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⚪ Contrast Checker

Test color combinations for WCAG accessibility compliance. Ensure your text is readable.

Large Text (24px)
This is normal body text. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Check if this text is readable against the background color.
This is small text (12px) - harder to read with low contrast.
12.63:1
Contrast Ratio
AA Normal
✅
≥ 4.5:1
AA Large
✅
≥ 3:1
AAA Normal
✅
≥ 7:1
AAA Large
✅
≥ 4.5:1

How to Use the Contrast Checker

The Contrast Checker evaluates the readability of text against a background color using the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) contrast ratio formula. Enter a foreground (text) color and a background color as hex codes, or use the color pickers to select them visually. The tool instantly calculates the luminance contrast ratio and shows whether your combination passes WCAG AA and AAA standards for both normal and large text.

Accessible color contrast is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions and a fundamental best practice for inclusive web design. Poor contrast can make content unreadable for users with low vision, color vision deficiencies, or anyone viewing a screen in bright sunlight.

Use this tool during the design phase to validate your color choices before writing a single line of code. It's used by UX designers, front-end developers, accessibility auditors, and content creators worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contrast ratio do I need for WCAG compliance?

WCAG AA requires a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text (under 18px) and 3:1 for large text (18px+ bold or 24px+ regular). WCAG AAA, the highest standard, requires 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text. Most organizations target AA compliance as a baseline.

What's the difference between AA and AAA?

AA is the widely accepted minimum standard for web accessibility. AAA is a stricter standard that provides better readability for users with more severe visual impairments. While AAA is ideal, it can be difficult to achieve with certain brand color palettes, so most guidelines recommend AA as the practical target.

Does this tool work with any color format?

Currently the Contrast Checker accepts hex color codes (e.g., #FF5733 or FF5733). You can convert RGB, HSL, or named CSS colors to hex using our Color Code Converter tool, then paste the result here for contrast testing.