Brown color · CSS named color
Goldenrod Color Code: #DAA520
Goldenrod (#DAA520) is a medium, rich orange shade: RGB 218, 165, 32, HSL 43°, 74%, 49%. Black text reads best on it (9.38:1 contrast).
Goldenrod color values
#DAA520
rgb(218, 165, 32)
hsl(43, 74%, 49%)
43, 85%, 85%
hwb(43 13% 15%)
0%, 24%, 85%, 15%
14329120
goldenrod
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Goldenrod?
Goldenrod is one of the named colors defined by the CSS Color specifications (keyword “goldenrod”), so every modern browser understands it without a hex code.
Its hue angle of 43° places it in the orange part of the color wheel, with 74% saturation (rich) and 49% lightness (medium). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other brown colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 61% of them and more saturated than 54% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.419, which makes it a light color. That is above the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so black text has the advantage.
Goldenrod counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.419. Black text reads best on it (9.38:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Goldenrod
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 2.23:1 Poor | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 9.38:1 Excellent | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Goldenrod
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Goldenrod
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Goldenrod
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (9.38:1 contrast with black)
- Accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations
- Warm neutrals alongside cream and green
- Borders, wood-like textures and illustrations
- Earthy, natural palettes
- Packaging and craft-style layouts
Goldenrod appears in these curated palettes: Green and Gold (Green Color Palettes), Charcoal and Gold (Dark Color Palettes), Jewel Tones (Vibrant Color Palettes), Mono and Gold (Minimal Color Palettes), Status Colors (UI Color Palettes).
Use Goldenrod in CSS
:root {
--color-goldenrod: #DAA520;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-goldenrod);
background-color: #DAA520;
border: 2px solid #DAA520;
}Questions about Goldenrod
What is the HEX code for Goldenrod?
Goldenrod is #DAA520.
What is the RGB value of Goldenrod?
The RGB value of Goldenrod is 218, 165, 32: 218 red, 165 green and 32 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(218, 165, 32) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Goldenrod?
The HSL value of Goldenrod is 43°, 74%, 49% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(43, 74%, 49%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Goldenrod?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 24%, Y 85%, K 15%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Goldenrod a light or dark color?
Goldenrod counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.419. Black text reads best on it (9.38:1 contrast).
How does Goldenrod look with white text?
White text on Goldenrod has a contrast ratio of 2.23:1, rated Poor. It falls below the WCAG minimum for text.
How does Goldenrod look with black text?
Black text on Goldenrod has a contrast ratio of 9.38:1, rated Excellent. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Goldenrod?
Warm Blue is its complementary color, and Deep Orange sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Goldenrod be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (9.38:1 contrast with black); accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations; warm neutrals alongside cream and green.
How do I use Goldenrod in CSS?
Use color: #DAA520; for text, background-color: #DAA520; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-goldenrod: #DAA520; and reuse it with var(--color-goldenrod).
About this color page
CSS named color (W3C CSS Color Module). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.