Colors & design
WCAG Contrast Checker
Know in seconds whether your colors are readable by everyone.
Contrast ratio
- AA normal text
- AA large text
- AAA normal text
- AAA large text
Preview
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
That subtle gray-on-white look might be costing you readers. This checker computes the exact WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between any text and background color, then shows clear pass/fail verdicts for AA and AAA levels, for both normal and large text. A live preview renders a real sentence in your chosen colors so you can judge the result with your own eyes, and pickers plus a one-click swap make it easy to iterate until you hit the target. Use it for buttons, body copy, charts — anywhere text meets color. Essential for accessible, legally compliant design, and completely free with no account needed.
How does it work?
- Set your text color and background color (type a value or use the picker).
- The contrast ratio appears instantly with AA and AAA verdicts.
- Check how real text actually looks in the preview.
- Tweak either color until you reach the level you need.
Frequently asked questions
What contrast ratio do I need?
WCAG level AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. The stricter AAA level requires 7:1 and 4.5:1. Most websites aim for AA compliance.
What counts as "large text"?
Text of at least 18pt (about 24px), or 14pt (about 18.5px) if bold. Headings often qualify, which is why they're allowed a slightly lower ratio.
Why does contrast matter so much?
Roughly 1 in 12 people has some form of color vision deficiency, and everyone struggles with low-contrast text on a sunny day. Good contrast improves readability for all users and is a legal accessibility requirement in a growing number of countries.
My colors fail — how do I fix them?
Darken the text or lighten the background instead of switching hues entirely. A small lightness adjustment is usually enough to pass the threshold while keeping your brand colors recognizable.