Tangerine Yellow

HEX: #FFCC00 | Modern Palette

On White
1.51:1
FAIL
On Black
13.89:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#FFCC00
RGB
255, 204, 0
HSL
48°, 100% ,50%
CMYK
0, 20, 100, 0

About Tangerine Yellow

Tangerine Yellow (#FFCC00) is a color with RGB(255, 204, 0) and HSL(48°, 100%, 50%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #0033FF, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #00FFCC and Vivid Orchid (#CC00FF). The name comes from Tangerine Yellow (English).

  • HEX: #FFCC00
  • RGB: 255, 204, 0
  • HSL: 48°, 100%, 50%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #0033FF
  • Triadic colors: #00FFCC, Vivid Orchid (#CC00FF)
  • The name comes from Tangerine Yellow (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Tangerine Yellow #FFCC00 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
TANGERINE YELLOW
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
TANGERINE YELLOW
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
TANGERINE YELLOW
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Tangerine Yellow #FFCC00 pairs with #0033FF as its complementary color, and #00FFCC and Vivid Orchid (#CC00FF) in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

TANGERINE YELLOW
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

TANGERINE YELLOW
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

TANGERINE YELLOW
VIVID ORCHID
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

TANGERINE YELLOW
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

TANGERINE YELLOW
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

TANGERINE YELLOW

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Tangerine Yellow #FFCC00 moves from dark #1A1400 tones through the base color to lighter #FFFAE6 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

TANGERINE YELLOW

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #DCDC00
Protanopia #D2D206
Tritanopia #FFC0C0
Achromatopsia #D2D2D2

Frequently Asked Questions

Tangerine Yellow (#FFCC00) is a color with RGB(255, 204, 0) and HSL(48°, 100%, 50%).

#FFCC00 pairs strongly with #0033FF as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#FFCC00 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#FFCC00 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Tangerine Yellow is linked to Tangerine Yellow from English, meaning A color resembling the skin of a tangerine fruit..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Tangerine Yellow
Meaning A color resembling the skin of a tangerine fruit.
Language English
First Recorded Use Early 20th Century

History

The color 'Tangerine Yellow' is a descriptive color name, directly referencing the vibrant orange-yellow hue of a ripe tangerine. While oranges and yellows have existed as colors forever, the specific naming convention 'Tangerine Yellow' is a modern invention. It likely emerged as a more specific descriptor than 'orange' or 'yellow' to capture a particular shade that is brighter and more yellow-leaning than a true orange, but still distinct from a pure yellow. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed with fashion trends, often associated with retro aesthetics from the mid-20th century.

First Recorded Use

The term 'tangerine' for the fruit itself became common in English in the late 19th century, referring to tangerines from Tangier, Morocco. The specific color name 'Tangerine Yellow' or simply 'Tangerine' as a color gained traction in the early 20th century as color standardization and naming became more prevalent in fashion, art, and design.

Cultural Associations

Tangerine Yellow evokes feelings of warmth, energy, and tropical vibrancy. It is often associated with summer, citrus fruits, and exotic locales. In fashion, it can be seen as bold and playful. In interior design, it can add a pop of color and warmth. It's less common in formal or traditional contexts and more at home in modern, casual, or artistic settings. It can also be associated with sunsets and autumn foliage, depending on the specific shade and context.

Similar Named Colors
Deep Lemon #F5C71A ΔE 1.96
Sunglow #FFCC33 ΔE 2.04
Cyber Yellow #FFD300 ΔE 2.33
Jonquil #F4CA16 ΔE 2.33

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #FFCC00;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #FFCC00;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #FFCC00;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #FFCC00,
        #0033FF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #FFCC00,
        #0033FF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$tangerine-yellow: #FFCC00;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$tangerine-yellow-r: 255;
$tangerine-yellow-g: 204;
$tangerine-yellow-b: 0;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $tangerine-yellow;
    color: rgba($tangerine-yellow-r, $tangerine-yellow-g, $tangerine-yellow-b, 0.8);
}