---
title: "Email color contrast and cues"
description: "Text, controls, and meaningful graphics need sufficient contrast, and color must never be the only way the message communicates state."
canonical: https://specification.email/spec/accessibility/color-and-contrast/
category: accessibility
status: required
sources:
  - title: "WCAG 2.2 — Contrast (Minimum)"
    url: "https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/contrast-minimum.html"
    publisher: "W3C"
  - title: "WCAG 2.2 — Use of Color"
    url: "https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/use-of-color.html"
    publisher: "W3C"
---

# Email color contrast and cues

> Text, controls, and meaningful graphics need sufficient contrast, and color must never be the only way the message communicates state.

## What it is

Normal text needs at least 4.5:1 contrast and large text at least 3:1 under WCAG AA. Information conveyed by color also needs a text, icon, pattern, or positional cue.

## Why it matters

Low-contrast copy becomes unreadable for many recipients and can fail completely when a client changes colors for dark mode.

## How to implement

Measure actual foreground and background pairs, including buttons and fallback colors. Underline links in body copy and label states such as errors or success in words.

## Common mistakes

- Testing brand swatches but not rendered combinations.
- Assuming bold text qualifies as large text.
- Distinguishing links from copy only by color.

## Verification

Measure every text style and inspect forced dark mode in major clients. Check the message in grayscale to expose color-only distinctions.