diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/layout.css b/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
index 5ae7a37f..ef228f65 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@
 	--c-line-2: #eeede8;
 
 	--c-ink: #012851;
-	--c-ink-2: #6b7280;
-	--c-ink-3: #9ca3af;
+	--c-ink-2: #4b5563; /* gray-600 — 7.6:1 on white, 6.6:1 on canvas — WCAG AA ✓ */
+	--c-ink-3: #6b7280; /* gray-500 — 4.8:1 on white — WCAG AA ✓; use only on surface, not canvas */
 
 	--c-accent: #a1dcd8;
 	--c-accent-bg: rgba(161, 220, 216, 0.15);
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@
 		--c-line-2: #222222;
 
 		--c-ink: #f0efe9;
-		--c-ink-2: #9ca3af;
-		--c-ink-3: #6b7280;
+		--c-ink-2: #9ca3af; /* gray-400 — 7.5:1 on dark surface — WCAG AAA ✓ */
+		--c-ink-3: #8b97a5; /* gray-450 — 6.5:1 on dark surface — WCAG AA ✓ */
 
 		--c-accent: #00c7b1;
 		--c-accent-bg: rgba(0, 199, 177, 0.12);