Everything about
the color Yellow orange

What color is yellow orange?

Yellow orange is warm shade midway between yellow and orange. The yellow orange hex color code is #FFAE42.

What colors make yellow orange?

To make yellow orange paint using only primary colors, mix two parts yellow paint with one part red paint. Alternatively, combining equal parts of orange and yellow paint will create the warm hue. The more yellow you add, the brighter your mixture will be.

On the color wheel, yellow orange sits between yellow and orange, meaning it can be thought of as a stepping stone between the two hues. But it’s actually positioned closer to orange hues than shades like amber and freesia, which are both slightly more yellow in appearance.

The history of yellow orange

Yellow orange is a mixture of yellow and orange, two colors that have existed for centuries.

The word “yellow” was first used in the year AD700, but its use as a color stretches back even further—yellow ochre pigment was one of the first colors used in cave paintings during the Stone Age. In Ancient Egypt, yellow was treasured for its likeness to the color of gold.

The word “orange” was first used as a color name in English in 1512. Prior to the 15th century, the hue was known instead as “yellow-red”. The color is named after the typical shade of the citrus fruit orange.

In the modern era, yellow and orange are not always popular colors. Yellow, in particular, is often disliked—a survey in the year 2000 found only six percent of respondents named it their favorite color, compared to 45 percent for blue.

What does the color yellow orange represent?

Just like the two hues it’s made up of, yellow orange conveys happiness, excitement and enthusiasm. As it is the color of sunshine, it’s likely to be associated with warmth and energy. Its likeness to the color of autumn leaves means it could also be linked with the change of seasons.

Yellow and orange are the two brightest, most visible hues on the color wheel. In the 20th century, they’re commonly used by vehicles and items that want to stand out for safety or hazard reasons—road signs, life jackets and school buses are all bright orange or yellow hues. By extension, yellow orange might also be associated with hazards.

According to color psychology, yellow orange’s vibrant appearance can uplift, inspire boldness and promote feelings of happiness.

How to use yellow orange

Yellow orange’s warm, earthy tone makes it a great choice for when brighter shades of yellow or orange might be too intense. It grabs attention without overwhelming the viewer.

Use yellow orange as an accent to add a splash of color to a design, or combine it with browns and reds for a soothing autumnal palette.

What colors go with yellow orange?

Yellow orange can be matched with a number of different colors. You could use it together with other shades of orange and yellow for a fun and fruity color scheme, contrast it with striking purples, or calm it down with other earthy hues. Yellow orange also looks great with light blue, which is its complementary color on the color wheel. The colors that pair well with yellow orange include:

• Light blue
• Purple
• Violet
• Brown
• Burnt orange
• Maroon

Similar colors to yellow orange

Looking for a different hue? The following colors are related to yellow orange.

• Orange
• Yellow
• Freesia
• Gold
• Amber
• Burnt orange