What is contrast ratio
Contrast ratio compares the brightness of two colors on a scale of 1:1 to 21:1. Higher ratio = easier to read.
- 4.5:1 = WCAG AA minimum for normal text
- 3:1 = WCAG AA minimum for large text (18pt+)
- 7:1 = WCAG AAA minimum for normal text
Why accessibility matters
1 in 12 people have color blindness. Many more have low vision. High contrast helps everyone, especially on phones or in bright sunlight.
Testing your design
Always test real text at actual sizes. Use Huelab's contrast checker to verify foreground/background pairs pass AA or AAA.