utility tool

Color Contrast Checker

Check WCAG contrast ratio between two colors and preview the pair live.

tool workflow

Check WCAG contrast ratio and pass or fail levels between two colors with a live sample preview.

result panelwaiting

Check WCAG contrast ratio and pass or fail levels between two colors with a live sample preview.

About the color contrast checker

How this tool works

Contrast checking is one of the most practical design utilities because accessibility issues often start with a color pair that looked fine in isolation.

This page keeps the workflow concrete with a ratio, pass or fail states, live preview, and copy-ready CSS output.

Where it is useful

It is especially helpful during design handoff, UI QA, and small theme changes where a quick browser-side check can prevent regressions.

The shared style widget also makes it easy to add more design helpers later without branching into isolated components.

  • Check whether a UI color pair passes accessibility thresholds.
  • Review button, card, and text colors during design QA.
  • Generate copy-ready CSS while you test contrast options.

Example workflows

3 examples
example

Dark text on a light background

AA and AAA pass or fail labels

example

Brand accent against white

Contrast ratio plus sample CSS

example

Low-contrast pair

Immediate fail state and clearer guidance

Common uses

3 ideas
  • Check whether a UI color pair passes accessibility thresholds.
  • Review button, card, and text colors during design QA.
  • Generate copy-ready CSS while you test contrast options.

FAQ

3 answers

What does the color contrast checker measure?

It calculates the contrast ratio and then checks that ratio against WCAG AA and AAA thresholds.

Why does this tool include both a ratio and a preview?

Yes. The preview helps you judge the colors visually, while the ratio gives you a more objective accessibility check.

When should I use a contrast checker?

Use it for buttons, body text, cards, badges, and any other UI elements where legibility matters.

Related tools

5 links