The arches in McDonald’s best-known logo are golden yellow.
The color is part of the “Golden Arches” name and gives the symbol a strong visual presence on roadside signs, restaurant buildings, packaging, and advertising. The arches were originally architectural features, but their bright yellow appearance helped them function as a highly visible identifier.
McDonald’s commonly presents the yellow arches against a red background, especially in traditional signs and restaurant branding. The two colors became closely associated with the company, although the arches themselves are the golden-yellow element.
A frequent mistake is to answer red because red is also strongly linked to McDonald’s visual identity. Red is important in many versions of the brand system, but the name “Golden Arches” specifically refers to the yellow M-shaped symbol.