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Food & BeverageFounded 1940

McDonald's Brand Colors

McDonald's golden arches yellow and bold red create an unmistakably warm, energetic identity that drives appetite and action.

mcdonalds.com

Brand Palette

#FFC72C
#DA291C
#FFFFFF

Arches / Primary

Background

Text

Color Values

McDonald's Yellow

Arches / Primary

HEX
#FFC72C
RGB
rgb(255, 199, 44)
HSL
hsl(44, 100%, 59%)

Accessibility

on White1.56:1Fail
on Black13.46:1AAA
Open contrast checker →

McDonald's Red

Background

HEX
#DA291C
RGB
rgb(218, 41, 28)
HSL
hsl(4, 77%, 48%)

Accessibility

on White4.87:1AA
on Black4.32:1AA Large
Open contrast checker →

McDonald's White

Text

HEX
#FFFFFF
RGB
rgb(255, 255, 255)
HSL
hsl(0, 0%, 100%)

Accessibility

on White1:1Fail
on Black21:1AAA
Open contrast checker →

Accessibility Analysis

Coloron Whiteon Black
McDonald's Yellow
1.56:1Fail
13.46:1AAA
McDonald's Red
4.87:1AA
4.32:1AA Large
McDonald's White
1:1Fail
21:1AAA

WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text. AA Large requires 3:1 for large text (18pt+) and UI components. AAA requires 7:1.

CSS Implementation

:root {
  --mcdonalds-mcdonald-s-yellow: #FFC72C;
  --mcdonalds-mcdonald-s-red: #DA291C;
  --mcdonalds-mcdonald-s-white: #FFFFFF;
}

/* Usage example */
.btn-primary {
  background-color: var(--mcdonalds-mcdonald-s-yellow);
  color: #ffffff;
}

Similar Color Alternatives

Named colors visually closest to McDonald's's primary color — useful for approximations or accessible substitutes.

Design Notes

Color Psychology

McDonald's uses a mid-tone palette anchored by McDonald's Yellow (#FFC72C). Food brands leverage warm reds, oranges, and yellows to stimulate appetite and create memorable, culturally resonant brand identities.

Design Principles

  • Warm-toned palette triggers emotional engagement and energy
  • Consistent color usage across touchpoints builds strong brand recognition
  • Color palette reflects the brand's industry positioning and audience expectations

Explore Individual Colors

Tags

foodfastfoodyellowrediconic

More Food & Beverage Brand Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

What are McDonald's's official brand colors?
McDonald's's official brand colors are: McDonald's Yellow (#FFC72C), McDonald's Red (#DA291C), McDonald's White (#FFFFFF).
What is McDonald's's primary color hex code?
McDonald's's primary brand color is McDonald's Yellow with hex code #FFC72C.
What are the RGB values for McDonald's's primary color?
McDonald's Yellow (#FFC72C) has RGB values of rgb(255, 199, 44).
What is the HSL value of McDonald's's primary color?
McDonald's Yellow has an HSL value of hsl(44, 100%, 59%).
Is McDonald's's primary color WCAG accessible?
McDonald's Yellow (#FFC72C) has a contrast ratio of 1.56:1 on white, which does not pass WCAG AA (requires 4.5:1). Consider pairing it with a high-contrast text color.
What industry is McDonald's in?
McDonald's operates in the Food & Beverage industry, founded in 1940.