Instructions: Input at least two 6-digit hexadecimal codes, then click "Check Contrast"
Picture this: you've spent weeks perfecting your website's design. The colors look amazing on your monitor. But when your users try to read your content, they can't make out the text. Your "elegant" gray text on a white background is practically invisible to them.
Creating an accessible color palette isn't about sacrificing beautiful design—it's about making smart choices that work for everyone. Whether someone is colorblind, has low vision, or is trying to read your site on their phone in bright sunlight, your colors should never be a barrier.
Here's what you'll learn in this guide:
Let's start with the basics: what are we actually talking about when we say "accessible colors"?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide the technical standards that most organizations use to ensure their websites are accessible. These WCAG guidelines are organized into three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA.
An accessible color palette is one where colors have sufficient contrast between each other—especially between text and background colors.
Contrast refers to the difference in brightness between two colors. When there's enough contrast, text becomes easier to read, buttons become more distinguishable, and your interface becomes more usable for everyone.
Contrast is measured as a ratio between two colors, expressed as something like "4.5:1" or "7:1". The higher the number, the more contrast there is between the colors.
Here's an important point: the contrast ratio is the same regardless of which color is the text and which is the background. Whether you have black text on a white background or white text on a black background, the contrast ratio is 21:1 in both cases.
WCAG Level A is the most basic level of accessibility. It covers the most serious accessibility barriers but doesn't address color contrast at all. Most websites should aim higher than Level A.
WCAG Level AA is considered the standard for most websites. It strikes a good balance between accessibility and design flexibility. This is what most businesses aim for, and it's often what's required by law.
WCAG Level AAA is the highest level of accessibility. While it provides the best experience for users with vision impairments, it can be quite restrictive from a design perspective. AAA is typically reserved for sites that specifically serve people with disabilities, government sites, or organizations that want to go above and beyond.
For most websites and SaaS applications, AA compliance is your target.
According to WebAIM, here are the exact contrast ratios you need to meet:
For WCAG Level AA:
For WCAG Level AAA:
What counts as "large text"? Large text is defined as 14 point (typically 18.66px) and bold or larger, or 18 point (typically 24px) or larger.
Important note: If your colors fall below these ratios, it doesn't mean you can never use them together. You can still use low-contrast color combinations for decorative elements that don't carry important information—like background patterns or design flourishes that users don't need to interact with. There are also specific exceptions, like disabled buttons, where lower contrast is actually expected.
When people hear "accessibility," they often think it only helps a small group of users with specific disabilities. But the truth is, accessible color choices benefit a much broader audience:
People with Color Vision Deficiency (Color Blindness): About 8% of men and 0.5% of women have some form of color blindness. The most common type is red-green color blindness, which makes it difficult to distinguish between reds and greens. When you rely solely on color to convey information (like using only red for errors), these users miss critical cues.
People with Low Vision: This includes people with conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. Low contrast makes text extremely difficult or impossible to read. What might look like a subtle, elegant gray text to you could be completely invisible to someone with low vision.
Older Adults: As we age, our vision naturally changes. Older adults often need higher contrast to read comfortably. With an aging population, this demographic is only growing—and they often have significant purchasing power.
People Using Devices in Bright Environments: Ever tried to read your phone screen while sitting outside on a sunny day? Everyone becomes temporarily "vision impaired" in these situations. High contrast colors remain readable even when screen glare is an issue.
People with Cognitive Disabilities: While not strictly a vision issue, some people with cognitive disabilities find it easier to process information when there's clear visual distinction between different elements on the page.
Anyone Experiencing Eye Fatigue: If you've ever worked late into the night or spent a long day staring at screens, you know how much harder it becomes to read low-contrast text. Accessible colors reduce eye strain for everyone.
The bottom line? Accessible design is universal design. When you create a color palette that works for people with disabilities, you create a better experience for all your users.
Now for the practical part: how do you actually build a color palette that meets accessibility standards while still looking great?
If you're working with established brand colors, you'll need to work within those constraints. But if you're starting fresh, I recommend using a tool like Coolors to generate some initial color ideas. You can explore different palettes and lock in colors you like while continuing to generate alternatives.
The key is to think beyond just "colors that look good together." You need colors that will work across all the different ways they'll be used on your site—as backgrounds, text, buttons, borders, and accent elements.
This is where many designers make mistakes. They pick beautiful colors but never test whether those colors actually work together from an accessibility standpoint.
You need to test every possible combination of colors that might appear together on your site. That means:
To make this process easier, I've built a color contrast checker specifically for this purpose. Unlike most contrast checkers that only test two colors at a time, this tool lets you input multiple hex codes and shows you the contrast ratio for every possible combination.
Here's how to use it:
Once you've settled on an accessible color palette, create a simple color grid that shows all your approved color combinations and their contrast ratios. This becomes your quick reference guide as you design different pages and components.
Your grid should include the hex codes, color names (if you're using a naming system), and the contrast ratios for each combination. This makes it easy to reference later without having to re-test combinations you've already approved.
Finally, don't just rely on the numbers. Test your color palette in real conditions:
Creating an accessible color palette isn't a one-time task—it's about building accessibility into your design process from the ground up.
The colors you choose send a message about who you think your product is for. When you prioritize accessibility, you're saying that your product is for everyone. You're acknowledging that good design isn't just about looking pretty—it's about working well for all users.
More practically, accessible design helps protect you from being sued and expands your potential user base. It's simply good business.
Ready to put this into practice? Start by auditing your current color palette using the contrast checker above. Identify any combinations that don't meet WCAG AA standards, then work systematically to address them.
Remember: you don't have to fix everything at once. Start with the most critical elements—your primary text and navigation—then work your way through less essential components.
Your users (all of them) will thank you for it.
Most "experts" dish out generic advice that falls flat, but for a limited time, I'm offering a free, high-quality accessibility consultation for your website.
This isn't cookie-cutter fluff – it's a personalized strategy session where I'll analyze your site's accessibility and give you actionable tips to make it work for everyone.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to get an expert's insights without the hefty price tag – schedule your free consultation now before spots fill up.
