Company milestone · 1940-05-15
Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino, California. [1]
McDonald's Logo
Logo files, variants & history · AI, PNG · updated 2 mo ago
File checks recorded: The file registry records a passed file-format check for each file.Editorial / reference only: Recorded use status for this logo record.
Brand profile
About McDonald's
Fast food restaurant company
McDonald’s is an American fast food company. Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino, California, on 15 May 1940.
Sources: [1]
Company: McDonald's Corporation.
Available in this archive
McDonald's logo files at a glance
McDonald's has 27 downloadable files in AI, PNG in this archive. 13 logo records are catalogued; that is not the number of verified redesigns.
PNG renditions reach 3,000 pixels on the longest side.
Choose a format and size ↓File library
Files & downloads
Browse recorded formats and variants for McDonald's. Source formats appear first, followed by raster sizes.
Available from SimilarLogo
AI · Primary
2018 · Current
AI · Primary
1940 · Retired
AI · Primary
1948 · Retired
AI · Primary
1953 · Retired
AI · Primary
1961 · Retired
AI · Primary
1968 · Retired
AI · Primary
1975 · Retired
AI · Primary
1993 · Retired
AI · Primary
1999 · Retired
AI · Primary
2000 · Retired
AI · Primary
2003 · Retired
AI · Primary
2006 · Retired
AI · Primary
Undated record · Retired
PNG · Primary
1999 · Retired
PNG · Primary
2000 · Retired
PNG · Primary
2003 · Retired
PNG · Primary
2018 · Current
PNG · Primary
Undated record · Retired
PNG · Primary
2006 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1961 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1968 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1975 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1993 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1940 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1948 · Retired
PNG · Primary
1953 · Retired
PNG · Icon
2018 · Current
A file link or download does not grant a trademark licence or permission to reuse a logo.
Brand heritage
Logo history & brand milestones
From the 1953 architectural arches to the 1962 and 1968 logos, as recorded in the cited sources. Company and product dates are labelled separately from design changes.
Visual identity milestone · 1953-05
The first franchised restaurant with architect Stanley Clark Meston’s design, including two yellow sheet-metal arches, opened in Phoenix, Arizona. [2]
Logo milestone · 1962
The arches were first used in a logo resembling a stylised restaurant; the company’s head of engineering and design, Jim Schindler, developed an “M” from a sketch by Fred Turner. [2]
Logo milestone · 1968
The current Golden Arches logo, resembling an “M” for McDonald’s, was introduced. [2]
Research sources
- McDonald’s ↗ · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-24
- Golden Arches ↗ · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-24
Compiled 2026-09-24 by AI-assisted source review. Each statement links its sources; an editor has not yet independently confirmed them.
Earlier records come from the existing archive; their labels and dates are kept as recorded and are not cited.
2018–presentListed current
McDonald's logo 2018
The version currently listed in the archive. See the source and review date on the brand record.
12/13
All 13 logo records for McDonald's
Colour sample
Sampled artwork colours
Red (primary sample)Primary
- HEX
- #CC1111
- RGB
- 204, 17, 17
Text contrast on white5.74:1 · AA
Text contrast on near-black3.29:1 · Fail
Orange (accent sample)Accent
- HEX
- #FFCC44
- RGB
- 255, 204, 68
Text contrast on white1.5:1 · Fail
Text contrast on near-black12.56:1 · AAA
Approximate values sampled from the archived artwork file. Sampling can round colours, so these are not the owner’s published colour specification. See other red logos →
Design context
Logo design & typography notes
The Golden Arches began as architecture: two arches on the restaurant buildings designed by Meston and his assistant Charles Fish from a rough sketch by Richard McDonald.
From the researched record (AI-assisted source review); see research sources.
Reference
Frequently asked
Who designed the McDonald's logo?
Arches logo (1962) is credited to Jim Schindler. The designer of the specific file version shown on this page is not recorded. [2]
Can I use the McDonald's logo?
Download for identification, news and comparison. Commercial use needs the owner's permission. This page never grants a licence. Always check the owner's brand guidelines.
When did McDonald's change its logo?
1962: The arches were first used in a logo resembling a stylised restaurant; the company’s head of engineering and design, Jim Schindler, developed an “M” from a sketch by Fred Turner. 1968: The current Golden Arches logo, resembling an “M” for McDonald’s, was introduced. [2]
What file formats are available for the McDonald's logo in this archive?
Available file formats: AI, PNG. Dimensions, source and usage conditions are listed for each file below.
Visual neighbours
Marks with visual support
Ranked from image embeddings, perceptual hashes and geometric evidence. Ranks are not percentages or trademark clearance.
Same company
More from McDonald's Corporation
Listed because the archive records the same company.
Same industry
More Food & Restaurants logos
Listed because the archive records the same industry, United States first.
Provenance
Source & evidence
SimilarLogo archive files, not yet independently reviewed.
Editorial / reference only. Download for identification, news and comparison. Commercial use needs the owner's permission. This page never grants a licence.
Technical provenance
Source typeSimilarLogo archive files
Source reviewNot independently reviewedInspect the recorded website
- Source
- Not recorded
- Source date
- 2026-08-02
- Recorded by
- SimilarLogo archive import
- SHA-256
- a8ffb0e12cd1e29e6d0fc472ae5bdcf8d4abe7842e4e0a1aa51921e2d1053dfe
SHA-256 of the recorded file. Checksums identify exact bytes, not who created the artwork.
Cite or link to this record
SimilarLogo. “McDonald's logo record.” Updated 2026-09-25. https://similarlogo.com/brand/mcdonalds/
Record Change log (2)
2026-08-27Imported 28 original files (15 items) from the owner's WordPress archive snapshot 2026-08-02. Rights: editorial/reference only.
2026-08-27History collage archived: McDonald's Evolution and History
These files come from SimilarLogo's archive of McDonald's artwork (archive snapshot 2026-08-02). Formats and file details are shown in the library.
All logos and trademarks on SimilarLogo are the property of their respective owners and are provided for informational, editorial and identification purposes only. Availability here does not imply any licence, affiliation or endorsement. Rights holder? Claim this brand · Request removal · Report an error. Staff review each request; there is no automatic takedown.