Goldenrod Color Palette
Goldenrod is hex #DAA520, rgb(218, 165, 32). Goldenrod is a dark golden yellow named after the wildflower. It is a CSS named color and reads as warm, autumnal and confident.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Goldenrod color codes
Reading the goldenrod color codes
The hex code #DAA520 is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. DA is 218, A5 is 165 and 20 is 32, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(218, 165, 32) in CSS. The red channel is the strongest here, which is what gives goldenrod its yellow-orange character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 43 degrees places goldenrod in the yellow-orange part of the color wheel. Saturation of 74% makes it vivid, and lightness of 49% makes it a mid-tone color. HSL is the easiest format to adjust by hand: keep the hue, then raise or lower lightness to create tints and shades that stay in the same family.
For print, the approximate CMYK mix is 0% cyan, 24% magenta, 85% yellow and 15% black. Screen and print colors never match perfectly, because monitors emit light while ink absorbs it, so always proof a printed sample before committing to goldenrod for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Goldenrod shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #DAA520, so you can use goldenrod for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"goldenrod": {
50: "#F8EFD7",
100: "#F3E3B9",
200: "#EED69A",
300: "#E9CA7C",
400: "#E4BE5D",
500: "#DFB13F",
600: "#DAA520",
700: "#B78A1B",
800: "#947016",
900: "#715511",
950: "#4D3A0B",
},
},
},
}:root {
--goldenrod-50: #F8EFD7;
--goldenrod-100: #F3E3B9;
--goldenrod-200: #EED69A;
--goldenrod-300: #E9CA7C;
--goldenrod-400: #E4BE5D;
--goldenrod-500: #DFB13F;
--goldenrod-600: #DAA520;
--goldenrod-700: #B78A1B;
--goldenrod-800: #947016;
--goldenrod-900: #715511;
--goldenrod-950: #4D3A0B;
}A shade-by-shade guide to goldenrod
The 50 to 950 scale above follows the same structure as Tailwind's built-in palettes, so each step has a natural job. The lightest steps, 50 (#F8EFD7) and 100 (#F3E3B9), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the goldenrod mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#EED69A) and 300 (#E9CA7C) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where goldenrod is most recognizable, so use it for brand moments, illustrations and primary buttons. White text reaches the 4.5:1 body-text contrast minimum from step 800 upward, so use step 800 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 700.
The darkest steps, 800 (#947016) through 950 (#4D3A0B), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to goldenrod. Using step 900 or 950 for text instead of pure black is one of the simplest ways to make an interface feel designed rather than default.
Colors that go with goldenrod
How the goldenrod color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from goldenrod is #2055DA, which sits closest to denim blue among common named colors. Complementary pairs create the strongest contrast of hue, so use the second color sparingly, for a single call to action or highlight, rather than in equal amounts.
Analogous. #DA4820 and #B2DA20 sit 30 degrees either side of goldenrod. Analogous palettes feel calm and cohesive because the colors share undertones; they are ideal for illustrations, gradients and backgrounds where you want harmony more than contrast.
Triadic and split complementary. The triadic set (#20DAA5 and #A520DA) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to turquoise. The split complementary set (#20B2DA and #4820DA) keeps much of the complementary contrast but is easier to balance, which makes it a good choice for data visualization and multi-category tags.
Monochromatic. The monochromatic set runs from #F1DBA2 to #5D470E. A single-hue palette is the safest way to build a calm, premium interface: rely on lightness for hierarchy, then add one neutral and one accent if you need emphasis.
Goldenrod compared with similar colors
bronze (#CD7F32) is about as light and more muted, and leans back the wheel toward orange. Choose bronze if you want a softer, airier version; choose goldenrod if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
ochre (#CC7722) is about as light and similarly saturated, and leans back the wheel toward orange. Choose ochre if you need more weight and contrast; choose goldenrod if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
copper (#B87333) is about as light and more muted, and leans back the wheel toward orange. Choose copper if you need more weight and contrast; choose goldenrod if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
Goldenrod in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here goldenrod carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
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Using goldenrod in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. White labels on goldenrod only reach 2.24:1, so use dark text (9.38:1 with black) or a deeper shade for the button.
- Text. Avoid goldenrod for body text on white; use step 800 or darker for links and headings that need to read as goldenrod.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a vivid mid-tone color draw attention, so give them a reason, like a hero section or pricing highlight.
- Dark mode. Steps 900 and 950 make a dark surface tinted with goldenrod. On dark backgrounds the base color often needs a lighter step (300 or 400) to keep enough contrast for icons and borders, as required by WCAG non-text contrast.
- States. Shift one step darker for hover and two steps darker for pressed. Keep focus rings in a contrasting color so keyboard users can always see them.
Contrast and accessibility
AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text. AAA needs 7:1.
Color contrast is measured as a ratio from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). Goldenrod scores 2.24:1 against white (Fail) and 9.38:1 against black (AAA). The WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is why the shade guide above recommends specific steps for text and labels.
Contrast is only half of accessibility. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, so never use goldenrod alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What goldenrod means
Yellow is optimism, attention and warmth. Pale yellows feel sunny and gentle; deep yellows like mustard feel vintage and confident.
Goldenrod is named after the wildflower that blooms in late summer across North America. It is one of the CSS named colors.
Yellow almost never works as text on white. Use it for backgrounds, highlights and warning states, and pair it with near-black text.
Where goldenrod works best
- Autumn campaigns
- Honey and bakery brands
- Education
- Warm data visualisation
How to style goldenrod
Goldenrod pairs with brown, cream, sage and deep navy. It needs dark text. Use it as a warm accent, chart color or highlight in autumnal palettes.
Build a UI with goldenrod
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #DAA520 as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Goldenrod · History and definition of goldenrod.
- WCAG 2.1: Contrast (Minimum) · The W3C rule behind the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds used on this page.
- WCAG 2.1: Use of Color · Why color should never be the only way information is shown.
- MDN: CSS color values · Reference for hex, rgb() and hsl() syntax.
- Tailwind CSS: Customizing colors · How to add a custom color scale to your theme.
Similar colors
Questions people ask
What is the hex code for goldenrod?
The hex code for goldenrod used on this page is #DAA520. In RGB that is rgb(218, 165, 32), and in HSL it is hsl(43, 74%, 49%).
What colors go well with goldenrod?
Goldenrod pairs well with #F5E3B3, #FFFCF3, #3B2F2F (the Late Summer palette above). Its complementary color is #2055DA, and analogous colors are #DA4820 and #B2DA20.
Is goldenrod a warm or cool color?
Goldenrod is a warm color. Its hue sits at 43 degrees on the color wheel with 74% saturation.
Can I use goldenrod for text?
Goldenrod has a contrast ratio of 2.24:1 against white and 9.38:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as a background behind dark text, but not as text on white.
What does goldenrod mean?
Yellow is optimism, attention and warmth. Pale yellows feel sunny and gentle; deep yellows like mustard feel vintage and confident. Goldenrod in particular is used for autumn campaigns and honey and bakery brands.
How do I use goldenrod in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#DAA520] for a one-off, or add the 50-950 scale from this page to theme.extend.colors in tailwind.config.js and use classes like bg-goldenrod-500 and text-goldenrod-900.
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