HomeDesign ToolsContrast Checker

pick two colors. check the contrast.

test foreground and background colors against WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. see pass/fail for AA and AAA at a glance.

Text Color
Background Color

Presets

Preview

Large Text (24px Bold)

Large Text (18px Bold)

Normal body text at 16px. This is how your paragraph copy will look against this background color.

Small text at 12px — captions, footnotes, and fine print.

Contrast Ratio

14.68:1

Excellent contrast — passes all WCAG levels

Pass

AA Normal

Requires 4.5:1

Pass

AA Large

Requires 3:1

Pass

AAA Normal

Requires 7:1

Pass

AAA Large

Requires 4.5:1

WCAG Guide

Normal Text

Body copy, paragraphs, and UI labels smaller than 18pt bold or 24pt regular.

Large Text

Headings and text at 18pt bold (24px) or 24pt regular (32px) and above.

Level AA

Minimum standard. Required by most accessibility laws and guidelines worldwide.

Level AAA

Enhanced standard. Recommended for maximum readability and inclusion.

What is Contrast Checker?

Color Contrast Checker tests whether your text and background color combination meets WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. It calculates the contrast ratio and shows pass or fail results for both Level AA and Level AAA compliance, for both normal and large text.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) sets minimum contrast ratios to ensure text is readable by people with low vision or color deficiencies. Level AA requires a 4.5:1 ratio for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Level AAA raises these to 7:1 and 4.5:1 respectively.

This tool runs entirely in your browser. Enter hex colors, pick from a color palette, or use one of the built-in presets. The live preview shows exactly how your text will look against the chosen background at different sizes.

How to Use Contrast Checker

  1. 1

    Enter your text color

    Type a hex value or use the color picker to select your foreground (text) color.

  2. 2

    Enter your background color

    Type a hex value or use the color picker to select your background color.

  3. 3

    Read the results

    The contrast ratio is calculated instantly. Green means pass, red means fail for each WCAG level.

  4. 4

    Preview your text

    See how your text looks on the background at large, normal, and small sizes — exactly as it would appear on a real page.

Common Use Cases

Web design

Check that your website's text colors meet accessibility standards before deploying.

Brand guidelines

Verify that your brand's primary and secondary colors work together at accessible contrast levels.

UI development

Ensure buttons, labels, navigation, and form elements are readable for all users.

Accessibility audits

Quickly test color combinations flagged in WAVE, Lighthouse, or axe audits.

Presentation design

Check that slide text is readable against background colors, especially for projected presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Contrast Checker?

Color Contrast Checker tests whether your text and background color combination meets WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. It calculates the contrast ratio and shows pass or fail results for both Level AA and Level AAA compliance, for both normal and large text.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) sets minimum contrast ratios to ensure text is readable by people with low vision or color deficiencies. Level AA requires a 4.5:1 ratio for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Level AAA raises these to 7:1 and 4.5:1 respectively.

This tool runs entirely in your browser. Enter hex colors, pick from a color palette, or use one of the built-in presets. The live preview shows exactly how your text will look against the chosen background at different sizes.

How to Use Contrast Checker

  1. 1

    Enter your text color

    Type a hex value or use the color picker to select your foreground (text) color.

  2. 2

    Enter your background color

    Type a hex value or use the color picker to select your background color.

  3. 3

    Read the results

    The contrast ratio is calculated instantly. Green means pass, red means fail for each WCAG level.

  4. 4

    Preview your text

    See how your text looks on the background at large, normal, and small sizes — exactly as it would appear on a real page.

Common Use Cases

Web design

Check that your website's text colors meet accessibility standards before deploying.

Brand guidelines

Verify that your brand's primary and secondary colors work together at accessible contrast levels.

UI development

Ensure buttons, labels, navigation, and form elements are readable for all users.

Accessibility audits

Quickly test color combinations flagged in WAVE, Lighthouse, or axe audits.

Presentation design

Check that slide text is readable against background colors, especially for projected presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions

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