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Colour contrast checker

See the contrast ratio of a text colour on a background, and whether it meets the usual WCAG targets.

The quick brown fox

WCAG 2.1: normal text wants 4.5 to 1 for AA and 7 to 1 for AAA. Large or bold text can use 3 to 1 and 4.5 to 1.

Private by design: this tool runs in your browser. Nothing you add is uploaded.

How to use it

  1. Pick a text colour.
  2. Pick a background colour.
  3. Read the contrast ratio and whether it passes the AA and AAA guidelines.
Screenshot of the Contrast checker tool on Sureno, in use
Contrast checker in use: a real screenshot of this page.

Questions and answers

What is a good contrast ratio?

4.5 to 1 is the usual minimum for body text. Higher is easier to read, especially in sunlight or for smaller type.

Why does contrast matter?

Low contrast is hard to read, especially for older eyes and on phones in sunlight.

What are AA and AAA?

Levels in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. AA asks for 4.5:1 for normal text; AAA asks for 7:1.

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