Color Contrast Checker

Check color contrast ratios for WCAG accessibility compliance. Ensure your text is readable for all users.

Color Selection

Preset Color Pairs

Preview

This is normal text (16px). The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Make sure your color combinations provide sufficient contrast for readability.

This is large text (24px). Large text has more relaxed contrast requirements.

Live Preview

See how your color combinations look with real text and UI elements

WCAG Compliance

Check against WCAG AA and AAA standards for accessibility

Save Combinations

Store your favorite color pairs for future reference and reuse

Quick Actions

Swap colors, randomize, and export results with one click

Frequently Asked Questions

What is color contrast and why does it matter?
Color contrast is the difference in light between font (or anything in the foreground) and its background. Sufficient contrast is crucial for readability, especially for users with visual impairments, color blindness, or when viewing content on low-quality displays or in bright sunlight.
What's the difference between AA and AAA compliance?
WCAG Level AA is the recommended standard for most websites and requires a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text. Level AAA is a higher standard requiring 7:1 contrast for normal text. While AAA provides better accessibility, it can be difficult to achieve with certain color schemes and isn't required for most applications.
What counts as "large text"?
Large text is defined as 18pt (24px) or larger for regular weight fonts, or 14pt (approximately 18.66px) or larger for bold weight fonts. Large text has more relaxed contrast requirements because it's easier to read at lower contrast ratios.
Do all elements need to meet contrast requirements?
No, there are exceptions. Incidental text (like inactive UI elements), pure decoration, text that's part of a logo or brand name, and text within images that contain significant other visual content don't have contrast requirements. However, any text that users need to read should meet the appropriate contrast standards.