How to Use RandomA11y to Find Accessible Color Combinations

Updated

Open randoma11y.com in your browser and you'll immediately see a randomly generated, accessibility-checked color pair. To get a new one, refresh the page or use the on-page controls to shuffle the combination. Each result shows the color values (such as HEX codes) so you can copy them straight into your own project. No account or sign-up is needed to browse and explore.

What RandomA11y Actually Does

RandomA11y is a real-time color playground that surfaces accessible color combinations. Instead of handing you a static palette, it generates pairs on the fly and only presents combinations that meet accessibility contrast requirements. That means every pair you see is intended to be usable for text-on-background scenarios where readability matters.

The value here is speed: you don't have to manually test contrast ratios yourself. The site filters for you and lets you browse until something fits.

Step-by-Step: Getting a Usable Combination

  1. Go to the site. Navigate to randoma11y.com. A color combination loads automatically — there's no setup screen.
  2. Look at the current pair. You'll see two colors presented together, typically as a foreground and background. This is your candidate combination.
  3. Generate a new one. Refresh the page or use the interaction the site provides to produce a fresh random pair. Repeat until a combination appeals to you.
  4. Read the color codes. Each color is displayed with its value (for example, a HEX code). Note these down.
  5. Copy the values into your project. Paste the HEX codes into your CSS, design tool, or wherever you need them.

Expected result: You end up with a specific pair of color values that are already accessibility-checked, ready to apply.

Key Things to Know

  • No registration required. You can browse and explore combinations without creating an account or logging in.
  • Real-time generation. Combinations appear instantly; there's no waiting or batch process.
  • Accessibility is built in. The combinations shown are filtered for contrast, so you're not starting from arbitrary colors and testing them afterward.
  • Copy-ready values. The color codes are visible on screen, which is what makes the tool practical for actual use rather than just inspiration.

Common Sticking Points

  • You found a great pair but lost it. Since combinations are random, note the HEX codes as soon as you decide you like one — refreshing will replace it.
  • The pair doesn't fit your brand. RandomA11y is a discovery tool, not a brand-palette generator. Use it to find accessible starting points, then adapt within your constraints.
  • You need more than two colors. The tool centers on pairs (foreground/background). For multi-color systems, treat each accessible pair as a building block rather than a complete palette.

When to Use It

Reach for RandomA11y when you need a quick, accessibility-safe color pair and don't want to run contrast checks manually — for example, choosing text and background colors for a UI component, a slide, or a small web section. If you need a full branded design system with many coordinated colors, use it as one input among others rather than the sole source.