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Orange and Yellow

Contrasting color combination with 1.84:1 contrast ratio

#FFA500
#FFFF00

Color Values

Orange
HEX #FFA500
RGB 255, 165, 0
HSL 39, 100%, 50%
Yellow
HEX #FFFF00
RGB 255, 255, 0
HSL 60, 100%, 50%

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 Orange and Yellow is 21 degrees. You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

1.84:1
Orange background with Yellow text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

Orange surface

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

Yellow surface

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

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #FFA500;
  --color-b: #FFFF00;
  --color-a-rgb: 255, 165, 0;
  --color-b-rgb: 255, 255, 0;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Orange and Yellow",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Orange",
      "hex": "#FFA500",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        165,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Yellow",
      "hex": "#FFFF00",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        255,
        0
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Contrasting",
  "contrastRatio": 1.84
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do orange and yellow go together?

Yes. Orange and Yellow 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 1.84:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between orange and yellow?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Orange (#FFA500) and Yellow (#FFFF00) is 1.84:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use orange and yellow 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 orange and yellow?

Orange has the hex code #FFA500 and RGB values rgb(255, 165, 0). Yellow has the hex code #FFFF00 and RGB values rgb(255, 255, 0). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.