WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) explained
By WCAGCLEAR Nerds. Published , updated .
Short answer: WCAG 1.4.3 requires text to have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background, or 3:1 for large text. Logos, decorative text and text in disabled controls are exempt. Low contrast is the most common error in WebAIM's 2026 study.
What does 1.4.3 require?
Text and images of text need a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 with the background. Large text needs at least 3:1. WCAG treats large text as at least 18 point, or 14 point bold, which W3C puts at approximately 24 CSS pixels, or about 18.5 CSS pixels bold. It is a Level AA criterion.
What is exempt from 1.4.3?
Two kinds of text are exempt. Logotypes, meaning text that is part of a logo or brand name. And incidental text: text in an inactive user interface component such as a disabled button, text that is pure decoration, text not visible to anyone, and text that is part of a picture containing significant other visual content. A headline placed over a photo is not exempt, so check it at its lowest-contrast point.
How do I fix low contrast?
Fix it at the source. Find the text and background color pairs in your design tokens or theme, measure each ratio, and darken or lighten the failing color until it passes. One failing gray in a theme can fail every page, so one token change can fix many pages at once.
Frequently asked questions
- Does 1.4.3 apply to icons and borders?
- No. Icons, input borders and focus indicators fall under 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast, which requires 3:1.
Check your own page
Run a free scan to see which of these issues appear on your site.
Check a siteSources
- Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum), W3C WAI
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, W3C
- The WebAIM Million: 2026 report, WebAIM
This guide is educational and is not legal advice. Talk to an attorney about your legal obligations.