Color Contrast Checker
Test WCAG accessibility compliance for your color combinations
Color Selection
Contrast Ratio
Live Preview
Normal text (16px): The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This sample text demonstrates how your color combination appears at standard body text size.
Large text (24px bold): Heading Example
Small text (14px): Fine print and captions should also maintain adequate contrast for readability.
Foreground Color Info
Background Color Info
When to Use Color Contrast Checker
Website Design
Ensure your website text is readable for all visitors. Check body text, headings, links, and button text against their backgrounds to meet accessibility standards and improve user experience for everyone.
Mobile App Development
Mobile screens are viewed in various lighting conditions. Verify your app's color combinations maintain readability in bright sunlight and low-light environments to ensure consistent usability.
Brand Color Selection
When establishing brand guidelines, verify that your primary and secondary colors work well together for text and backgrounds. Ensure brand colors can be used accessibly across all marketing materials.
Compliance Audits
Meet legal accessibility requirements like ADA, Section 508, or European Accessibility Act. Document your color contrast compliance as part of accessibility audits and certifications.
Document Design
Create accessible PDFs, presentations, and print materials. Ensure charts, infographics, and text elements have sufficient contrast for readers with visual impairments or color blindness.
UI Component Testing
Verify buttons, form fields, icons, and interactive elements meet the 3:1 contrast requirement for UI components. Ensure focus states and hover effects remain accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is color contrast ratio?
Color contrast ratio measures the difference in perceived luminance between two colors, expressed as a ratio like 4.5:1. The first number represents how many times brighter the lighter color is. Ratios range from 1:1 (identical colors) to 21:1 (black on white). Higher ratios mean better readability.
What are WCAG contrast requirements?
WCAG 2.1 defines two conformance levels. Level AA requires 4.5:1 contrast for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold). Level AAA requires 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text. Most websites aim for AA compliance as the minimum standard.
Why is color contrast important for accessibility?
Adequate contrast ensures people with visual impairments, color blindness, or situational limitations (like bright sunlight) can read your content. About 8% of men have some form of color blindness. Poor contrast can make content illegible and may violate accessibility laws.
What counts as large text?
Large text is defined as 18 points (24 pixels) or larger for regular weight, or 14 points (approximately 18.5 pixels) or larger for bold text. Large text has lower contrast requirements because its size makes it inherently more readable.
How do I fix low contrast issues?
To improve contrast, darken light text colors or lighten dark backgrounds (or vice versa). Small adjustments often suffice. For brand colors that fail, consider using them for decorative elements while using high-contrast colors for text. Test alternatives until you find accessible options.
Does this tool support all color formats?
Yes, this tool accepts HEX codes (like #FF5733), RGB values, and standard color names. You can also use the visual color picker. All formats are automatically converted for accurate contrast calculation and display in multiple formats.
What about UI components and graphics?
WCAG 2.1 requires 3:1 contrast for user interface components (buttons, form fields, focus indicators) and meaningful graphics. This is separate from text requirements. Icons and interactive elements should be clearly distinguishable from their backgrounds.
Is color contrast the only accessibility concern?
No, accessibility encompasses many factors including keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, text alternatives for images, and not relying solely on color to convey information. However, color contrast is fundamental for visual accessibility and often the easiest to test and fix.
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