Gold #FFD700
Gold, hex code #FFD700, is a warm, bright yellow with a slight orange lean. It is light and highly saturated, a flat stand-in for the shine of the metal. People read it as wealth, winning, and celebration, from medals and trophies to wedding invitations and holiday decorations.
#FFD700 is the CSS keyword gold, which looks more like bright yellow than polished metal. For a metallic look, designers often use a deeper, browner value such as #D4AF37, commonly called metallic gold.
| HEX | #FFD700 | |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | rgb(255, 215, 0) | |
| HSL | hsl(51, 100%, 50%) | |
| HSV | hsv(51, 100%, 100%) | |
| CMYK | cmyk(0%, 16%, 100%, 0%) |
Text on Gold
Black text reads better on Gold. Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula: 4.5:1 passes AA for body text, 3:1 passes for large text.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Colors that go with Gold
Gold tints and shades
Tints mix Gold with white, shades mix it with black, in 15% steps. Copy any code, or open the tint and shade generator for a full scale.
Tints
Shades
Gold color schemes
Color-wheel harmonies built by rotating the hue of #FFD700 and keeping its saturation and lightness.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split complementary
Tetradic
Gold color meaning
Gold's meaning comes straight from the metal. It has stood for money and rank for so long that the color now signals value almost anywhere: first place, premium memberships, fiftieth anniversaries, and luxury packaging.
It has a festive side as well. Gold appears in religious art, royal regalia, and holiday decor in many cultures to mark something special or sacred. Gold jewelry is central to many Indian weddings, and red and gold are the standard pairing for Lunar New Year, where they stand for prosperity and luck.
The risk is that gold can look gaudy when overused. A little reads as premium, while a lot starts to look flashy. The bright CSS version in particular feels more cheerful than expensive.
How to use Gold in design
Bright gold like #FFD700 works best on dark backgrounds such as black, navy, or deep green, where it glows. For a luxury feel, most brands switch to a muted metallic gold on screen or use foil in print. On light backgrounds this shade loses contrast fast, so don't set text in it on white. When gold is the background, black or very dark text reads clearly. It suits award graphics, premium tiers, celebration posts, and holiday campaigns. In interiors and fashion, gold usually appears as an accent in hardware, frames, jewelry, or embroidery.
Palettes with Gold tones
Curated palettes with a color close to #FFD700.
Colors similar to Gold
Work with Gold
Gold FAQ
Why doesn't #FFD700 look like real gold?
Real gold looks golden because of how it reflects light, with bright highlights and darker brown shadows. A single flat color can't show that. To fake it on screen, use a gradient from pale yellow to deep brownish gold, or choose a muted metallic shade. In print, foil stamping gives a true shine.
What colors go with gold?
Black, navy, deep green, burgundy, and royal purple all make gold look rich, because dark colors let it shine. White and cream give a lighter, wedding-style look. Avoid putting bright gold next to pure yellow, since the two blur together and both lose their character.