1.4.3 – Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA)

The contrast ratio between text and background is at least 4.5:1.

Introduction

All users benefit from a good contrast between the text on your website and the background colour.

Some users with visual impairments need a stronger contrast than others to understand your content, so using the right colours is essential.

How to Pass

Make sure the contrast ratio between your text and background is at least 4.5:1.

Do this by:

• Using a light background and dark text; or
• Using a dark background and light text; and
• Using a colour contrast checker to verify your choice.

Exceptions

• Text that is 18 points or larger (or 14 points or larger, if bold) has a lower minimum contract ratio of 3:1
• Text that is purely decorative
• Text that is an incidental part of an image (for example, a man who is reading a newspaper or a landscape that happens to include a street sign)
• Brand logos

Tips

In CSS pixel terms, 14 points is 18.5 pixels and 18 points is 24 pixels.

Picking a contrast of at least 7:1 will also fulfil Guideline 1.4.6 – Contrast (Enhanced) at Level AAA.

Remember to ensure that all colours used conform. This includes links that change colour after being used once, and headings in menus and sidebars, as well as the main content.

Make sure that any embedded charts or images of charts have the minimum contrast between elements (for example, bars, axes and labels).

This guideline also applies to images of text (but you shouldn’t be using images of text, see 1.4.5 – Images of Text).

See Also

• Guideline 1.4.5 – Images of Text
• Guideline 1.4.6 – Contrast (Enhanced)
• Guideline 1.4.9 – Images of Text (No Exception)
• Guideline 1.4.11 – Non-text Contrast
• Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.3 (W3C)