What Do Yellow Hospital Gowns & Other Colors Mean?

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Find out which patient gowns might indicate isolation, illness & more

Co-authored by Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: January 16, 2026 Fact Checked

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Yellow Hospital Gown Meaning

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Different Hospital Gown Colors

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Why are there different colors?

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Is it the same globally?

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If you’ve noticed a patient (or yourself!) dressed in a certain hospital gown color, you might be wondering why that color—rather than a standard blue or green? Many hospitals use a color-coded gown system to quickly and visually identify their patients and their needs. A yellow gown, for example, often indicates a high risk of infection or a need for isolation. Below, we’ll dive deeper into the the meaning of a yellow hospital gown, but we’ll also explain the meanings of different hospital gown colors and if these meanings are shared in hospitals across the globe.

What does a yellow hospital gown mean on a patient?

A yellow hospital gown likely means that a patient has an infectious or highly transmissible disease, and they may be in high-risk isolation. Therefore, any hospital staff or patient they approach should see the yellow gown and be aware of any necessary precautions they must take.

Section 1 of 4:

The Meaning of a Yellow Hospital Gown

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A yellow hospital gown means a patient is isolated due to infectious illness. In most cases, yellow hospital gowns are worn by patients who are in hospital-mandated isolation because they have an infectious or highly transmissible condition. The bright, eye-catching color of their gown is meant to quickly signal—both to hospital staff and to fellow patients—that special precautions should be taken to make sure they maintain isolation. For example, if a patient who needs droplet precautions is approaching, their yellow gown would be a signal to assume protective gear (e.g, gloves or masks).
- While its primary purpose is to grab people’s attention, the yellow color used on these hospital gowns is psychologically associated with positive, secure, and uplifting feelings.^{[1]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source} This may be helpful for patients with a challenging condition who feel isolated or are experiencing depressive symptoms.

Section 2 of 4:

Other Hospital Gown Colors & Meanings

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Blue Hospital Gown Blue is one of the most common hospital gown colors, so it typically means that someone is a standard patient undergoing a low-risk procedure or without any serious, transmissible illnesses. Most hospitals choose to use blue as their go-to hospital gown color because blue has been shown to be psychologically soothing, which may be beneficial for patients experiencing stress or anxiety.^{[2]
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- Blue hospital gowns may also be common in surgical settings, as they reduce eye strain for doctors and other healthcare workers, and the hue may also produce a psychologically calming effect.
Green hospital gowns are generally used for patients undergoing surgery, although green can also be a standard color for hospital patients. In the early 20th-century, physicians specifically chose to use the color green in surgical operating rooms due to its contrast with red (the color of blood). This contrast helps surgeons and other healthcare workers to keep their eyes sharp and avoid visual fatigue.^{[3]
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Red Hospital Gown Red hospital gowns are not used very frequently, but some hospitals use them for patients who need frequent medical attention. Often, this means that a patient might have a high fall-risk, require constant observation, be undergoing an emergency procedure, or be at risk of fleeing the hospital. The eye-grabbing shade of red helps doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff immediately notice and prioritize attention to this patient.
- Some hospitals also use orange gowns for this purpose.
Pink hospital gowns are rarely used, but they may appear in wards dedicated to women’s health, maternity, or even pediatrics. For instance, a pink hospital gown may be worn by a new parent or a breast cancer patient. Since the color pink suggests care and comfort, it can contribute to a more nurturing and soothing environment.^{[4]
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Purple Hospital Gown Purple hospital gowns are primarily used for patients undergoing chemotherapy (or similar treatments). It may also be used for people experiencing Alzheimer’s or dementia, given that purple is the official color of these conditions.^{[5]
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Alzheimer's Association
Nonprofit organizaton focused on supporting those affected by Alzheimer's and promoting research on the disease

Go to source} In other cases, purple can be used for patients who are receiving palliative or hospice care.
- Psychologically, purple is associated with nobility and courage, so it may lead to feelings of empowerment or dignity in patients who are navigating adversity.^{[6]
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  Research source}

Section 3 of 4:

Why do hospital gowns come in different colors?

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Most of the time, differences in hospital gown color are used as visual cues to indicate the type of patient and the condition that they have. For instance, a yellow gown may indicate a patient in isolation, a red gown may indicate a patient at fall risk, etc. However, some hospitals vary their gown colors by department (e.g., surgical vs. pediatric), and other gown colors are simply chosen to reduce eye strain for medical staff (i.e., the use of blue and green gowns in surgical operating rooms).

Section 4 of 4:

Are hospital gown colors and meanings the same worldwide?

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In fact, they can even differ between hospitals in the same city! While there may be some overlap, many different countries, states, and regions assign different meanings to the gown colors used by their hospital systems. The yellow gown color is pretty consistently used to identify an infectious or high-risk patient, including in countries like the United States, Canada, and the UK.