Color Contrast Checker

Check color contrast ratios for WCAG compliance and get accessible color suggestions for your web designs.

Preview

Sample Text
Contrast Ratio: 0:1

Text Settings

WCAG Compliance

Contrast Ratio:0:1
AA Normal (4.5:1)
AA Large (3:1)
AAA Normal (7:1)
AAA Large (4.5:1)
Fail Compliance for All Text

Color Controls

#333333
#FFFFFF

Generated Code

.element {
  color: #333333;
  background-color: #FFFFFF;
}

About the Color Contrast Checker

The Color Contrast Checker is an essential tool for web designers and developers who want to create accessible websites. It helps ensure that text is readable against its background by measuring the contrast ratio according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Why Color Contrast Matters

Proper color contrast is crucial for several reasons:

  • Accessibility - Ensures content is readable for people with visual impairments, including color blindness and low vision
  • Legal compliance - Many countries require websites to meet accessibility standards, especially for government and public service sites
  • Improved usability - Better contrast benefits all users, especially in challenging viewing conditions like bright sunlight
  • Professional appearance - Properly contrasted text looks more polished and professional

Understanding WCAG Contrast Requirements

AA Level (Minimum)

  • Normal text: 4.5:1 ratio
  • Large text (18pt+): 3:1 ratio
  • UI components and graphics: 3:1 ratio

AAA Level (Enhanced)

  • Normal text: 7:1 ratio
  • Large text (18pt+): 4.5:1 ratio

How the Contrast Checker Works

  1. Select foreground (text) and background colors using the color pickers
  2. The tool calculates the contrast ratio using the WCAG formula
  3. Results show whether your colors pass AA and AAA standards for different text sizes
  4. If your colors don't meet standards, the tool suggests alternative colors that maintain your design aesthetic while improving accessibility
  5. Preview your text with the selected colors to see how it will look on your website

Tips for Accessible Color Combinations

  • Dark text on light backgrounds (or vice versa) typically provides the best contrast
  • Avoid placing text on busy backgrounds or images without a solid overlay
  • Don't rely solely on color to convey information (use icons, patterns, or text labels as well)
  • Test your design in grayscale to ensure it works for users with color blindness
  • Consider using our Color Palette Generator to create accessible color schemes from the start

Pro Tip

When designing with brand colors that don't meet contrast requirements, consider using those colors for non-text elements like borders or accents, while using more accessible colors for text and critical UI elements.