The arches in McDonald's traditional Golden Arches branding are yellow.
Yellow became central to McDonald's visual identity because the original restaurant arches were designed as bright yellow architectural features. Their color helped the structures stand out against the roadside environment and made them easy for passing motorists to recognize.
Although the name “Golden Arches” suggests metallic gold, the familiar brand color is generally described and displayed as yellow. This distinction matters because gold can refer to a metallic shade, while McDonald's traditional arches use a strong, nonmetallic yellow in signs, packaging, and promotional materials.
The color works with the arches' simple shape to create a highly recognizable combination. McDonald's has used different sign backgrounds and color treatments in various periods and countries, but the yellow arches remain the core visual element. The color is therefore a branding feature, not merely a description of the logo's shape.