Website Accessibility Audit Checklist

Web accessibility isn't just about compliance—it's about ensuring everyone can use your website. This comprehensive checklist helps you audit your website for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and identify areas for improvement.

Why Audit Your Website for Accessibility?

Accessibility audits help you identify barriers that prevent people with disabilities from using your website. An accessible website reaches a larger audience, improves SEO, reduces legal risk, and provides better user experiences for everyone. For an introduction to accessibility fundamentals, see our web accessibility guide.

Automated Testing Tools

Start with automated tools to catch common issues:

• WAVE: Free browser extension that visualizes accessibility issues
• axe DevTools: Browser extension for Chrome and Firefox
• Lighthouse: Built into Chrome DevTools, includes accessibility audit
• Siteimprove Accessibility Checker: Browser extension for quick checks

Manual Testing Checklist

1. Keyboard Navigation

• Can you navigate the entire site using only a keyboard?
• Is there a visible focus indicator on all interactive elements?
• Can you access all menus, dropdowns, and modals via keyboard?
• Does the tab order follow a logical sequence?
• Can you skip to main content with a skip link?

2. Screen Reader Testing

• Test with NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), or TalkBack (Android)
• Are all images described with alt text?
• Are headings properly nested (h1 through h6)?
• Do form fields have associated labels?
• Are links descriptive (not "click here")?
• Does the page announce its purpose and structure?

3. Color Contrast

• Check text contrast ratio meets WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
• Don't rely on color alone to convey information
• Ensure focus indicators have sufficient contrast
• Test with color blindness simulators

4. Images and Media

• Every image has descriptive alt text
• Decorative images have empty alt text (alt="")
• Complex images have long descriptions
• Videos have captions
• Audio content has transcripts
• Media doesn't auto-play without controls

5. Forms

• All form inputs have associated labels
• Required fields are indicated
• Error messages are clear and associated with fields
• Forms can be submitted via keyboard
• Form validation provides helpful feedback

6. Content Structure

• Proper heading hierarchy (one h1, logical h2-h6 sequence)
• Semantic HTML (nav, main, article, section, aside)
• Lists are properly marked up (ul, ol, dl)
• Tables have headers for data tables
• Language attribute is set on html element

7. Responsive Design

• Content is readable on mobile devices
• Touch targets are at least 44x44 pixels
• Text doesn't require horizontal scrolling
• Zoom is not disabled
• Content reflows properly on different screen sizes

8. Links and Navigation

• Link text is descriptive of the destination
• Links are distinguishable from surrounding text
• Navigation is consistent across pages
• Breadcrumbs indicate current location
• Skip links allow jumping to main content

9. Dynamic Content

• Content updates are announced to screen readers
• Modal dialogs trap keyboard focus
• ARIA live regions announce dynamic changes
• Expanded/collapsed states are indicated
• Error messages are announced immediately

10. Time-Based Media

• Videos have captions
• Audio has transcripts
• Media controls are accessible via keyboard
• Auto-play can be disabled
• Content doesn't flash more than 3 times per second

WCAG 2.1 AA Success Criteria

WCAG 2.1 AA is the standard for most accessibility compliance. Key criteria include:

• Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive
• Operable: Interface components must be operable
• Understandable: Information and operation must be understandable
• Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by assistive technologies

Common Issues to Watch For

• Missing alt text on images
• Poor color contrast
• Forms without labels
• Keyboard traps
• Missing focus indicators
• Non-semantic HTML
• Auto-playing media
• Insufficient time limits