33 Yellow Manicure Ideas Guaranteed to Make You Smile

Hailey Bieber with yellow nails. — @nailsbyzola/Instagram

There's something about the color yellow that just sparks joy. So when we're looking for a fun, happy manicure, it's our go-to choice. The hue invokes sunny vibes year-round and can even feel modern and elegant, depending on your design. Plus, dozens of yellow manis pair our favorite colors with the hottest nail trends to create the best of both worlds. From pale pastels to golden hues, glitter, nail art, and everything in between—read on for 33 of our favorite yellow nail looks, sure to look great on any nail shape or length.

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Butter Yellow

Butter yellow is one of the season's hottest nail trends and we can't get enough of it. The soft shade looks especially subtle on this short nail mani.

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Lemon French

French manicure with lemon decals on three fingers. — @bhambnails/Instagram

Not ready to sport a solid yellow? Add a lemon accent to your classic French mani for a small pop of color. We're into the hyper-realistic style of this design—the detail is amazing!

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Half Moon

Half moons are a super easy nail design to DIY from home. Grab a few nail stickers or tape to block out the cuticle space and cover the exposed area with polish. Opt for a bold yellow like this one for a high-contrast effect.

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Sunflowers

Daisies manicure. — @chalkboardnails/Instagram

Nothing screams summer quite like sunflowers. This patterned mani is a fun way to rock yellow this season. Alternate between different sizes to give extra variety.

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Honey Mustard

The semi-sheer finish of this yellow hue reminds us of honey mustard in all the best ways. It's a perfect option for those who want more of a subtle way to wear a solid yellow mani.

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Geometric

For a more understated take on yellow manis, try a negative space, geometric style like this one. Paired with the soft gray, the yellow shines without feeling too bold.

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Lemon French With a Twist

French manicure with yellow tips on two fingers and lemons on the others. — @imarninails/Instagram

Turn your French mani up a few notches by swapping out the white tips for a soft yellow. Add in a whole lot of lemons and you've got the perfect Amalfi Coast-inspired design.

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Negative Space

Negative space designs are another great way to subdue a bold yellow hue. This one utilizes a nude-colored base, but you could just as easily go completely bare.

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Ombre Sunset

Orange to yellow ombre manicure. — @melanated.mani/Instagram

From butter to marigold to nearly orange, this sunset ombre manicure is reminiscent of a summer sky. Feel free to get creative with extra colors, such as pinks or blues, to really lean into the sunset vibes.

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Busy Bee

Manicure with different designs on each nail including a heart, smile, and a bee. — @lolo.nailedit/Instagram

Make a mismatched mani your own by swapping out the bare nails with a personalized touch. Might we suggest a bumblebee or perhaps your favorite smiling emoji?

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Juicy Papayas

Yellow nails with papayas on each nail. — @yo_keshh/Instagram

We absolutely adore this fresh and fruity nail set. Each nail features a juicy and colorful papaya design, boasting beautiful tones of coral, yellow, and lime green.

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Pretty in Pastels

Negative space manicure with pastel swirls in yellow, purple, lavender, light blue, pink, orange. — @amyytran/Instagram

This pastel wave-inspired nail art is all about those organic shapes and curves. Be sure to leave some negative space to really highlight the design.

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Double French

French manicure with yellow tips and a black sparkly arc below. — @bhambnails/Instagram

Why do a normal French mani when you can get creative with it? We love the stark contrast between the neon yellow and sparkly black in this double French style.

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Logo-Mania

@imarninails/Instagram

So you are really into logos. This Louis Vuitton-inspired manicure includes the brand's signature logo in a minimalistic yellow print. Perhaps this is the least expensive way to rock your favorite fashion house.

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Flower Child

Yellow and lavender swirls with yellow and lavender flowers. — @lolo.nailedit/Instagram

The sweet lilac and yellow combo screams summer, and we love the baby flowers hidden on each nail. Add as many flowers as you'd like to amp up the floral vibes.

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Honey Drop

Natural nail with dripping honey yellow. — @nails_of_la/Instagram

A manicure Winnie the Pooh would approve of. This golden shimmery tip gives the illusion of honey dripping down each nail.

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Orange-Yellow

Sometimes all you need is one color to make a statement. This orange-yellow hue packs a punch in the best way. It's bold, bright, and perfect for summer.

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Black and Yellow Speckles

Black and yellow speckled manicure. — @truetonesstudio/Instagram

This mani keeps things relatively simple—most nails have a solid yellow base. However, the two accent nails add an artsy flare, featuring a black and yellow speckled design.

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Neon Swirls

Neon yellow swirls manicure. — @nailsbyzola/Instagram

Two things that make a negative space manicure like this one really stand out: a bold, neon hue and a high-gloss finish.

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Mix-and-Match Brights

Different nail designs with pink, yellow, and orange. — @amyytran/Instagram

There's something undeniably cheerful about this mix-and-match mani. Best of all, you can swap out designs as you see fit to make it completely your own.

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Rose Gold-Yellow

This is such a unique shade of yellow—we can't stop staring at that subtle rose gold glow.

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Lava Lamp

The 60s are calling. This mani instantly reminded us of a lava lamp. The yellow and pink swirls are super eye-catching and playful.

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Cheetah Girl

Dark green and yellow cheetah print nails. — @amyle.nails/Instagram

Take a walk on the wild side with some animal print nail art. Pair with a dark green hue for a more natural effect.

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Half-Rimmed

Nude manicure with half the nail outlined in yellow. — @amyle.nails/Instagram

This minimal half-rimmed manicure feels like a modern-day twist on a classic French, and we are so here for it. If the bright hue is not your vibe, swap it out with something more subdued.

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Spray Paint Tips

Yellow, red, and orange powdered tips on a manicure. — @imarninails/Instagram

There's so much to love about this mani: the sherbert-like hues, the spray-paint effect, the French-like design. It feels fresh and unique.

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Lemon Lime

Yellow nails with a green tip. — @lolo.nailedit/Instagram

Lemon lime is already a fan-favorite duo when it comes to our favorite treats. So why not let it inspire your next manicure? Go bold with a yellow base and dark green French tips, as seen here. The final effect is giving us serious Sprite vibes.

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Aura Nails

Aura nails are one of the hottest trends right now. We love how the center of these nude nails is a subtle yellow. The finished look feels like a good omen.

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Ombre Bubbles

Pink to yellow ombre nail with yellow 3D bubbles. — @nuka.nails/Instagram

3D nails are super buzzy right now, and we love this take on the trend. Not only does it feature 3D bubbles, but it also boats summer-ready pink and yellow ombre polish.

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Yellow Slashes

Yellow can be subtle or bold depending on the design you choose. These chic slashes are super minimalist and work on all nail shapes, sizes, and lengths. Try to DIY it with the tip of a bobby pin.

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Lightning Bolts

Yellow manicure with lightening bolts on the ring finger. — @ultranokti/Instagram

These little lightning bolts on the ring finger add just the right amount of funky fun to an already playful manicure.

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1960s Vibes

A brightly-hued manicure paired with a fun, colorful and geometric design (in this case, a 1960s-inspired swirl). — @paintboxnails/Instagram

A brightly-hued manicure paired with a colorful, geometric design (in this case, a 1960s-inspired swirl) is a fun way to incorporate even more cheerful colors into the mix.

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Checkers, Anyone?

Matte yellow manicure with ring fingers left nude with yellow vertical and horizontal lines. — @nailsandface_/Instagram

Leave one accent nail nude with horizontal and vertical stripes to create a fun and neutral checkered style. Make the lines super thin (as seen above) or thick for a more color forward result.

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Yellow-Gold Foil

Neutral manicure with a swipe of gold foil across each nail. — @paintboxnails/Instagram

Who said yellow couldn't be golden? This neutral mani gets a swipe of gold foil across each nail. We love how the design differs from digit to digit, which adds extra visual interest.