diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index 5a0fe441c..35070fe23 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -16,15 +16,19 @@ body {
   }
 }
 
-/* Search input placeholder — WCAG AA contrast on dark indigo hero background */
+/* Search input placeholder — WCAG AA contrast on indigo-600→indigo-900 gradient.
+ * placeholder-white/95 (and InheritedTailwind .placeholder-white/95) gives >=4.5:1
+ * contrast once alpha-composited over the bg-white/10 field tint. The previously
+ * shipped 0.85 white failed AA on the lightest gradient edge (indigo-600 ≈ 4.21:1).
+ */
 .search-input::placeholder {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95);
 }
 
 .search-input::-webkit-input-placeholder {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95);
 }
 
 .search-input::-moz-placeholder {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95);
 }
diff --git a/src/app/search/SearchResultsClient.tsx b/src/app/search/SearchResultsClient.tsx
index dcff10214..63eeef02d 100644
--- a/src/app/search/SearchResultsClient.tsx
+++ b/src/app/search/SearchResultsClient.tsx
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ export default function SearchResultsClient({
                       }
                     }}
                     placeholder="Search sneakers, laptops, espresso machines..."
-                    className="h-14 w-full rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white pl-12 pr-4 text-base text-slate-900 shadow-sm outline-none transition focus:border-amber-400 focus:ring-4 focus:ring-amber-100"
+                    className="h-14 w-full rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white pl-12 pr-4 text-base text-slate-900 placeholder:text-slate-600 shadow-sm outline-none transition focus:border-amber-400 focus:ring-4 focus:ring-amber-100"
                     aria-label="Search products"
                     role="combobox"
                     aria-autocomplete="list"
diff --git a/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx b/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx
index 81648f123..012c0ab7d 100644
--- a/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx
+++ b/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export function HomeProductSearch() {
                 }
               }}
               placeholder="Search products..."
-              className="search-input w-full rounded-xl border-2 border-white/20 bg-white/10 py-5 pl-14 pr-4 text-lg text-white placeholder-white/85 transition-all focus:border-white focus:bg-white/20 focus:outline-none focus:ring-4 focus:ring-white/20"
+              className="search-input w-full rounded-xl border-2 border-white/20 bg-white/10 py-5 pl-14 pr-4 text-lg text-white placeholder-white/95 transition-all focus:border-white focus:bg-white/20 focus:outline-none focus:ring-4 focus:ring-white/20"
               aria-label="Search products"
               aria-invalid={Boolean(error)}
               aria-describedby={error ? errorId : undefined}