- Success Criterion 1.4.3
- Conformance level AA
Thin Font Weight Text That Fails Contrast at Small Sizes
1.4.3 — Contrast (Minimum)
Scenario
Setting
A bank's mobile money-transfer screen
What’s wrong
Thin/light font weights at small sizes measured against threshold and failing where the same hex would pass in regular weight (ratio is color-based, but teams misjudge "large text" thresholds using pt vs px).
Example
Watch a bank's mobile money-transfer screen closely and you'll spot this: thin/light font weights at small sizes measured against threshold and failing where the same hex would pass in regular weight (ratio is color-based, but teams misjudge "large text" thresholds using pt vs px).
Why it matters
Low-vision and older readers, plus anyone viewing a dim or sunlit screen. On a bank's mobile money-transfer screen, this barrier means they can't read the text against its background.
How to test
Measure thin/light-weight font text at small sizes: the same hex color that passes at regular weight can fail readability at 200-300 weight — measure the actual rendered pixels, not just the color values.
How to fix
The text must meet at least 4.5:1 contrast (3:1 for large text) against its actual background in every state (default, hover, focus, selected).
Outcome
Corrected, a bank's mobile money-transfer screen now lets a visitor see the control's boundary and current state.
Who is affected
Low-vision and older readers, plus anyone viewing a dim or sunlit screen.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Text Color Set Without a Matching Background Color
- Text Placed Directly Over a Photo With No Solid Backing
- Body Text Contrast That Falls Below the 4.5:1 Minimum
- Large Heading Text That Still Falls Below 3:1 Contrast
- Placeholder Text With Contrast Too Low to Read Easily
- Text on a Gradient Background Dropping Below Contrast Ratio