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Mustard vs Ivory: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Mustard and Ivory is hue — Mustard is a warm yellow, while Ivory is a cool-leaning off-white. Mustard (#FFDB58) has an HSL of 47°, 100%, 67%, whereas Ivory (#FFFFF0) sits at 60°, 100%, 97%.

Mustard#FFDB58
Ivory#FFFFF0
#FFDB58Blended: #FFEDA4#FFFFF0

Mustard vs Ivory: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Mustard Ivory
BrightnessLight (L=67%) — airy, soft, approachableVery light (L=97%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyYellowOff-white
TemperatureWarmCool-leaning
Hex code#FFDB58#FFFFF0
RGB255, 219, 88255, 255, 240

Can you use Mustard and Ivory together?

Ivory text on Mustard
Mustard text on Ivory
Contrast Ratio:1.34:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Mustard and Ivory Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Ivory is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 13° 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 Mustard vs Ivory in Design

Use Mustard for:
●Warning states & highlights
●Children's and summer themes
●Happy, optimistic branding
●Taxi, logistics, signage
●Accent color in palettes
Use Ivory for:
●Backgrounds and page surfaces
●Minimalist editorial design
●Luxury clean aesthetics
●Soft wedding invitations
●Wellness and spa brands

Mustard and Ivory 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
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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
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Tints

Mustard and Ivory 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
Ivory text on white
1.01:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ivory text on black
20.81:1AAA
Sample text preview
Mustard text on Ivory
1.34:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ivory text on Mustard
1.34:1Fail

Explore Mustard and Ivory individually

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

Mustard color page#FFDB58 · shades, tints, pairingsIvory color page#FFFFF0 · shades, tints, pairings

More Mustard and Ivory Comparisons

TanvsMustardEcruvsIvoryGoldvsMustardIvoryvsSnowMustardvsTealIvoryvsEcruMustardvsNavyIvoryvsNavyMustardvsRustIvoryvsTealMustardvsSandIvoryvsSage

Mustard vs Ivory FAQ

What is the difference between mustard and ivory?+
The main difference between Mustard and Ivory is hue — Mustard is a warm yellow, while Ivory is a cool-leaning off-white. Mustard (#FFDB58) has an HSL of 47°, 100%, 67%, whereas Ivory (#FFFFF0) sits at 60°, 100%, 97%.
Is mustard darker than ivory?+
Yes. Mustard is darker, with a lightness of 67% in HSL compared to Ivory at 97% — a 30-point gap.
Are mustard and ivory the same color?+
No. Mustard is #FFDB58 and Ivory is #FFFFF0. They differ by 13° in hue, 30% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, mustard or ivory?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Mustard at 100% and Ivory at 100% in HSL.
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 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.
Can you use mustard and ivory together?+
Yes. Mustard (yellow) and Ivory (off-white) 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 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%).