Free tool
Color Contrast Checker
Check any text/background colour pair against WCAG 2.2. Get the exact contrast ratio and instant AA and AAA pass-fail results.
Almost before we knew it,
we had left the ground. The quick brown fox.
Contrast ratio
7.58:1
WCAG AA (minimum)
WCAG AAA (enhanced)
Why colour contrast matters
Low contrast is one of the most common accessibility failures on the web. Text that doesn’t stand out enough from its background is hard to read for people with low vision, colour-vision deficiencies, or anyone on a glary screen. WCAG sets minimum contrast ratios so content stays readable.
WCAG contrast requirements
- Normal text: at least 4.5:1 (Level AA) — see WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum).
- Large text (≥18pt, or 14pt bold): at least 3:1 (Level AA).
- UI components & graphics: at least 3:1 — see WCAG 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast.
- Enhanced (Level AAA): 7:1 for normal text, 4.5:1 for large text.
How to fix failing contrast
Darken the text or lighten the background (or vice-versa) until the ratio passes. Small tweaks to lightness usually do it without changing your brand colour’s hue. Re-check here, then run a full accessibility scan to catch the rest.
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What contrast ratio do I need for WCAG AA?
At least 4.5:1 for normal text, and 3:1 for large text (18pt, or 14pt bold) and for user-interface components and meaningful graphics.
What counts as “large text”?
Text that is at least 18pt (about 24px), or 14pt (about 18.66px) when bold.
What about AAA?
WCAG AAA requires 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text — a higher bar used when you want maximum readability.