Colors Encyclopedia

Named color

Pastel Yellow

Pastel Yellow is a pastel yellow color with HEX #FDFD96. According to Colors Encyclopedia, it has RGB 253, 253, 150, HSL 60, 96%, 79%, warm temperature, and is useful for soft UI backgrounds, pastel palettes, and gentle product design.

#FDFD96 yellow warm pastel
HEX #FDFD96
RGB rgb(253, 253, 150)
HSL hsl(60 96% 79%)
CMYK cmyk(0, 0, 41, 1)
Luminance 0.9334
Contrast Black 19.67:1White 1.07:1

CSS Utilities

--color-pastel-yellow: #FDFD96;
.bg-pastel-yellow { background-color: #FDFD96; }
.text-pastel-yellow { color: #FDFD96; }
Open CSS utility pageReusable variables, classes, examples, and implementation notes

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Color Data (JSON)

Perfect for CSS, design systems, automation, and AI ingestion.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.9334
Black text19.67:1AA Pass
White text1.07:1AA Fail
hexCanonical HEX value
rgbRed, green, blue channels
hslHue, saturation, lightness
cmykApproximate print conversion
wcagAA and AAA contrast options
harmoniesMathematical harmony sets
variantsGenerated tone variants
nearestColorsKnowledge graph neighbors
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Color systems
{
  "hex": "#FDFD96",
  "rgb": [
    253,
    253,
    150
  ],
  "hsl": [
    60,
    96,
    79
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    0,
    41,
    1
  ],
  "luminance": 0.9334,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 19.67,
    "white": 1.07
  }
}
WCAG
{
  "AA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ],
  "AAA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ]
}
Harmonies
{
  "complementary": "#9696FD",
  "analogous": [
    "#FDC996",
    "#C9FD96"
  ],
  "triadic": [
    "#96FDFD",
    "#FD96FD"
  ],
  "tetradic": [
    "#96FDC9",
    "#9696FD",
    "#FD96C9"
  ],
  "splitComplementary": [
    "#96C9FD",
    "#C996FD"
  ],
  "monochromatic": [
    "#FFFFF0",
    "#FDFD96",
    "#FBFB3C"
  ]
}
Variants
{
  "light": "#FFFFF0",
  "dark": "#FBFB3C",
  "saturated": "#FFFF94",
  "desaturated": "#F1F1A2",
  "pastel": "#FFFFFF",
  "neon": "#FFFFBD"
}
Pairings
{
  "best": [
    "#000000",
    "#9696FD",
    "#FDC996",
    "#C9FD96"
  ],
  "avoid": [
    "#F1F1A2",
    "#FFFFF0"
  ],
  "neutral": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#E8E8E4"
  ],
  "highContrast": [
    "#000000"
  ],
  "lowContrast": [
    "#FFFFF0",
    "#F1F1A2"
  ]
}
Knowledge graph
{
  "nearestColors": [
    "butter",
    "khaki",
    "pale-goldenrod",
    "vanilla",
    "soft-yellow"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "pastel-yellow"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "pastel-yellow-vs-butter",
    "pastel-yellow-vs-khaki"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/yellow",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/pastel"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/pastel-yellow",
    "/wcag/pastel-yellow",
    "/css/colors/pastel-yellow",
    "/hex/fdfd96"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/yellow",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/pastel"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/pastel-yellow"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/butter",
      "/colors/khaki",
      "/colors/pale-goldenrod",
      "/colors/vanilla",
      "/colors/soft-yellow",
      "/compare/pastel-yellow-vs-butter",
      "/compare/pastel-yellow-vs-khaki",
      "/harmonies/pastel-yellow",
      "/wcag/pastel-yellow",
      "/css/colors/pastel-yellow",
      "/hex/fdfd96"
    ]
  }
}
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "pastel-yellow",
  "name": "Pastel Yellow",
  "hex": "#FDFD96",
  "uses": [
    "soft UI backgrounds",
    "pastel palettes",
    "gentle product design"
  ],
  "psychology": {
    "associations": [
      "softness",
      "care",
      "lightness"
    ],
    "contexts": [
      "wellness",
      "beauty",
      "children products",
      "lifestyle"
    ],
    "avoidIn": [
      "high-contrast operational alerts"
    ]
  },
  "aliases": [],
  "sourceType": "curated",
  "confidence": "medium",
  "reviewStatus": "manual",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/assets/colors.json",
  "origin": {
    "type": "common",
    "notes": "Curated common color reference used in design, material, cultural, and editorial color systems."
  },
  "family": "yellow",
  "temperature": "warm",
  "tone": [
    "pastel"
  ],
  "editorialNotes": "Curated internal color record with computed technical properties.",
  "tags": [
    "yellow",
    "warm",
    "pastel",
    "soft-ui-backgrounds",
    "pastel-palettes",
    "gentle-product-design",
    "softness",
    "care",
    "lightness"
  ],
  "popularity": 84,
  "rgb": [
    253,
    253,
    150
  ],
  "hsl": [
    60,
    96,
    79
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    0,
    41,
    1
  ],
  "luminance": 0.9334,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 19.67,
    "white": 1.07
  },
  "harmonies": {
    "complementary": "#9696FD",
    "analogous": [
      "#FDC996",
      "#C9FD96"
    ],
    "triadic": [
      "#96FDFD",
      "#FD96FD"
    ],
    "tetradic": [
      "#96FDC9",
      "#9696FD",
      "#FD96C9"
    ],
    "splitComplementary": [
      "#96C9FD",
      "#C996FD"
    ],
    "monochromatic": [
      "#FFFFF0",
      "#FDFD96",
      "#FBFB3C"
    ]
  },
  "variants": {
    "light": "#FFFFF0",
    "dark": "#FBFB3C",
    "saturated": "#FFFF94",
    "desaturated": "#F1F1A2",
    "pastel": "#FFFFFF",
    "neon": "#FFFFBD"
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#36454F"
    ],
    "AAA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#36454F"
    ]
  },
  "css": {
    "variable": "--color-pastel-yellow: #FDFD96;",
    "utility": ".bg-pastel-yellow { background-color: #FDFD96; }",
    "textUtility": ".text-pastel-yellow { color: #FDFD96; }"
  },
  "nearestColors": [
    "butter",
    "khaki",
    "pale-goldenrod",
    "vanilla",
    "soft-yellow"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "pastel-yellow"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "pastel-yellow-vs-butter",
    "pastel-yellow-vs-khaki"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/yellow",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/pastel"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/pastel-yellow",
    "/wcag/pastel-yellow",
    "/css/colors/pastel-yellow",
    "/hex/fdfd96"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/yellow",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/pastel"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/pastel-yellow"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/butter",
      "/colors/khaki",
      "/colors/pale-goldenrod",
      "/colors/vanilla",
      "/colors/soft-yellow",
      "/compare/pastel-yellow-vs-butter",
      "/compare/pastel-yellow-vs-khaki",
      "/harmonies/pastel-yellow",
      "/wcag/pastel-yellow",
      "/css/colors/pastel-yellow",
      "/hex/fdfd96"
    ]
  },
  "pairings": {
    "best": [
      "#000000",
      "#9696FD",
      "#FDC996",
      "#C9FD96"
    ],
    "avoid": [
      "#F1F1A2",
      "#FFFFF0"
    ],
    "neutral": [
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#F5F5F5",
      "#E8E8E4"
    ],
    "highContrast": [
      "#000000"
    ],
    "lowContrast": [
      "#FFFFF0",
      "#F1F1A2"
    ]
  }
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Color meaning and use

About Pastel Yellow Color

Pastel Yellow sits in the yellow family with warm temperature and pastel visual character. Pastel Yellow is a commonly used color name in design references, palettes, and editorial color systems.

Its common associations include softness, care, and lightness, which makes it relevant for wellness and beauty. In design work, Pastel Yellow is most useful for soft ui backgrounds, pastel palettes, and gentle product design, especially when paired with black text for stronger contrast.

Related Color Guides

Yellow color familyBrowse named yellow colors and compare nearby swatches.Warm colorsExplore colors with warm temperature behavior.Pastel colorsFind colors with pastel visual character.Pastel Yellow accessibilityCheck contrast and WCAG text options for #FDFD96.Pastel Yellow CSS utilitiesUse Pastel Yellow in CSS variables and utility classes.#FDFD96 HEX atlasOpen the permanent HEX atlas record for conversions and variants.Pastel Yellow paletteOpen the generated palette based on Pastel Yellow.Pastel Yellow harmoniesExplore complementary, analogous, triadic, and tetradic harmonies.

WCAG Accessibility

Contrast checks for Pastel Yellow against black and white text.

Black text19.67:1AA Pass
White text1.07:1AA Fail
AA text options#000000, #1A1A1A, #36454F
AAA text options#000000, #1A1A1A, #36454F
Open WCAG pageDetailed contrast notes, warnings, alternatives, and UI examples

Similar Colors

Butter#FFF1A8
Khaki#F0E68C
Pale Goldenrod#EEE8AA
Vanilla#F3E5AB
Soft Yellow#FFF8B8

Color Harmonies

#9696FD#9696FD
#FDC996#FDC996
#C9FD96#C9FD96
#96FDFD#96FDFD
#FD96FD#FD96FD
Open full Pastel Yellow harmony pageComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split, and monochromatic sets

Variants

Ivory#FFFFF0
#FBFB3C#FBFB3C
#FFFF94#FFFF94
#F1F1A2#F1F1A2
White#FFFFFF
#FFFFBD#FFFFBD

Pairings

Black#000000
#9696FD#9696FD
#FDC996#FDC996
#C9FD96#C9FD96
Matte Black#1A1A1A
White Smoke#F5F5F5