Brand Colour Contrast Checker
Beautiful brand colours can still be hard to read. Pick a text and background colour — or paste your whole palette — to see which combinations pass accessibility standards.
- 01Pick a text colour and a background colour
- 02See the contrast ratio and pass/fail instantly
- 03Paste your full palette to test every combination
This is how body text will look on this background.
Test your whole palette
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Guide
What is colour contrast?
Contrast ratio measures how different two colours are in brightness, from 1:1 (no difference) to 21:1 (black on white). Higher contrast makes text easier to read — for everyone, on every screen and in bright sunlight.
The standards
- 4.5:1 — minimum for normal body text (WCAG AA)
- 3:1 — minimum for large text, roughly 24px and above or bold 19px and above
- 7:1 — enhanced level (WCAG AAA)
Fixing low contrast without changing your brand
Keep your signature colour for large headlines, backgrounds and accents, and create a slightly darker shade of it for small text. That's exactly what we did for Artbox's own rose colour.
Frequently asked questions
What contrast ratio do I need?
At least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text to meet WCAG AA.
Does this matter for Instagram posts?
Yes. Many people view posts on small screens outdoors. High-contrast text is easier to read and more likely to be understood.
Can a colour pass for headlines but fail for body text?
Yes. Large text has a lower requirement, so a colour can work for headlines but not for small text.
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