Color Contrast Checker
Check WCAG AA/AAA contrast ratios with a live preview. Accessibility-checked color pairs, instantly.
Color Contrast Checker
Test color combinations for WCAG accessibility compliance
Sample Heading
Large text sample (18pt+)
Normal text sample
Contrast Ratio
21:1
AA Normal Text
Required: 4.5:1
AA Large Text
Required: 3:1
AAA Normal Text
Required: 7:1
AAA Large Text
Required: 4.5:1
Understanding Color Contrast
What is Color Contrast?
Color contrast refers to the difference in luminance between two colors, typically text and its background. Higher contrast makes text more readable, especially for users with visual impairments.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide specific contrast ratios that ensure content is accessible to everyone, including people with low vision or color blindness.
Proper contrast is essential for creating inclusive digital experiences that work for all users, regardless of their visual abilities or the device they're using.
WCAG Standards
Level AA (Minimum)
- Normal text: 4.5:1 contrast ratio
- Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold): 3:1 contrast ratio
Level AAA (Enhanced)
- Normal text: 7:1 contrast ratio
- Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold): 4.5:1 contrast ratio
Most websites should aim for at least AA compliance, with AAA being ideal for maximum accessibility.
How to Use
- Select your foreground color - Use the color picker or enter a hex code for your text color.
- Choose your background color - Pick the color that will be behind your text.
- Review the results - Check the contrast ratio and see which WCAG levels you meet.
- Adjust if needed - Use the suggestions to improve your color combination.
Pro tip: Use the swap button to quickly test both color arrangements!
Common Use Cases
- Website Design - Ensure your website text is readable for all visitors.
- Brand Guidelines - Verify that brand colors meet accessibility standards.
- Document Creation - Create accessible PDFs, presentations, and reports.
- UI/UX Design - Test button colors, navigation elements, and form inputs.
- Mobile Apps - Ensure your app interface is accessible on all devices.
Why Accessibility Matters
Approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency. Additionally, millions of people worldwide have low vision or other visual impairments that make reading low-contrast text difficult or impossible.
By ensuring proper color contrast, you're not just complying with accessibility guidelines—you're making your content usable for a wider audience, improving readability for everyone, and demonstrating a commitment to inclusive design.
Beyond helping users with disabilities, good contrast improves readability in challenging conditions like bright sunlight, low-quality displays, or when users are tired or distracted.
Your Privacy is Protected
This tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your data is never uploaded to our servers or any third-party service. Everything happens instantly on your device.
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