Lemon vs Canary
Can you tell them apart?
#FFF44F
#FFEF00
Perceptual difference (ΔE): 15 — clearly different.
Lemon and canary yellow are both pale, bright yellows that sit at the cooler end of the yellow spectrum, but they pull in slightly different directions. Lemon yellow is slightly cool and greenish — like the flesh or rind of a lemon — and can verge on yellow-green, giving it a slightly acidic quality. Canary yellow is named after the bird and is a purer, more classic yellow with no green lean, sitting closer to the pure spectral yellow. The difference is modest but noticeable when comparing paints, fabrics, or printed materials side by side.
How to tell them apart
Lemon has a slightly greenish, cooler cast; canary is a warmer, truer pure yellow. If it looks like citrus fruit, a sour candy, or a yellow-green highlighter, it's lemon; if it looks like a small bright songbird, a vintage taxi, or pure classic yellow, it's canary.
Color values
| HEX | #FFF44F |
|---|---|
| RGB | 255, 244, 79 |
| HSL | 56°, 100%, 65% |
| CMYK | 0, 4, 69, 0 |
| HEX | #FFEF00 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 255, 239, 0 |
| HSL | 56°, 100%, 50% |
| CMYK | 0, 6, 100, 0 |
FAQ
- Is lemon yellow greener than canary yellow?
- Yes. Lemon yellow has a slight green lean that canary yellow does not — canary is a purer, warmer yellow.
- Which is brighter, lemon or canary?
- Lemon can appear brighter or more intense due to its yellow-green lean; canary is more classically warm yellow.