Accessibility
Check whether two colors have enough contrast.
Compare a foreground and background pair against the WCAG 2.2 contrast thresholds for text and required visual information. This checks the colors you enter—not an entire page, component state, or accessibility conformance.
- Free to use
- Runs in your browser
- Source-linked WCAG thresholds
Choose the colors
Set a foreground and background.
This calculation runs in your browser. The colors you enter are not submitted.
Review the result
Contrast results
Contrast 5.96 to 1. Meets AA for normal text.
Meets AA for normal text and AAA for large text.
Large text sample
Normal text can look readable while still missing a numeric threshold.
Required visual boundary- Normal textWCAG 2.2 Level AANeeds 4.5:1Meets
- Normal textWCAG 2.2 Level AAANeeds 7:1Does not meet
- Large textWCAG 2.2 Level AANeeds 3:1Meets
- Large textWCAG 2.2 Level AAANeeds 4.5:1Meets
- Required UI visuals and graphicsWCAG 2.2 Level AANeeds 3:1Meets
How to read the result
A ratio answers one specific question.
WCAG calculates contrast from the relative luminance of two adjacent colors. Plainview Tools uses the official sRGB formula and the unrounded ratio for every pass or fail decision. A displayed value near a threshold never gets rounded into a passing result.
| Use | AA | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Normal text | 4.5:1 | 7:1 |
| Large text | 3:1 | 4.5:1 |
| Required UI visuals and meaningful graphics | 3:1 | Not defined |
WCAG treats text as large at 18pt, or 14pt bold—roughly 24 CSS pixels regular or 18.7 CSS pixels when bold. The 3:1 non-text threshold applies only to visual information needed to identify controls, states, or meaningful graphics against adjacent colors.
Passing these numbers does not certify WCAG conformance. This tool checks opaque solid sRGB colors only; it does not evaluate transparency, gradients, images, blend modes, typography, adjacent colors, or every interactive state. Thin or unusual type can also appear fainter because of anti-aliasing, so aim above the minimum when practical.
Primary sources
Thresholds you can verify.
Reviewed August 21, 2026. Links open the current W3C WCAG 2.2 criteria used by this checker.