What this criterion requires
Text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background; large text (18pt, or 14pt bold) needs at least 3:1. Logos and purely decorative text are exempt.
Who it helps
People with low vision and older users; everyone reading a screen in sunlight.
Example: fails vs passes
body { color: #999999; background: #ffffff; } /* 2.8:1 - fails */body { color: #595f66; background: #ffffff; } /* 7.0:1 - passes */Minimum 4.5:1 for body text, 3:1 for large text. Fix at the design-token level so every page inherits it.
How to meet and fix it
- Check every text/background pair with a contrast tool - including text over images and gradients
- Fix at the design-token level so the whole system inherits the correction
- Watch placeholder text, disabled-looking-but-active controls, and text on hero images
Common failures auditors find
- Grey-on-white body text below 4.5:1 - the single most common WCAG failure on the web
- White text over a light area of a photo
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
In PDF documents
Contrast rules apply to PDF text over backgrounds and images. Note that PDF/UA does not check contrast at all - this is one of the criteria only WCAG covers, which is why documents are tested against both.
Check any document against this and 80+ more automated checks with the free PDF accessibility checker.
- W3C, Understanding 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum) - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.4.3 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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