Home /Compare /Mustard vs Honey

Mustard vs Honey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Mustard and Honey is hue — Mustard is a warm yellow, while Honey is a warm orange. Mustard (#FFDB58) has an HSL of 47°, 100%, 67%, whereas Honey (#EB9605) sits at 38°, 96%, 47%.

Mustard#FFDB58
Honey#EB9605
#FFDB58Blended: #F5B92F#EB9605

Mustard vs Honey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Mustard Honey
BrightnessLight (L=67%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=96%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyYellowOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FFDB58#EB9605
RGB255, 219, 88235, 150, 5

Can you use Mustard and Honey together?

Honey text on Mustard
Mustard text on Honey
Contrast Ratio:1.74:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Mustard and Honey Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Mustard is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Mustard vs Honey in Design

Use Mustard for:
●Warning states & highlights
●Children's and summer themes
●Happy, optimistic branding
●Taxi, logistics, signage
●Accent color in palettes
Use Honey for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges

Mustard and Honey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Mustard#FFDB58

Mustard (#FFDB58) is a light, vivid yellow with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Honey#EB9605

Honey (#EB9605) is a medium, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Mustard and Honey 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
Mustard text on white
1.35:1Fail
Sample text preview
Mustard text on black
15.53:1AAA
Sample text preview
Honey text on white
2.36:1Fail
Sample text preview
Honey text on black
8.9:1AAA
Sample text preview
Mustard text on Honey
1.74:1Fail
Sample text preview
Honey text on Mustard
1.74:1Fail

Explore Mustard and Honey individually

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

Mustard color page#FFDB58 · shades, tints, pairingsHoney color page#EB9605 · shades, tints, pairings

More Mustard and Honey Comparisons

TanvsMustardSandvsHoneyGoldvsMustardGoldvsHoneyMustardvsTealRustvsHoneyMustardvsNavyPeruvsHoneyMustardvsRustHoneyvsAmberMustardvsSandHoneyvsOchre

Mustard vs Honey FAQ

What is the difference between mustard and honey?+
The main difference between Mustard and Honey is hue — Mustard is a warm yellow, while Honey is a warm orange. Mustard (#FFDB58) has an HSL of 47°, 100%, 67%, whereas Honey (#EB9605) sits at 38°, 96%, 47%.
Is mustard darker than honey?+
No. Honey is the darker of the two at 47% lightness, while Mustard sits higher at 67%.
Are mustard and honey the same color?+
No. Mustard is #FFDB58 and Honey is #EB9605. They differ by 9° in hue, 20% in lightness, and 4% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, mustard or honey?+
Mustard is more saturated. In HSL, Mustard has 100% saturation and Honey has 96% — Mustard is the more vivid of the two, while Honey reads as more muted.
Is mustard warm or cool?+
Mustard (#FFDB58) is a warm yellow. Its hue sits at 47° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is honey warm or cool?+
Honey (#EB9605) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 38° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use mustard and honey together?+
Yes. Mustard (yellow) and Honey (orange) 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 mustard belong to?+
Mustard belongs to the yellow family. Its HSL is 47°, 100%, 67% — a warm tone within the broader yellow group.
What is the hex code for mustard?+
The hex code for Mustard is #FFDB58. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 219, 88), and in HSL it's hsl(47, 100%, 67%).
What is the hex code for honey?+
The hex code for Honey is #EB9605. In RGB, that's rgb(235, 150, 5), and in HSL it's hsl(38, 96%, 47%).