International orange (Golden Gate Bridge)
A distinct orange-red shade made for the Golden Gate Bridge and used on other bridges
International orange (Golden Gate Bridge) is a specific orange-red colour created for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is lighter than the standard engineering version but darker than the aerospace shade, chosen for visibility and protection against rust and fog. The same colour is also used on Lisbon's 25 de Abril Bridge.
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- Specially made for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
- Lighter than standard engineering international orange
- Protects against rust and fog from the Pacific Ocean
- Also used on Lisbon's 25 de Abril Bridge
What colour is International orange (Golden Gate Bridge)?
International orange (Golden Gate Bridge) is a vivid orange-red colour, created especially for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It sits between the standard engineering version of international orange and the lighter aerospace version. This shade was chosen to make the bridge stand out against the often foggy backdrop and to help ships see it clearly.
Where does International orange (Golden Gate Bridge) come from?
The colour was developed for the Golden Gate Bridge to address the specific needs of its location. Its tone is lighter than the standard international orange used in engineering, but darker than the aerospace version. The colour is also used on the 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal.
How International orange (Golden Gate Bridge) is defined
The paint for the Golden Gate Bridge is specially formulated. It is designed to protect the steel structure from rust caused by ocean salt spray and the frequent fog that comes in from the Pacific Ocean. The exact formula is chosen for both durability and visibility.
Where International orange (Golden Gate Bridge) is used
This colour is most famously used on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is also found on the 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon. Its main purpose is to make large structures visible and to protect them from harsh weather and corrosion.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
The lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusThe orange stripe of the flag stands for Protestants, the followers of William of Orange. In Northern Ireland the Orange Order still marches each 12 July in orange sashes.
Politics and protestSource: Orange OrderShades and relatives of International orange (Golden Gate Bridge)
International orange (Golden Gate Bridge) is lighter than the standard international orange used in engineering, but darker than the aerospace version. These related shades are used in different industries for visibility and safety.
Colours that go with International orange (Golden Gate Bridge)
Harmonies are worked out from the value #C0362C. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about International orange (Golden Gate Bridge)
What colour is International orange (Golden Gate Bridge)?
It is a bright orange-red shade, lighter than standard engineering international orange but darker than the aerospace version.
Why was this colour chosen for the Golden Gate Bridge?
It was selected for its high visibility in fog and to help ships see the bridge, as well as to protect the bridge from rust and moisture.
Where else is this colour used?
Besides the Golden Gate Bridge, it is also used on the 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal.
Is the paint on the Golden Gate Bridge special?
Yes, the paint is specially formulated to guard against rust from ocean salt spray and fog.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "International orange" (the section "Golden Gate Bridge"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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