DEVELOPER TOOL

Color Contrast Checker

Check whether a text and background color pair meets WCAG contrast rules.

Sample text on this background

Contrast ratio

About this tool

Check whether a foreground (text) and background color pair meets the WCAG accessibility contrast guidelines. Enough contrast makes text readable for people with low vision or color blindness — and is required for many accessibility compliance standards.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between AA and AAA?
AA is the standard WCAG conformance level, requiring a 4.5:1 ratio for normal text (3:1 for large text). AAA is a stricter, enhanced level requiring 7:1 for normal text (4.5:1 for large text).
What counts as "large text"?
WCAG defines large text as 18pt (24px) or larger, or 14pt (18.66px) bold or larger — large text gets a lower contrast requirement since it's easier to read at low contrast.
How is the ratio calculated?
Using the WCAG relative luminance formula for each color, then comparing the lighter and darker luminance values — the result ranges from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white).