WCAG 2 contrast ratios are known to overstate contrast for dark color pairs and understate it for some light pairs. APCA fixes that using a perceptual model, and it is the candidate method for WCAG 3. We show both side by side, because WCAG 2.2 is still the legal standard in most places, so you can design for the future while staying compliant today.
Private by design
PaletteKit has no server-side processing. Colors, palettes and images stay in your browser; saved palettes live in local storage on this device only.
Popular palettes
Frequently asked questions
What Lc value do I need for body text?
As a rule of thumb, Lc 75 or more for body text, Lc 60 for content text that is not long-form, Lc 45 for large headlines, and Lc 30 as the minimum for anything meaningful like placeholder text.
Why is the Lc value negative?
Negative values mean light text on a dark background (reverse polarity). The size of the number is what matters for readability.
Is PaletteKit free?
Yes. Every tool is free with no account, no watermark and no sign-up. Copy codes and download exports as often as you like.
Are my images and colours uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Photos you extract colours from and palettes you save never leave your device.
Can I use the colours commercially?
Yes. Colours and colour codes cannot be owned by us, and anything you create is yours to use in client work, apps, print and branding.