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Tools / Colour contrast checker

Colour contrast checker

Reports the contrast ratio and whether it passes WCAG AA and AAA for normal and large text, plus the 3:1 threshold for UI components. The maths includes the sRGB gamma expansion, which is why a mid-grey can look acceptable and still fail.

Runs entirely in your browser

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About this tool

Readable text needs enough contrast between the foreground and background, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define exactly how much. This checker takes a text colour and a background colour and reports the contrast ratio, then tells you whether it passes WCAG AA and AAA for normal and large text, plus the 3:1 threshold that applies to user-interface components and graphics.

The calculation follows the WCAG method precisely, including the sRGB gamma expansion applied to each channel before computing relative luminance. That step is why intuition misleads: a mid-grey that looks fine can still fail, because perceived brightness is not linear. Relying on the real formula rather than the eye is the point of the tool.

It runs in your browser, so you can check colours instantly and privately. Use it while designing to ensure text meets the level you are targeting — AA is the common legal and practical baseline — and to check UI elements like icons and form borders against the 3:1 rule.

Frequently asked questions

What contrast ratio do I need to pass WCAG?
WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1 and 4.5:1 respectively. UI components and graphics need at least 3:1. The tool reports your ratio against all of these.
What is the difference between AA and AAA?
They are conformance levels. AA is the widely adopted baseline for accessibility, while AAA is a stricter target that is not always achievable for all content. Most projects aim for AA.
Why does a colour that looks fine still fail?
Because contrast is computed from relative luminance with an sRGB gamma correction, not from how bright a colour looks. Perception is non-linear, so a mid-grey can appear acceptable yet fall below the required ratio.
What counts as “large text”?
WCAG treats text as large when it is roughly 18pt (24px) or 14pt (about 19px) bold or larger. Large text has a lower contrast requirement because it is easier to read.
Is the check done privately?
Yes. It runs in your browser, so the colours you test are not sent anywhere.

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