFF44F). These are high-chroma, high-energy hues — ideal for highlights, callouts, and anything that needs to grab attention. On screens they vibrate, so pair them with dark text or a neutral ground rather than using them as large background fields. Process Yellow is the exact yellow used in CMYK printing, which makes it the most reliable choice when a screen design needs to translate faithfully to print. Aureolin and Lemon lean slightly cool and green, so they read as fresh and modern, while Mikado Yellow is the classic signage and warning yellow you see on hazard tape and road markings.
Golds and ambers
Warm, deeper yellows include Gold (#FFD700), Amber (#FFBF00), Goldenrod (#DAA520), Saffron (#F4C430), and Dark Goldenrod (#E1AD01). These lean toward orange and carry a premium, antique, or autumnal feel. Old Gold (#C9B037) and Honey (#EBA937) read as metallic without being garish, which makes them reliable accent colors for branding and packaging. True metallic gold cannot be reproduced with a single hex value — it relies on foil, ink, or a gradient that simulates reflection — so when a brand spec calls for “gold,” #FFD700 is the flat stand-in and a light-to-dark gradient is what sells the metallic illusion. Saffron and Honey, by contrast, are genuinely warm spice tones drawn from food and nature, which makes them feel rich rather than synthetic.
Muted and earthy yellows
Mustard (#FFDB58), Naples Yellow (#FADA5E), Citrine (#E4D00A), Goldenrod (#DAA520), and Olive Yellow (#CCCC00) are the grounded, vintage-leaning tones. Mustard in particular has become a modern editorial staple — it feels sophisticated next to charcoal, navy, and terracotta, and it carries a 1970s warmth that pure yellow never can. These shades hold up well as larger fills because their lower saturation is easy on the eye over time. Citrine and Olive Yellow edge toward green, giving them an antique, slightly herbal quality that suits heritage and craft branding. Because they are desaturated, these earthy yellows are the only members of the family you can comfortably use across an entire background without fatiguing the viewer.
Pale and pastel yellows
The lightest tints — Canary (#FFFF99), Cornsilk (#FFF8DC), Lemon Chiffon (#FFFACD), Cream (#FFFDD0), and Flax (#FCE883) — work as soft backgrounds and gentle accents. They warm a layout without shouting, and they pair beautifully with muted greens and dusty blues for a calm, friendly palette. Cornsilk and Cream sit so close to white that they function as warm off-whites, an easy way to take the clinical edge off a page background. Canary and Lemon Chiffon add just enough color to feel intentional while staying light enough for dark text to remain perfectly legible on top.
Most popular shades of yellow
If you only remember a handful, make them these: Gold (#FFD700) for warmth and luxury, Amber (#FFBF00) for glow, Mustard (#FFDB58) for vintage character, Lemon (#FFF700) for freshness, and Canary (#FFFF99) for a soft pastel. Together they cover the full range from bright to muted, light to deep, and they are the names most designers and clients recognize on sight.
How to use shades of yellow in design
Yellow is best used as an accent rather than a dominant field — its brightness fatigues the eye at large scale. Use saturated yellows like Lemon and Process Yellow for buttons, highlights, and warnings, and reserve muted yellows like Mustard and Honey for larger areas. Yellow needs strong contrast for legibility: never set yellow text on white, because the two values are too close to meet accessibility minimums. Instead, pair yellow with deep neutrals — charcoal, navy, or near-black — for clean, accessible combinations, and put dark text on top of yellow rather than the reverse. For complementary pairings, yellow sits opposite purple on the color wheel, a high-contrast combination that feels bold and graphic; analogous schemes with orange and green feel naturally sunny and harmonious. In branding, the choice of yellow signals personality: a bright Lemon reads as playful and budget-friendly, while a muted Mustard or a warm Gold reads as established and premium. See color psychology for how these choices affect perception, and yellow color meaning for the symbolism each tone carries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for gold?
The standard web hex code for gold is #FFD700, equivalent to RGB 255, 215, 0. It is a warm, slightly orange yellow that reads as metallic and premium. Note this is “web gold,” not a true metallic finish, which requires foil or gradient effects to simulate on screen.
What is the difference between mustard and amber?
Mustard (#FFDB58) is a muted, desaturated yellow with an earthy, vintage character, while amber (#FFBF00) is brighter and leans toward orange with a warm glow. Mustard works well as a large fill; amber is best as a vivid accent or signal color.
How many shades of yellow are there?
There is no fixed number — displays can render millions of yellow variations — but designers typically work with 25 to 35 named shades. This reference lists 28 of the most recognized and useful ones, from pure Yellow through golds, ambers, mustards, and pale pastels.
What colors go well with yellow?
Yellow pairs strongly with deep neutrals like charcoal, navy, and black for contrast, and with purple as its complementary color. Softer schemes combine yellow with dusty blue, sage green, or terracotta. Muted yellows like mustard are especially versatile in modern, earthy palettes.
