🎨 Color

Color Contrast Checker

Check WCAG 2.x contrast ratio between text and background colors for accessibility.

Results

Contrast ratio
17.26 : 1
WCAG results
Normal text: AA ✅ AAA ✅ | Large text: AA ✅ AAA ✅

📊 Color Contrast Checker chart

Visual summary of your results.

What is the Color Contrast Checker?

Check WCAG 2.x contrast ratio between text and background colors for accessibility. Designers and developers switch between color formats constantly. These color tools convert precisely between HEX, RGB, HSL and CMYK and check accessibility contrast against WCAG.

Color Contrast Checker – free online color tool illustration
Color Contrast Checker — free, exact and private.

How to use the Color Contrast Checker

  1. Enter your text color, your background color.
  2. Results update automatically as you type; you can also press Calculate.
  3. Read the output: contrast ratio, wcag results.
  4. Use the 📊 chart to see the result visually, then copy or share it.

Formula and method

Ratio = (L₁ + 0.05) ÷ (L₂ + 0.05), using relative luminance

Worked example

With text color = #141a2e, background color = #ffffff, the Color Contrast Checker returns contrast ratio: 17.26 : 1; wcag results: Normal text: AA ✅ AAA ✅ | Large text: AA ✅ AAA ✅.

Tips for better results

  • Aim for at least 4.5:1 contrast for body text (WCAG AA).
  • CMYK conversions are device-independent approximations — proof important print jobs.
  • Build a palette from one brand color, then generate tints and shades.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Color Contrast Checker do?

Check WCAG 2.x contrast ratio between text and background colors for accessibility.

How is it calculated?

The Color Contrast Checker uses this method: Ratio = (L₁ + 0.05) ÷ (L₂ + 0.05), using relative luminance.

Can you show an example?

With text color = #141a2e, background color = #ffffff, the Color Contrast Checker returns contrast ratio: 17.26 : 1; wcag results: Normal text: AA ✅ AAA ✅ | Large text: AA ✅ AAA ✅.

Is the Color Contrast Checker accurate?

Yes. It uses standard formulas and exact constants, and the results are verified by our automated test suite. Values are displayed to up to 12 significant digits.

Is this tool free and private?

Yes — the Color Contrast Checker is completely free with no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser, so the values you enter are never uploaded to our servers.

Related tools

Color Shades GeneratorGenerate tints and shades of any color from light to dark.Color Palette GeneratorGenerate complementary, triadic, analogous, split and tetradic color schemes.Color MixerBlend two colors together at any ratio.HEX to RGB ConverterConvert HEX color codes to RGB and HSL values.RGB to HEX ConverterConvert RGB color values to a HEX color code.RGB to HSL ConverterConvert RGB values to HSL (hue, saturation, lightness).HSL to RGB ConverterConvert HSL color values to RGB and HEX.HEX to CMYK ConverterConvert HEX colors to CMYK percentages for print.

📬 Get new tools first — free

Join Taurang to hear about new calculators, converters and features. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

Create free account