SCREENBLACK

DISPLAY DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Monitor Contrast Test

Check black levels, shadow detail, highlight detail and the visible separation between dark and bright tones.

For best visual results, use your normal picture mode and a dim room.

01 · CONTRAST PATTERNS

Check your black and white levels

Use the patterns below to look for crushed shadows, clipped highlights and weak separation between tones.

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02 · WHAT IT CHECKS

What is a monitor contrast test?

Display contrast describes the difference between the darkest black and brightest white a display can produce. Higher contrast generally means deeper blacks and a clearer separation between dark and bright parts of an image. Professional contrast testing measures luminance with instruments; this browser tool is a visual inspection tool rather than a measured contrast-ratio test.

Important: Seeing a number of squares is not the same thing as measuring a monitor's contrast ratio. Our test helps you identify visible black-level and highlight-detail problems.

03 · BLACK LEVEL

Check near-black shadow detail

The near-black pattern contains small steps just above black. In a properly adjusted display, subtle differences should remain distinguishable without making pure black look gray. If several of the darkest steps disappear into the background, you may be experiencing black crush or a brightness/gamma setting that is hiding shadow detail.

Test with the room lighting you normally use. A completely dark room can make small differences easier to see, but your everyday viewing environment is what ultimately matters.

04 · WHITE LEVEL

Check highlight detail

The near-white pattern checks whether the brightest tones remain separated from pure white. If several of the brightest steps merge together, highlight detail can be clipped. This can make clouds, snow, bright reflections and other high-brightness details look flat.

Contrast controls can affect the upper end of the signal. Some calibration guides recommend adjusting contrast without pushing the brightest levels into clipping.

05 · CHECKERBOARD

Why use black-and-white squares?

A checkerboard puts black and white areas next to each other at the same time. This is different from showing an entirely black screen and then an entirely white screen. Professional monitor testing uses checkerboard patterns when measuring contrast because simultaneous black and white areas provide a more demanding real-world contrast test.

06 · LCD, VA, IPS & OLED

Does panel type affect contrast?

IPS

IPS panels can provide strong overall image quality, but traditional IPS displays generally have weaker native contrast than VA panels.

VA

VA panels are commonly associated with deeper native blacks and higher native contrast than typical IPS panels.

OLED

OLED pixels can turn off individually, producing effectively perfect blacks in ideal conditions. Professional measurements therefore treat OLED contrast differently.

TN

TN displays vary by model. Contrast and viewing characteristics depend on the specific panel and implementation.

These are general tendencies, not guarantees for every monitor.

07 · HOW TO TEST

How to test monitor contrast correctly

  1. Return your display to a normal or default picture mode if you have heavily customized it.
  2. Turn off temporary dynamic picture enhancements if you want a consistent visual comparison.
  3. Use the near-black pattern first and check the darkest visible steps.
  4. Use the near-white pattern and check whether the brightest steps remain distinct.
  5. Use the checkerboard to inspect simultaneous black-and-white contrast.
  6. Repeat the test at your normal brightness and viewing conditions.

08 · FAQ

Monitor contrast test FAQ

Can this website measure my monitor's contrast ratio?

No. A true contrast ratio requires luminance measurements. This tool is designed for visual checking of black levels, white levels and contrast patterns.

What does black crush mean?

Black crush occurs when multiple very dark shades become indistinguishable from black, causing loss of shadow detail.

What is white clipping?

White clipping occurs when very bright shades merge into white, reducing visible highlight detail.

Is higher contrast always better?

Higher native contrast generally produces deeper blacks and stronger separation, but overall display quality also depends on brightness, color, gamma, uniformity and other characteristics.

Can I test a TV or phone?

Yes. The patterns can be displayed on modern phones, tablets, TVs, laptops and desktop monitors.

MORE DISPLAY TESTS

Continue checking your screen

Black Screen → Dead Pixels → Uniformity → Gradient & Banding →