WCAG Color Checker

Verify WCAG 2.2 color compliance for any foreground and background pair. Get exact contrast ratios and Pass/Fail results for AA and AAA, covering both normal and large text — the same rules used by accessibility auditors worldwide.

Large heading sample
Normal body text sample on the chosen background.
14.32:1
WCAG 2.2 Contrast Ratio
AA Normal (≥4.5:1)
Pass
AA Large (≥3:1)
Pass
AAA Normal (≥7:1)
Pass
AAA Large (≥4.5:1)
Pass

What Is WCAG 2.2 Color Compliance?

WCAG 2.2 is the current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the W3C. Success Criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast Minimum) and 1.4.6 (Contrast Enhanced) define the exact ratios required for text to be considered readable by everyone, including users with low vision or age-related contrast sensitivity. Meeting these standards is a legal requirement in many countries and a baseline expectation for professional work.

What the Checker Verifies

  • AA Normal (4.5:1): Required for body text under 18pt regular or 14pt bold.
  • AA Large (3:1): Required for headings and large text only.
  • AAA Normal (7:1): Enhanced requirement — recommended for government, healthcare and education content.
  • AAA Large (4.5:1): Enhanced requirement for large text only.

How Ratios Are Calculated

The WCAG relative luminance of each color is calculated from its sRGB channels using the official formula, then the ratio is computed as (L1 + 0.05) / (L2 + 0.05) where L1 is the lighter color. This is the only correct method — an "eyeball test" is unreliable, especially for mid-tone colors.

Frequently Asked Questions