Ivory vs Mustard Yellow: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Ivory and Mustard Yellow is hue — Ivory is a cool-leaning off-white, while Mustard Yellow is a warm yellow. Ivory (#FFFFF0) has an HSL of 60°, 100%, 97%, whereas Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) sits at 46°, 99%, 44%.

Ivory#FFFFF0

Mustard Yellow#E1AD01

#FFFFF0Blended: #F0D679#E1AD01

Ivory vs Mustard Yellow: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Ivory Mustard Yellow

BrightnessVery light (L=97%) — pale, delicate, gentleMedium (L=44%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=99%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOff-whiteYellow

TemperatureCool-leaningWarm

Hex code#FFFFF0#E1AD01

RGB255, 255, 240225, 173, 1

Can you use Ivory and Mustard Yellow together?

Mustard Yellow text on Ivory

Ivory text on Mustard Yellow

Contrast Ratio:2.04:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Ivory and Mustard Yellow Apart

●Look at lightness first: Ivory is noticeably lighter.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 14° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Ivory vs Mustard Yellow in Design

Use Ivory for:

●Backgrounds and page surfaces

●Minimalist editorial design

●Luxury clean aesthetics

●Soft wedding invitations

●Wellness and spa brands

Use Mustard Yellow for:

●Warning states & highlights

●Children's and summer themes

●Happy, optimistic branding

●Taxi, logistics, signage

●Accent color in palettes

Ivory and Mustard Yellow Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Ivory#FFFFF0

Ivory (#FFFFF0) is a very light, vivid off-white with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Mustard Yellow#E1AD01

Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) is a medium, vivid yellow with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Ivory and Mustard Yellow WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview

Ivory text on white

1.01:1Fail

Sample text preview

Ivory text on black

20.81:1AAA

Sample text preview

Mustard Yellow text on white

2.06:1Fail

Sample text preview

Mustard Yellow text on black

10.18:1AAA

Sample text preview

Ivory text on Mustard Yellow

2.04:1Fail

Sample text preview

Mustard Yellow text on Ivory

2.04:1Fail

Explore Ivory and Mustard Yellow individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Ivory color page#FFFFF0 · shades, tints, pairings Mustard Yellow color page#E1AD01 · shades, tints, pairings

More Ivory and Mustard Yellow Comparisons

Ivory vs Mustard Yellow FAQ

What is the difference between ivory and mustard yellow?+

The main difference between Ivory and Mustard Yellow is hue — Ivory is a cool-leaning off-white, while Mustard Yellow is a warm yellow. Ivory (#FFFFF0) has an HSL of 60°, 100%, 97%, whereas Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) sits at 46°, 99%, 44%.

Is ivory darker than mustard yellow?+

No. Mustard Yellow is the darker of the two at 44% lightness, while Ivory sits higher at 97%.

Are ivory and mustard yellow the same color?+

No. Ivory is #FFFFF0 and Mustard Yellow is #E1AD01. They differ by 14° in hue, 53% in lightness, and 1% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, ivory or mustard yellow?+

They have nearly identical saturation — Ivory at 100% and Mustard Yellow at 99% in HSL.

Is ivory warm or cool?+

Ivory (#FFFFF0) is a cool-leaning off-white. Its hue sits at 60° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.

Is mustard yellow warm or cool?+

Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) is a warm yellow. Its hue sits at 46° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use ivory and mustard yellow together?+

Yes. Ivory (off-white) and Mustard Yellow (yellow) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.

What color family does ivory belong to?+

Ivory belongs to the off-white family. Its HSL is 60°, 100%, 97% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader off-white group.

What is the hex code for ivory?+

The hex code for Ivory is #FFFFF0. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 255, 240), and in HSL it's hsl(60, 100%, 97%).

What is the hex code for mustard yellow?+

The hex code for Mustard Yellow is #E1AD01. In RGB, that's rgb(225, 173, 1), and in HSL it's hsl(46, 99%, 44%).