What color are the arches in McDonald's traditional corporate symbol?

The arches in McDonald's traditional corporate symbol are golden yellow.

The color reflects the company's long association with the Golden Arches, a symbol that developed from the large yellow arches used on early restaurant buildings. The bright tone was highly visible from roads and helped restaurants stand out in the expanding drive-in market.

Over time, the arches became a simplified graphic mark that could appear by itself on signs, packaging, and advertising. Although McDonald's has used different color combinations and restaurant designs in different periods, the yellow arches remain the core visual element of the traditional symbol.

The arches are sometimes described simply as “the yellow M,” but their historical name is the Golden Arches. That phrase refers both to the architectural origin and to the recognizable corporate emblem.