Color Contrast Checker

Free WCAG color contrast checker. Test text and background colors for AA and AAA accessibility compliance with a live contrast ratio and preview — hex or RGB.

Check the contrast ratio between a text and background color against WCAG AA and AAA standards, with a live preview and hex or RGB input.

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Category
Developer Tools
Includes
6 features
Access
Free · No sign-up
Privacy
Runs in your browser
Color Contrast Checker

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How to use

How to use Color Contrast Checker

  1. 01

    Choose the text color

    Pick or type the foreground color.

  2. 02

    Choose the background

    Pick or type the background color.

  3. 03

    Read the ratio

    See the contrast ratio and AA/AAA results.

  4. 04

    Adjust

    Tweak the colors until they pass.

Use cases

Common use cases

  • Verify UI text meets WCAG accessibility
  • Check button and link contrast
  • Audit a brand color palette
  • Fix low-contrast marketing copy
Overview

Make your text readable for everyone

Low-contrast text is one of the most common accessibility failures. This checker computes the exact contrast ratio between your text and background colors using the official WCAG relative-luminance formula, then tells you whether it passes AA (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large) and the stricter AAA (7:1 and 4.5:1). A live preview shows real text on your chosen colors.

Enter colors any way you like

Use the color pickers or type hex codes and rgb() values directly — the tool parses both. As you adjust either color, the ratio and pass/fail badges update instantly, so you can nudge a shade until it complies. Everything runs locally, making it a fast companion while designing UI, themes and marketing pages.

Features
01
WCAG AA & AAA pass/fail results
02
Live contrast ratio calculation
03
Hex and RGB input with color pickers
04
Live text preview on your colors
05
Normal and large text thresholds
06
Runs locally in your browser
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What contrast ratio do I need to pass WCAG?+

For AA, normal text needs 4.5:1 and large text 3:1. For the stricter AAA, normal text needs 7:1 and large text 4.5:1. Large text is roughly 18pt, or 14pt bold.

How is the contrast ratio calculated?+

It uses the WCAG relative-luminance formula for both colors, then divides the lighter luminance (plus 0.05) by the darker (plus 0.05), giving a value from 1:1 to 21:1.

Can I enter RGB as well as hex?+

Yes — type hex codes like #1e293b or rgb(30, 41, 59), or use the color pickers. Both formats are parsed instantly.

Is it free?+

Yes, completely free with no signup, running entirely in your browser.