Red was added to McDonald’s Golden Arches logo in the 1960s alongside yellow.
The Golden Arches are primarily yellow, but McDonald’s commonly presented them with a red field or red supporting elements as the brand developed its visual identity. The pairing created strong contrast and helped the logo stand out on restaurant signs, packaging, and advertising.
The arches originated as architectural features on McDonald’s restaurants before becoming a unified graphic mark. Once the logo became central to the company’s branding, color consistency helped customers recognize the chain across different locations.
The exact appearance of the red-and-yellow combination has varied by sign, country, and design era. That variation does not change the basic brand association: yellow arches paired with red became a defining McDonald’s color scheme.