Color Contrast Checker

Check Color Contrast Ratio Online Free (WCAG Compliance Checker)

Welcome to the best Color Contrast Checker online! Instantly check color contrast, test contrast ratio, and verify WCAG compliance for your web designs. This free tool helps you ensure your color combinations meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA) for better readability and inclusive design.

Popular uses:

• Check color contrast ratio between text and background colors
• Verify WCAG 2.1 AA and AAA compliance for accessibility
• Test contrast for normal text, large text, and UI components
• Get color suggestions to improve contrast ratio
• Preview how your color combination looks in real-time
• Free, fast, and works directly in your browser

What is a Color Contrast Checker?

A Color Contrast Checker is a free online tool that helps you check color contrast ratio between foreground (text) and background colors. It calculates the contrast ratio according to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards and tells you whether your color combination passes AA or AAA compliance levels.

Why check color contrast?

• Accessibility: Ensures people with visual impairments can read your content
• WCAG Compliance: Meets legal requirements for web accessibility (ADA, Section 508)
• Better UX: Improves readability for all users, especially in different lighting conditions
• Professional Design: Creates more polished and user-friendly interfaces

How does it work?

• Enter your foreground (text) color and background color
• The tool calculates the contrast ratio using the WCAG formula
• See instant results for AA/AAA compliance across different text sizes
• Get color suggestions if your combination doesn't meet standards
• Preview your colors in real-time

WCAG Contrast Ratio Standards:

• Normal Text AA: Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio
• Normal Text AAA: Minimum 7:1 contrast ratio
• Large Text AA: Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold)
• Large Text AAA: Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio
• UI Components AA: Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio

How to Use Color Contrast Checker (Step-by-step)

1. Enter Foreground Color: Input your text color using the color picker or type a HEX/RGB/HSL value
2. Enter Background Color: Input your background color using the color picker or type a color value
3. View Results: See the contrast ratio and WCAG compliance levels instantly
4. Check Preview: Review how your text looks on the background in the preview section
5. Get Suggestions: If your contrast is too low, the tool will suggest better colors
6. Copy Colors: Use the suggested colors or adjust your original colors for better accessibility

Pro Tips:

• Aim for at least AA compliance (4.5:1 for normal text)
• AAA compliance (7:1) is recommended for critical content
• Large text (18pt+) requires lower contrast (3:1 for AA)
• Test your entire color palette for consistency

Understanding Contrast Ratios

The contrast ratio is calculated using the relative luminance of the foreground and background colors. The formula follows WCAG 2.1 guidelines:

Contrast Ratio = (L1 + 0.05) / (L2 + 0.05)

Where:

• L1 is the relative luminance of the lighter color
• L2 is the relative luminance of the darker color
• Ratios range from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (maximum contrast)

Common Contrast Ratio Examples:

• Black on White: 21:1 (maximum contrast)
• Dark Gray (#333) on White: ~12.6:1 (AAA compliant)
• Blue (#0000FF) on White: ~8.6:1 (AAA compliant)
• Light Gray (#777) on White: ~4.5:1 (AA compliant, barely)
• Medium Gray (#999) on White: ~2.8:1 (fails AA)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this color contrast checker free?

Yes! This is a completely free online tool. Check unlimited color combinations without any registration or payment.

What is WCAG compliance?

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are international standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. Contrast ratio requirements are part of WCAG 2.1 Level AA and AAA.

What's the difference between AA and AAA?

AA is the minimum recommended level for web accessibility (4.5:1 for normal text). AAA is enhanced accessibility (7:1 for normal text) and is recommended for content that must be accessible to the widest audience.

What is considered "large text"?

Large text is defined as 18pt (24px) or larger, or 14pt (18.66px) or larger if bold. Large text requires a lower contrast ratio (3:1 for AA, 4.5:1 for AAA).

Can I use this for mobile app design?

Yes! WCAG guidelines apply to all digital interfaces, including mobile apps, desktop applications, and websites.

What if my colors don't pass?

The tool will suggest improved colors that meet AA standards. You can also manually adjust your colors by making the text darker or lighter relative to the background.

Does this work for colorblind users?

While contrast ratio helps readability, it doesn't account for color blindness. Use a Color Blindness Simulator to test how your colors appear to users with different types of color vision deficiency.

What contrast ratio should I aim for?

• Minimum: 4.5:1 for normal text (AA compliance)
• Recommended: 7:1 for normal text (AAA compliance)
• Large text: 3:1 minimum (AA), 4.5:1 recommended (AAA)
• UI components: 3:1 minimum (AA)

Can I check gradients or images?

This tool checks solid colors only. For gradients or text on images, test the lightest and darkest points separately to ensure all areas meet contrast requirements.

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