Color Contrast Checker (WCAG)

What is a Color Contrast Checker?

A color contrast checker measures how distinguishable text is from its background by calculating the contrast ratio between the two colors. Sufficient contrast is essential for readability, especially for users with low vision or color blindness, and it is a core requirement of web accessibility guidelines.

Our Color Contrast Checker computes the exact contrast ratio using the official WCAG formula and tells you whether your color pair passes Level AA and Level AAA for both normal and large text, with a live preview so you can see the result in context.

Understanding WCAG Contrast Levels

• AA normal text — requires a ratio of at least 4.5:1
• AA large text (18pt+ or 14pt bold) — requires at least 3:1
• AAA normal text — requires at least 7:1
• AAA large text — requires at least 4.5:1
• Higher ratios mean more readable, more accessible text

How to Use the Checker

Choose your text color and background color with the pickers or by entering hex codes. The tool instantly calculates the contrast ratio and shows pass/fail badges for each WCAG level. The live preview renders sample text in your chosen colors so you can judge readability for yourself.

If a combination fails, try darkening the text, lightening the background, or increasing saturation differences until the ratio meets the level you are targeting.

Why Contrast Matters

Around one in twelve men and one in two hundred women have some form of color vision deficiency, and many more users browse in bright sunlight or on low-quality screens. Meeting WCAG contrast requirements makes your content readable for all of them. It is also a legal accessibility requirement in many jurisdictions, so checking contrast protects both your users and your organization.