The letter “M” in McDonald’s current Golden Arches logo is yellow. The bright color is paired most famously with a red background or red brand applications.
The arches originated as physical yellow arches on McDonald’s early restaurant buildings. In 1962, the separate architectural arches were combined into a single stylized “M,” creating the logo form recognized worldwide.
Color treatments have varied by restaurant design, packaging, and modern minimalist applications, but the canonical Golden Arches are golden yellow. The symbol is not the same as the red-and-yellow restaurant sign in every historical period; both colors became associated with the brand through different uses.