Contrast Check: #6C757D on #FFFFFF

Bootstrap secondary gray (#6C757D) on White (#FFFFFF) — 4.69:1, passes AA normal + AAA large.

At a glance

Contrast ratio
4.69:1
WCAG AA (normal text)
Pass
WCAG AA (large text)
Pass
WCAG AAA (normal text)
Fail
UI components / non-text
Pass

Bootstrap secondary gray text on a white background is one of the most frequently checked combinations in web design. The measured WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio is 4.69:1. It passes WCAG AA for body text but falls short of AAA. Hits AA for normal text but only just — sometimes fails when rendered at lower font weights or in poor lighting.

Frequently asked questions

Is #6C757D on #FFFFFF accessible?
For WCAG 2.1 AA — the most common conformance target — the answer is yes for normal-size body text. Normal text needs 4.5:1 and this combination measures 4.69:1. Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold) needs only 3:1, so this combination passes for headings and large UI labels. AAA conformance demands 7:1; this combination falls short of that bar.
Where is this combination commonly used?
Secondary buttons, muted text, disabled controls.
How is this ratio calculated?
WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio is (L1 + 0.05) / (L2 + 0.05) where L1 and L2 are the relative luminances of the lighter and darker colors. Each channel is gamma-corrected (linearized) before applying coefficients 0.2126·R + 0.7152·G + 0.0722·B. The two formulas weight green most because the human eye is most sensitive to green wavelengths.
What if I need a higher ratio than 4.69:1?
Adjust either the foreground or background lightness in the calculator above. The Suggestions panel automatically computes the nearest passing color in each direction (lighter or darker) for AA and AAA targets.

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