Design workflow
How to check color contrast for readable design
Compare foreground and background colors before publishing buttons, labels, navigation, or content blocks.
Readable design starts with enough contrast
Low contrast can make text harder to read, especially on small screens, bright light, or lower-quality displays.
A contrast checker gives a useful ratio, but you should still review the design in context.
- Check normal text.
- Check button text.
- Check muted labels and helper text.
- Review hover and disabled states too.
Simple workflow
Enter foreground and background colors, compare the ratio, then adjust the lighter or darker color until the text is easier to read.
Do
- Check real UI states.
- Use readable text sizes.
- Test important color pairs before launch.
Don't
- Do not rely only on brand color preference.
- Do not use low-contrast placeholder text for important information.
- Do not assume contrast alone solves all accessibility issues.
Color Contrast CheckerCalculate contrast ratio between two colors.Hex RGB ConverterConvert color values while adjusting designs.Color Palette GeneratorGenerate palette ideas to review.Image size guidePair readable colors with correctly sized visuals.Image workflow guidePrepare visual assets for web use.
FAQs
Does a contrast checker guarantee accessibility compliance?
No. It supports review by calculating contrast, but accessibility also depends on layout, text size, interaction, and context.
Should buttons have higher contrast than body text?
Important buttons should be easy to read and recognize. Check both the text contrast and the surrounding visual state.