Free Accessibility Tool

Color Contrast Checker

Ensure your website is accessible by checking text and background color contrast ratios.

Color Pair

Large heading text — 24px bold

Normal body text at 16px. How readable is this colour combination when displayed on real content?

Small text — 12px caption or label

Quick Presets

WCAG Results

18.88:1
Excellent

Contrast ratio

Normal textbelow 18pt / 14pt bold
AA4.5:1Pass
Normal textenhanced standard
AAA7:1Pass
Large text18pt+ or 14pt+ bold
AA3:1Pass
Large textenhanced standard
AAA4.5:1Pass
UI componentsicons & interface elements
AA3:1Pass
WCAG AA is the legal minimum in most countries. Aim for AAA wherever possible.

How to Check Colour Contrast

1

Pick foreground colour

Use the colour picker or enter a hex value

2

Pick background colour

Or choose a quick preset combination

3

Read the contrast ratio

Displayed instantly with a rating

4

Check WCAG compliance

AA and AAA pass/fail for text and UI

Colour Contrast Checker FAQ

What is a WCAG contrast ratio?

The WCAG contrast ratio measures the difference in perceived luminance between two colours on a scale from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). It is calculated using the relative luminance formula defined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

What contrast ratio is required for accessibility?

WCAG 2.1 Level AA requires a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 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. AA is the legal minimum in most accessibility legislation.

What counts as large text in WCAG?

WCAG defines large text as 18pt (24px) or larger in regular weight, or 14pt (approximately 18.67px) or larger in bold weight. Large text is easier to read at lower contrast ratios, which is why it has a lower minimum threshold.

Does contrast ratio affect SEO?

Not directly. However, Google uses Core Web Vitals and page experience signals that reward accessible, user-friendly sites. Poor contrast leads to high bounce rates, which can indirectly harm rankings. Accessible design is also required to reach a wider audience.

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