When we use our brand palette, we must ensure that the colours we choose for text and graphics have enough contrast to the background colour. Doing so means that the materials we create will be accessible to the largest audience. The table below lists all brand colour combinations. It shows which pairings have the required level of contrast for different uses. These uses include:

  • graphics and user interface elements
  • text and images of text.

View all examples of colour combinations suitable for: Graphical objects, text minimum (AA and AAA), and text enhanced (AAA).

Colour Accessibility Matrix. Foreground colours are the columns, background colours are the rows. Where a foreground column and background row intersect the cell shows the Web Content Accessibility Guidline (WCAG) contrast complicance level of the two colours when used together.
White Plain Black Rich Black Neutral 1 Neutral 2 Neutral 3 Neutral 4 Prussian Marine 1 Marine 2 Marine 3 Marine 4 Marine 5 Shamrock Marine 6 Horizon 1 Horizon 2 Horizon 3 Coral Horizon 4 Horizon 5
#FFFFFF #231F20 #00131D #495961 #758D9A #9FB1BD #E1E8EC #002E3B #005C84 #74C9E5 #3CBAC6 #B3DBD2 #4BB694 #1E8765 #C1D100 #FCBC00 #EF7D00 #E73037 #E73238 #D5007F #8D3970
White (#FFFFFF) F AAA AAA AAA G F F AAA AAA F F F F G F F F G G AA AAA
Plain Black (#231F20) AAA F F F AA AAA AAA F F AAA AAA AAA AA G AAA AAA AA G G G F
Rich Black (#00131D) AAA F F F AA AAA AAA F F AAA AAA AAA AAA G AAA AAA AA G G G F
Neutral 1 (#495961) AAA F F F F G AA F F G G AA F F G G F F F F F
Neutral 2 (#758D9A) G AA AA F F F F G F F F F F F F F F F F F F
Neutral 3 (#9FB1BD) F AAA AAA G F F F AA G F F F F F F F F F F F G
Neutral 4 (#E1E8EC) F AAA AAA AA F F F AAA AA F F F F G F F F G G G AA
Prussian (#002E3B) AAA F F F G AA AAA F F AAA AA AAA AA G AAA AAA AA G G F F
Marine 1 (#005C84) AAA F F F F G AA F F G G AA F F G G F F F F F
Marine 2 (#74C9E5) F AAA AAA G F F F AAA G F F F F F F F F F F F G
Marine 3 (#3CBAC6) F AAA AAA G F F F AA G F F F F F F F F F F F G
Marine 4 (#B3DBD2) F AAA AAA AA F F F AAA AA F F F F F F F F F F G AA
Marine 5 (#4BB694) F AA AAA F F F F AA F F F F F F F F F F F F F
Shamrock (#1E8765) G G G F F F G G F F F F F F F F F F F F F
Marine 6 (#C1D100) F AAA AAA G F F F AAA G F F F F F F F F F F F G
Horizon 1 (#FCBC00) F AAA AAA G F F F AAA G F F F F F F F F F F F G
Horizon 2 (#EF7D00) F AA AA F F F F AA F F F F F F F F F F F F F
Horizon 3 (#E73037) G G G F F F G G F F F F F F F F F F F F F
Coral (#E73238) G G G F F F G G F F F F F F F F F F F F F
Horizon 4 (#D5007F) AA G G F F F G F F F F G F F F F F F F F F
Horizon 5 (#8D3970) AAA F F F F G AA F F G G AA F F G G F F F F F

White (#FFFFFF)

Matrix for #FFFFFF only
White #FFFFFF
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 AAA
Neutral 2 #758D9A G
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AAA
Marine 1 #005C84 AAA
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 G
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 G
Coral #E73238 G
Horizon 4 #D5007F AA
Horizon 5 #8D3970 AAA

Plain Black (#231F20)

Matrix for #231F20 only
Plain Black #231F20
White #FFFFFF AAA
Plain Black #231F20 F
Rich Black #00131D F
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A AA
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD AAA
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC AAA
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 AAA
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 AAA
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 AAA
Marine 5 #4BB694 AA
Shamrock #1E8765 G
Marine 6 #C1D100 AAA
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 AAA
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 AA
Horizon 3 #E73037 G
Coral #E73238 G
Horizon 4 #D5007F G
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Rich Black (#00131D)

Matrix for #00131D only
Rich Black #00131D
White #FFFFFF AAA
Plain Black #231F20 F
Rich Black #00131D F
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A AA
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD AAA
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC AAA
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 AAA
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 AAA
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 AAA
Marine 5 #4BB694 AAA
Shamrock #1E8765 G
Marine 6 #C1D100 AAA
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 AAA
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 AA
Horizon 3 #E73037 G
Coral #E73238 G
Horizon 4 #D5007F G
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Neutral 1 (#495961)

Matrix for #495961 only
Neutral 1 #495961
White #FFFFFF AAA
Plain Black #231F20 F
Rich Black #00131D F
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD G
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC AA
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 G
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 G
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 AA
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 G
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 G
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Neutral 2 (#758D9A)

Matrix for #758D9A only
Neutral 2 #758D9A
White #FFFFFF G
Plain Black #231F20 AA
Rich Black #00131D AA
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B G
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Neutral 3 (#9FB1BD)

Matrix for #9FB1BD only
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 G
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AA
Marine 1 #005C84 G
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 G

Neutral 4 (#E1E8EC)

Matrix for #E1E8EC only
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 AA
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AAA
Marine 1 #005C84 AA
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 G
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 G
Coral #E73238 G
Horizon 4 #D5007F G
Horizon 5 #8D3970 AA

Prussian (#002E3B)

Matrix for #002E3B only
Prussian #002E3B
White #FFFFFF AAA
Plain Black #231F20 F
Rich Black #00131D F
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A G
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD AA
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC AAA
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 AAA
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 AA
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 AAA
Marine 5 #4BB694 AA
Shamrock #1E8765 G
Marine 6 #C1D100 AAA
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 AAA
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 AA
Horizon 3 #E73037 G
Coral #E73238 G
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Marine 1 (#005C84)

Matrix for #005C84 only
Marine 1 #005C84
White #FFFFFF AAA
Plain Black #231F20 F
Rich Black #00131D F
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD G
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC AA
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 G
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 G
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 AA
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 G
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 G
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Marine 2 (#74C9E5)

Matrix for #74C9E5 only
Marine 2 #74C9E5
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 G
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AAA
Marine 1 #005C84 G
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 G

Marine 3 (#3CBAC6)

Matrix for #3CBAC6 only
Marine 3 #3CBAC6
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 G
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AA
Marine 1 #005C84 G
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 G

Marine 4 (#B3DBD2)

Matrix for #B3DBD2 only
Marine 4 #B3DBD2
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 AA
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AAA
Marine 1 #005C84 AA
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F G
Horizon 5 #8D3970 AA

Marine 5 (#4BB694)

Matrix for #4BB694 only
Marine 5 #4BB694
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AA
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Shamrock (#1E8765)

Matrix for #1E8765 only
Shamrock #1E8765
White #FFFFFF G
Plain Black #231F20 G
Rich Black #00131D G
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC G
Prussian #002E3B G
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Marine 6 (#C1D100)

Matrix for #C1D100 only
Marine 6 #C1D100
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 G
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AAA
Marine 1 #005C84 G
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 G

Horizon 1 (#FCBC00)

Matrix for #FCBC00 only
Horizon 1 #FCBC00
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AAA
Rich Black #00131D AAA
Neutral 1 #495961 G
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AAA
Marine 1 #005C84 G
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 G

Horizon 2 (#EF7D00)

Matrix for #EF7D00 only
Horizon 2 #EF7D00
White #FFFFFF F
Plain Black #231F20 AA
Rich Black #00131D AA
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC F
Prussian #002E3B AA
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Horizon 3 (#E73037)

Matrix for #E73037 only
Horizon 3 #E73037
White #FFFFFF G
Plain Black #231F20 G
Rich Black #00131D G
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC G
Prussian #002E3B G
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Coral (#E73238)

Matrix for #E73238 only
Coral #E73238
White #FFFFFF G
Plain Black #231F20 G
Rich Black #00131D G
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC G
Prussian #002E3B G
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 F
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Horizon 4 (#D5007F)

Matrix for #D5007F only
Horizon 4 #D5007F
White #FFFFFF AA
Plain Black #231F20 G
Rich Black #00131D G
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD F
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC G
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 F
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 F
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 G
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 F
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 F
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F

Horizon 5 (#8D3970)

Matrix for #8D3970 only
Horizon 5 #8D3970
White #FFFFFF AAA
Plain Black #231F20 F
Rich Black #00131D F
Neutral 1 #495961 F
Neutral 2 #758D9A F
Neutral 3 #9FB1BD G
Neutral 4 #E1E8EC AA
Prussian #002E3B F
Marine 1 #005C84 F
Marine 2 #74C9E5 G
Marine 3 #3CBAC6 G
Marine 4 #B3DBD2 AA
Marine 5 #4BB694 F
Shamrock #1E8765 F
Marine 6 #C1D100 G
Horizon 1 #FCBC00 G
Horizon 2 #EF7D00 F
Horizon 3 #E73037 F
Coral #E73238 F
Horizon 4 #D5007F F
Horizon 5 #8D3970 F
Explaining the matrix.
Rating Explanation
F FAIL - 285 of 441 combinations (65%).
  • Colour combination should not be used for user interface (UI) components or graphical objects where no text is used, nor for the visual representation of text.
G Contrast ratio is at least 3:1 - 156 of 441 combinations (35%).
AA Contrast ratio is at least 4.5:1 - 84 of 441 combinations (19%).
AAA Contrast ratio is at least 7:1 - 52 of 441 combinations (12%).
NOTE Exclusions for visual representation of text are:
  • Incidental: Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface component, that are pure decoration, that are not visible to anyone, or that are part of a picture that contains significant other visual content, have no contrast requirement.
  • Logotypes: Text that is part of a logo or brand name has no contrast requirement.
More information about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)