What do contrast ratios mean?

Contrast ratio measures the difference between two colors to ensure that text and UI elements remain legible to all users. According to WCAG guidelines, here are the recommended minimum standards: 4.5:1 for normal text (AA compliance); 3:1 for large text (AA compliance); 7:1 for normal text (AAA compliance). The higher the contrast ratio, the better the readability especially for users with low vision or other visual impairments.

WCAG sets the standard

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the gold standard for creating friendly digital experiences for all users, including those with disabilities. The guidelines cover best practices for color contrast, text readability, navigation, and other interactive elements. By following WCAG, you not only improve user experience, but you also help ensure your designs comply with legal requirements and principles of inclusivity. What is WCAG? WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Its main goal is to ensure that everyone, without exception, can access and use digital content comfortably. About WCAG 2.2: WCAG 2.2 is an enhancement of WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1, adding nine new criteria to better support accessibility for users with visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities. This update also addresses aspects of touch device use, such as the size of the touch target and clearer visual contrast. WCAG 2.2 helps designers and developers build digital products that are truly inclusive and easy to use for everyone.

Brushless Contrast Checker helps you meet AA and AAA standards in selecting color combinations, ensuring optimal readability for users with different visual needs. Level AA is the most commonly used standard and aims to reach a wider audience, including users with low vision. Level AAA is the highest level of accessibility, guaranteeing the best readability. However, this standard tends to be more difficult to achieve for all types of content, especially those with certain visual disabilities.

Contrast checker

Check whether your text and background colors meet WCAG contrast guidelines, and preview them the way color-blind readers see them.

Colors come from the link if it has ?colors=FFFFFF-000000

Text color

Background color

Color simulation

Typeface

Large text

Large text preview

Normal text

Normal text preview. Click either line to type your own words and see how they read in these colors.

UI elements

Midnight driveNow playing

Contrast ratio

21.00: 1

Super

Element	AA	AAA
Normal text	Pass 4.5:1	Pass 7:1
Large text	Pass 3:1	Pass 4.5:1
UI components	Pass 3:1	Pass 3:1

Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

How it works

Pick two colorsType a hex value or open the picker for text and background.
Read the ratioThe ratio, rating and WCAG results update as you change either color.
Preview itTry a typeface, type your own text, and simulate color vision deficiencies.

Color Contrast and Accessibility

Brushless Color Contrast Checker makes it easy to ensure your designs are inclusive and easy to read for everyone. Simply enter the hex codes for text and background colors, and the system will display the contrast ratios along with their WCAG AA and AAA compliance levels. You can also easily swap the color positions to test results from different angles. Additional features include the option to change font types and vision simulations, including color blindness simulations, so you can understand how your design will look to users with different types of color perception disorders.

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