Contrast Test Online
How deep are your blacks, and how bright your whites? This contrast test uses pure black, white, split-screen, and checkerboard patterns to judge your monitor's contrast ratio and black level — free, in your browser.
Current pattern
Black / White Split 3/5
Click to start the contrast test
Fullscreen · ← → arrows or swipe to change pattern
How to Read the Contrast Test
Contrast is the gap between the darkest black and the brightest white the screen can show. These patterns help you judge it by eye.
Pure black
In a dim room, how black is the black? On IPS it looks dark grey; on VA much darker; on OLED, truly off.
Black/white split
A side-by-side extreme. The black half reveals black-level lift and any bleed glowing into it.
Checkerboard
The ANSI-style pattern — alternating black and white cells. The black cells staying dark while white cells stay bright indicates good real-world contrast.
Contrast by Panel Type
| Panel | Static contrast | Black level |
|---|---|---|
| IPS | ~1000:1 | Dark grey — black looks lifted in a dim room |
| VA | ~3000:1 – 6000:1 | Much deeper black; great for dark rooms |
| TN | ~1000:1 | Average, plus narrow viewing angles |
| OLED | Effectively infinite (∞:1) | True off-state black — the deepest possible |
Note the difference between static contrast (the real, always-available ratio) and the marketing dynamic contrast number, which adjusts the backlight per scene and isn't a fair comparison.
Contrast Test FAQ
What is a good contrast ratio?
For LCDs, ~1000:1 (IPS/TN) is typical and acceptable; ~3000:1+ (VA) is very good for dark-room viewing. OLED is effectively infinite because each pixel turns fully off, so it has the deepest blacks of any technology.
Static vs dynamic contrast — what matters?
Static (ANSI) contrast is the real ratio the panel can show at one moment. "Dynamic contrast" is a marketing figure that dims the whole backlight in dark scenes — it inflates the number but isn't a true side-by-side ratio. Compare static contrast when buying.
Why does my IPS black look grey?
That's the IPS panel's ~1000:1 contrast limit — its backlight is always on behind the liquid crystals, so "black" is really dark grey. It's a technology trade-off for wide viewing angles and color accuracy, not a defect.
How can I improve perceived contrast?
Lower the brightness in dim rooms, add bias lighting behind the monitor, and use a VA or OLED panel for dark content. Software settings can't raise the hardware contrast ratio.