Readability is accessibility
Light grey text on a white background might look elegant in a design file, but on a bright phone screen outdoors it can be almost impossible to read. Poor contrast affects people with low vision, older visitors and anyone browsing in less-than-perfect conditions.
Readable text is one of the simplest accessibility wins because it rarely needs a redesign, just better choices.
Worth remembering
Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for body text. Free contrast checkers will tell you in seconds.
Choose colours with contrast in mind
Check your brand colours against the backgrounds you actually use. A colour that works for a large heading may fail for small body text or buttons.
Never rely on colour alone to share meaning. Add text or icons so that links, errors and statuses are clear to everyone.
Give text room to breathe
Use a comfortable base font size, generous line spacing and shorter line lengths. Avoid long blocks of centred or justified text, which are harder to follow.
Make sure text can be zoomed to 200 percent without content overlapping or disappearing.
Your practical checklist
- Test body text and buttons with a contrast checker.
- Use a base font size of at least 16 pixels.
- Add underlines or icons so links do not rely on colour.
- Zoom your key pages to 200 percent and check the layout.
- Review text over images and add overlays where needed.
