Red was added to the Golden Arches logo in the 1960s to create a two-tone design.
The Golden Arches themselves are yellow, but McDonald's branding often placed them against a strong red field or paired them with red in signs and other visual applications. The combination became one of the company's most recognizable color systems, helping the logo stand out in roadside environments and advertising.
The color choice was not simply decorative. Red had already been widely used in food-service and restaurant advertising because it attracts attention and remains highly visible at a distance. Together, red and yellow created a bold, high-contrast identity that could be recognized quickly by motorists and pedestrians.
Modern McDonald's branding uses additional colors and may present the arches in different layouts, especially in digital design. Nevertheless, the classic red-and-yellow combination remains strongly associated with the company's mid-century expansion. The yellow arches should not be confused with a logo made entirely from red elements.