High Contrast Buttons Get More Clicks
- kmunn87
- Sep 23
- 4 min read
The human eye is naturally drawn to high contrast elements, it's how our brains process visual information and determine what deserves our focus.
That’s why buttons with strong contrast work so well in web design. By using bold colours and making them really pop against the background, you can guide people to the actions you want them to take. Subtle shades can fade into the background, but using big differences in colour and brightness instantly grab attention.
We use buttons on websites to guide users and to tell them what to do next. It's a sign-post enabling them to submit forms, interact with components, and move through the site's flow. Buttons provide clear calls to action, making user journeys more confident and intuitive by indicating clickable elements and the actions they perform.
Using high-contrast buttons you encourage more clicks, and give your website users a much smoother experience.
WHY HIGH CONTRAST BUTTONS MATTER
Studies show that improving color contrast can boost content readability by up to 48%, making it easier for users to engage with your content.
They Attract Attention: High-contrast colours, like an orange button on a blue background, create a strong visual difference that instantly draws the eye.
It Creates Visual Depth: Contrast helps create a sense of depth, making buttons appear closer to the user, which signifies importance and an active state.
Enhances User Experience: Buttons that stand out are easier to find and interact with, leading to a smoother and more intuitive user journey.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED GOOD CONTRAST?
According to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), anything with a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or more counts as high contrast. These guidelines are a set of recommendations created to make websites and digital content accessible to everyone, including people with visual impairments, older users, or anyone who struggles to read low-contrast text. Following them helps ensure your website is usable by as many people as possible and avoids leaving anyone out.
The 4.5:1 ratio specifically makes sure that normal-sized text and important elements stand out enough from the background to be easily readable. Higher contrast can make your website look cleaner, clearer, and easier to navigate.
To check your contrast ratio, you can use online tools like Coolors Contrast Checker.
HOW TO USE HIGH CONTRAST ON YOUR WEBSITE
1. Use Complementary Colours: Choose colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as blue and orange, to create strong visual contrast.
2. Vary Value (Lightness/Darkness): A light button will stand out against a dark background, while a dark button will pop against a light background.
3. Consider Text Contrast: Ensure the text on the button also has high contrast against the button's background to maintain legibility.
4. Prioritise the CTA: Place your most important call-to-action (CTA) button in a prominent location with the highest contrast to encourage clicks.
PICKING THE RIGHT COLOUR
The best call-to-action button colour is the one that contrasts strongly with your page design and stays consistent with your brand palette. No single colour wins universally. This means there's no magic "red button" or "green button" that automatically converts better. Instead, success comes from creating visual hierarchy through contrast.
Think about it like a spotlight on a dark stage. The performer isn't necessarily more talented because they're standing in bright light, but they certainly get more attention. Your buttons work the same way, high contrast makes them the star of the show.
QUICK CONTRAST WINS FOR YOUR WEBSITE
1. Button Contrast Make your primary call-to-action buttons pop by ensuring they contrast sharply with your background. If your website has a light background, consider bold, dark buttons. If you're working with a dark theme, bright buttons will command attention.
2. Text Hierarchy Use contrast to create clear information hierarchy. Your headlines should have the highest contrast, followed by subheadings, then body text. This natural progression guides readers through your content effortlessly.
3. Interactive Elements Links, form fields, and navigation items should stand out clearly from surrounding text. This isn't just good for accessibility it's essential for usability and conversions.
MAKING CONTRAST WORK WITH YOUR BRAND
Worried that high contrast will clash with your carefully crafted brand aesthetic? The secret is working within your existing colour palette while maximizing the contrast between key elements and their backgrounds.
Start by identifying your brand's lightest and darkest colours. Use these as your contrast anchors, then build your visual hierarchy around them. Remember, contrast for attention doesn't mean sacrificing style it means using style strategically.
YOUR CONTRAST ACTION PLAN
Start with these three immediate changes:
Audit your current buttons against WCAG standards
Test one high-contrast button variation on your most important page
Review your text hierarchy to ensure clear contrast differences between headings and body text
The beauty of contrast optimization is that small changes often yield big results. You don't need a complete redesign you just need strategic attention to how elements relate to each other visually.
Remember, every visitor to your website is making split-second decisions about where to look and what to click. When you use contrast for attention effectively, you're making those decisions easier and guiding visitors toward the actions that matter most to your business.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Katie Di Feliciantonio at Made by Katie, a Surrey-based Wix and Squarespace web design studio.
I work with charities and small businesses, offering tailored packages to suit your needs: Mini Websites for a fast, affordable online presence, Bespoke Website Builds for a fully custom website, and Page Makeovers to refresh and optimise your existing site.
REFERENCES
Ariely, D. (2008). Predictably Irrational. HarperCollins.
The Economist Pricing Example (2008) – cited widely in behavioural economics case studies.
Huber, J., Payne, J. W., & Puto, C. (1982). Adding Asymmetrically Dominated Alternatives: Violations of Regularity and the Similarity Hypothesis. Journal of Consumer Research, 9(1), 90–98.
