An accessible website can be used by everyone, including people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities, older users and people on slow phones. Many accessibility improvements also help SEO and conversions.
1. Readable text
- Body text of at least 16px.
- Strong contrast between text and background; check with our colour contrast checker.
- Avoid long text inside images.
2. Alt text for images
Describe meaningful images so screen readers can read them aloud. Decorative images can have empty alt text.
3. Proper headings
Use one H1 per page and headings in order (H2, then H3). Screen reader users navigate by headings.
4. Clear links and buttons
- Link text that says where it goes, not “click here”.
- Buttons large enough to tap on a phone.
- Visible focus outlines for keyboard users.
5. Accessible forms
- A visible label for every field.
- Clear error messages explaining how to fix them.
- No CAPTCHA that blocks real people where avoidable.
6. Video and audio
Add captions to videos and avoid autoplaying sound.
7. Test it
- Try navigating with only the keyboard (Tab key).
- Run Lighthouse’s accessibility audit in Chrome.
- Try your phone’s screen reader on your homepage.
Convert plain text to clean, structured HTML with our text to HTML converter.
Want the full picture? This article is part of Business websites: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
