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Gold and Salmon

Contrasting color combination with 1.83:1 contrast ratio

#FFD700
#FF796C

Color Values

Gold
HEX #FFD700
RGB 255, 215, 0
HSL 51, 100%, 50%
Salmon
HEX #FF796C
RGB 255, 121, 108
HSL 5, 100%, 71%

Harmony: Contrasting

These colors sit far enough apart on the wheel to create clear contrast without falling into a named harmony. The pairing works through difference rather than relationship, which suits designs that want variety over cohesion.

The hue angle between Gold and Salmon is 46 degrees. You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

1.83:1
Gold background with Salmon text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

Gold surface

Sample text on a gold background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Salmon surface

Sample text on a salmon background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #FFD700;
  --color-b: #FF796C;
  --color-a-rgb: 255, 215, 0;
  --color-b-rgb: 255, 121, 108;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Gold and Salmon",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Gold",
      "hex": "#FFD700",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        215,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Salmon",
      "hex": "#FF796C",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        121,
        108
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Contrasting",
  "contrastRatio": 1.83
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do gold and salmon go together?

Yes. Gold and Salmon form a contrasting color combination. These colors sit far enough apart on the wheel to create clear contrast without falling into a named harmony. The pairing works through difference rather than relationship, which suits designs that want variety over cohesion. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 1.83:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between gold and salmon?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Gold (#FFD700) and Salmon (#FF796C) is 1.83:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use gold and salmon in design?

A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for gold and salmon?

Gold has the hex code #FFD700 and RGB values rgb(255, 215, 0). Salmon has the hex code #FF796C and RGB values rgb(255, 121, 108). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.