diff --git a/include/wx/colour.h b/include/wx/colour.h
index e9a13ef95e..87253462b5 100644
--- a/include/wx/colour.h
+++ b/include/wx/colour.h
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ public:
     bool Ok() const { return IsOk(); }
 #endif
 
+    // Return the perceived brightness of the colour, with 0 for black and 1
+    // for white.
+    double GetLuminance() const;
+
     // manipulation
     // ------------
 
diff --git a/interface/wx/colour.h b/interface/wx/colour.h
index a3d4ef7afa..7981e0208a 100644
--- a/interface/wx/colour.h
+++ b/interface/wx/colour.h
@@ -158,6 +158,19 @@ public:
     wxUint32 GetRGBA() const;
     //@}
 
+    /**
+        Return the perceived brightness of the colour.
+
+        This value is computed using the simple @code 0.299*R + 0.587*G +
+        0.114*B @endcode formula with the coefficients taken from the RGB to
+        YIQ conversion formula and @c R, @c G and @c B being the values of the
+        corresponding colour channels normalized to 0..1 range, so that the
+        return value is 0 for black and 1 for white.
+
+        @since 3.1.3
+     */
+    double GetLuminance() const;
+
     /**
         Returns a pixel value which is platform-dependent.
         On Windows, a COLORREF is returned.
diff --git a/src/common/colourcmn.cpp b/src/common/colourcmn.cpp
index 49b7c0c6b0..0ae45ceac8 100644
--- a/src/common/colourcmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/colourcmn.cpp
@@ -268,6 +268,11 @@ wxString wxColourBase::GetAsString(long flags) const
     return colName;
 }
 
+double wxColourBase::GetLuminance() const
+{
+    return (0.299*Red() + 0.587*Green() + 0.114*Blue()) / 255.0;
+}
+
 // static
 void wxColourBase::MakeMono(unsigned char* r, unsigned char* g, unsigned char* b,
                             bool on)
diff --git a/tests/graphics/colour.cpp b/tests/graphics/colour.cpp
index fbfa96870a..bde3b17803 100644
--- a/tests/graphics/colour.cpp
+++ b/tests/graphics/colour.cpp
@@ -115,3 +115,10 @@ void ColourTestCase::FromString()
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT( !wxFromString("rgba(1, 2, 3.456, foo)", &col) );
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("wxColour::GetLuminance", "[colour][luminance]")
+{
+    CHECK( wxBLACK->GetLuminance() == Approx(0.0) );
+    CHECK( wxWHITE->GetLuminance() == Approx(1.0) );
+    CHECK( wxRED->GetLuminance() > 0 );
+    CHECK( wxRED->GetLuminance() < 1 );
+}