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Color Contrast Checker

Check text contrast against WCAG AA and AAA accessibility levels.

Large text sample

Normal body text at 16 pixels — the size most of your content will actually use.

Small print at 14 pixels.

7.73:1

Contrast ratio

AA — normal text

Needs 4.5:1

Pass

AA — large text (18.66px bold / 24px)

Needs 3:1

Pass

AAA — normal text

Needs 7:1

Pass

AAA — large text

Needs 4.5:1

Pass

Non-text elements (icons, borders)

Needs 3:1

Pass

About Color Contrast Checker

Contrast ratio is the most testable accessibility requirement there is, and low-contrast text is one of the most common failures found in audits.

This checker computes the WCAG relative luminance ratio between your foreground and background, shows pass or fail for each conformance level and text size, and previews real text at both sizes.

Frequently asked questions

What ratio do I need?

WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. AAA requires 7:1 and 4.5:1 respectively.

What counts as large text?

At least 18.66 pixels bold, or 24 pixels regular.

Does contrast apply to icons and borders?

Yes. Meaningful non-text elements such as icons and input borders need at least 3:1 under WCAG 2.1.

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