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Accessibility Contrast & Font Size Helper

Check WCAG contrast ratios and recommended font sizes for accessibility.

Normal Text Preview (16px)

Large Text Preview (24px)

Contrast Ratio

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WCAG Compliance:

Normal Text (AA): —
Normal Text (AAA): —
Large Text (AA): —
Large Text (AAA): —

WCAG Font Size Recommendations:

Normal Text:

  • • Minimum: 16px (1rem) base size
  • • Body text: 16px - 18px recommended
  • • Line height: 1.5x font size minimum
  • • WCAG AA: 4.5:1 contrast ratio
  • • WCAG AAA: 7:1 contrast ratio

Large Text:

  • • Minimum: 18px (1.125rem) or 14px bold
  • • Headings: 24px - 48px typical
  • • Line height: 1.5x font size minimum
  • • WCAG AA: 3:1 contrast ratio
  • • WCAG AAA: 4.5:1 contrast ratio

💡 Tip: Large text is defined as 18pt (24px) or larger, or 14pt (18.67px) bold or larger. Use these sizes for headings and important text to meet WCAG AA with a lower contrast ratio requirement.

Accessibility Helper – Ensure WCAG Compliant Design

Web accessibility is not optional—it's a fundamental requirement for inclusive design and often a legal mandate. The Accessibility Contrast & Font Size Helper by ToolfolioHub combines two critical accessibility checks in one powerful tool: color contrast verification and font size recommendations based on WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

This tool helps designers and developers ensure their text is readable by everyone, including users with visual impairments, color blindness, or those viewing screens in challenging lighting conditions. By combining contrast checking with font size guidelines, you can create designs that are both beautiful and accessible.

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility means designing and developing websites that can be used by people with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability, and many of them rely on accessible web design to access information and services online.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are the international standard for web accessibility. They provide specific, testable criteria for creating accessible content, with three levels of conformance: A (minimum), AA (recommended), and AAA (enhanced).

Key Features & Benefits

1. WCAG Contrast Ratio Calculation

The tool calculates the exact contrast ratio between your foreground and background colors using the official WCAG formula:

  • Precise Calculations: Uses the same luminance formula specified in WCAG 2.1.
  • Real-time Updates: See contrast ratios update instantly as you adjust colors.
  • Multiple Compliance Levels: Check against both AA and AAA standards simultaneously.

2. Separate Checks for Normal and Large Text

WCAG recognizes that larger text is easier to read, so it has different contrast requirements:

  • Normal Text (AA): Requires 4.5:1 contrast ratio minimum.
  • Large Text (AA): Requires 3:1 contrast ratio minimum (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold).
  • Normal Text (AAA): Requires 7:1 contrast ratio.
  • Large Text (AAA): Requires 4.5:1 contrast ratio.

Our tool clearly shows which level you meet for each text size.

3. Live Color Preview

See exactly how your color combination looks in a live preview box, with both normal and large text samples. This visual feedback helps you understand readability before implementing designs.

4. WCAG Font Size Recommendations

The tool includes built-in WCAG recommendations for font sizes:

  • Normal Text: Minimum 16px (1rem) base size, 16-18px recommended for body text.
  • Large Text: Minimum 18px (1.125rem) or 14px bold, 24-48px typical for headings.
  • Line Height: Minimum 1.5x font size for readability.

5. Color Picker Integration

Both hex input fields include integrated color pickers, making it easy to experiment with different color combinations and see results instantly.

How to Use the Accessibility Helper

  1. Enter Foreground Color: Type a HEX color (e.g., `#111111`) or use the color picker to select your text color.
  2. Enter Background Color: Type a HEX color or use the color picker to select your background color.
  3. Click "Check Accessibility": The tool calculates the contrast ratio and shows WCAG compliance.
  4. Review Results:
    • Check the contrast ratio (displayed prominently).
    • See pass/fail indicators for Normal Text (AA and AAA).
    • See pass/fail indicators for Large Text (AA and AAA).
    • Review the overall WCAG level achieved.
    • View the live preview to see how readable the combination looks.

Typical Use-Cases & Audience

Web Designers

Designers use this tool to:

  • Verify color combinations meet accessibility standards before finalizing designs.
  • Ensure brand colors work together while maintaining readability.
  • Design accessible dark mode and light mode themes.

Web Developers

Developers use this tool for:

  • Validating implemented colors against WCAG standards.
  • Creating accessible color theme systems.
  • Documenting contrast ratios for accessibility audits.

Accessibility Specialists

Accessibility professionals use this tool to:

  • Audit existing websites for WCAG compliance.
  • Generate contrast ratio reports for stakeholders.
  • Educate teams about accessible design principles.

Why Choose This Tool over Others?

  • Comprehensive: Combines contrast checking with font size recommendations in one tool.
  • WCAG Compliant: Uses official WCAG 2.1 formulas and standards.
  • Visual Feedback: Live preview helps you see how colors work together.
  • Easy to Use: Simple interface with color pickers for quick testing.

FAQs

What's the difference between AA and AAA?

WCAG has three conformance levels:

  • Level A: Minimum accessibility (must meet basic criteria).
  • Level AA: Recommended level, legally sufficient in most jurisdictions (normal text needs 4.5:1 contrast).
  • Level AAA: Enhanced accessibility (normal text needs 7:1 contrast), harder to achieve but more inclusive.

Most websites aim for Level AA compliance, which satisfies legal requirements and serves most users effectively.

What counts as "large text"?

According to WCAG 2.1, large text is:

  • 18pt (24px) or larger: Regular weight text.
  • 14pt (18.67px) or larger: Bold text (700 weight or higher).

Large text has lower contrast requirements because it's inherently easier to read.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Test Early: Check contrast ratios during design, not after implementation.
  • Test Both Themes: If your site has light and dark modes, verify both.
  • Aim Higher: While AA is the minimum, AAA provides better accessibility for more users.
  • Use Large Text When Possible: Headings and important text can use larger sizes to reduce contrast requirements.

Get Started Now

Enter your foreground and background colors above to check contrast and ensure your design is accessible to all users.

Conclusion

The Accessibility Contrast & Font Size Helper is an essential tool for creating inclusive web experiences. By ensuring your color combinations and font sizes meet WCAG standards, you make your content accessible to all users, comply with legal requirements, and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive design.