In the past, DigitalA11y published a detailed guide on Shopify accessibility for WCAG compliance, where we went deep into the accessibility of Shopify themes and third-party components, common accessibility failures, and what to expect during an accessibility audit of a Shopify store.
Following the article, we received multiple requests from potential clients and accessibility audit specialists asking whether we had a practical checklist that we use while auditing Shopify stores. Drawing on our considerable experience in the e-commerce accessibility space, we created this checklist to address that need.
This accessibility checklist for e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and others helps teams perform a thorough accessibility audit, including end-to-end user journey testing by people with disabilities.
If you have suggestions or feel something needs improvement in this Shopify accessibility checklist, please reach out to us via the comments or the contact form.

This checklist supports ADA compliance by aligning Shopify stores with WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA, the technical standard most commonly referenced in ADA enforcement.

Why Shopify Accessibility Matters

This comprehensive checklist helps Shopify store owners ensure their e-commerce websites comply with ADA, EAA, Section 508, and WCAG 2.2 AA standards. With 4.6+ million active Shopify stores globally and accessibility lawsuits on the rise, making your store accessible protects your business while expanding your customer base to the 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities.

1. Shopify Theme Accessibility Checklist

Visual Design & Contrast

Color Contrast Ratios: Regular text meets 4.5:1 minimum contrast ratio
Large Text Contrast: Text 18pt+ or 14pt bold meets 3:1 contrast ratio
Non-Text Contrast: UI components and graphics meet 3:1 contrast ratio
Link Contrast: Links are visually distinguishable from surrounding text (not by color alone)
Color Independence: Never rely solely on color to convey information
Dark Mode Support: If offered, dark mode maintains proper contrast ratios

Text & Typography

Text Spacing: Adequate line height (1.5x font size minimum), paragraph spacing, letter spacing
Font Size: Base font size is at least 16px
Readable Fonts: Use clear, legible font families (avoid decorative fonts for body text)
Text Resize: Text that can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality
Responsive Typography: Text scales appropriately on mobile devices

Zoom & Responsive Design

Zoom Enabled: Meta viewport tag doesn’t disable zooming (no maximum-scale=1)
200% Zoom Test: Content remains visible and functional at 200% zoom
400% Zoom Test: Content reflows properly at 400% zoom without horizontal scrolling
Reflow Support: Content adapts to 320px width (mobile) without two-dimensional scrolling
Orientation Support: Store works in both portrait and landscape orientations

Touch Targets & Mobile

Minimum Touch Target Size: All interactive elements are at least 44×44 CSS pixels
Touch Target Spacing: Adequate spacing (8px minimum) between touch targets
Mobile Navigation: Hamburger menus are keyboard and screen-reader accessible
Mobile Forms: Form inputs are appropriately sized for mobile devices
Gesture Alternatives: Provide alternatives for complex gestures (swipe, pinch, etc.)

Focus & Keyboard Navigation

Visible Focus Indicators: All interactive elements have clear focus outlines
Focus Order: Tab order follows logical reading sequence
No Keyboard Traps: Users can navigate away from all elements using keyboard
Skip Links: “Skip to main content” link available on all pages
Focus Management: Focus moves appropriately in modals, dropdowns, and dynamic content
Custom Focus Styles: Focus indicators meet 3:1 contrast ratio against background

Links & Buttons

Descriptive Link Text: Links describe their destination (avoid “click here” or “read more”)
Button vs Link Semantics: Buttons for actions, links for navigation
Hover States: Clear visual feedback on hover
Active States: Visual indication when elements are pressed/activated
Disabled State Contrast: Disabled buttons still meet 3:1 contrast ratio
Icon Buttons: Icon-only buttons have accessible labels

HTML Structure & Semantics

Heading Hierarchy: Proper H1-H6 structure (only one H1 per page)
Semantic HTML: Use <nav>, <main>, <section>, <article>, <aside>, <footer>
Landmark Regions: All content contained in appropriate landmarks
Lists: Use <ul>, <ol>, <dl> for list content
Tables: Data tables have <th> elements with scope attributes
Valid HTML: Code passes W3C HTML validator

2. Content & Media Checklist

Images & Graphics

Product Image Alt Text: Descriptive alt text for all product images (describe what’s visible)
Decorative Images: Empty alt attributes (alt=””) for purely decorative images
Complex Images: Detailed descriptions for infographics, charts, diagrams
Logo Alt Text: Company/store name in logo alt text
Icon Alt Text: Meaningful alt text for functional icons
Background Images: Important information not conveyed through background images alone
Image Quality: Images remain clear when zoomed
SVG Accessibility: SVG images have titles and descriptions

Product Gallery & Images

Gallery Navigation: Previous/next buttons labeled clearly (“Previous image”, “Next image”)
Current Image Indicator: Active thumbnail marked with aria-current=”true”
Keyboard Zoom Support: Image zoom works with Enter/Space keys
Zoom Pan Controls: Arrow keys navigate zoomed images
Thumbnail Focus Indicators: Visible focus on gallery thumbnails
360° View Alternatives: Text descriptions for interactive product views
Video Controls: Product videos have play/pause controls and captions

Video & Multimedia

Captions: All videos have accurate synchronized captions
Transcripts: Video transcripts available for download or on page
Audio Descriptions: Videos with visual-only content have audio descriptions
Autoplay Disabled: Videos don’t autoplay with sound
Player Controls: Video player controls are keyboard accessible
Contrast in Videos: On-screen text in videos meets contrast requirements

PDFs & Documents

Accessible PDFs: Product manuals, guides, and catalogs are accessible
Alternative Formats: HTML alternative available for PDF content
PDF Links: Links to PDFs clearly labeled as PDF documents
Document Structure: PDFs have proper heading structure and tags

3. Navigation & Search Checklist

Main Navigation

Keyboard Navigation: All menu items accessible via keyboard
Mega Menu Accessibility: Large dropdown menus properly structured with headings
Menu State Announcements: Screen readers announce expanded/collapsed states
Escape Key: ESC key closes dropdown menus
Consistent Navigation: Navigation is consistent across all pages
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumb navigation uses proper markup and separators

Search Functionality

Search Label: Search input has explicit <label>, not just placeholder
Autocomplete Accessibility: Search suggestions follow ARIA combobox pattern
Keyboard Navigation: Arrow keys navigate search suggestions
Result Announcements: aria-live regions announce search results
ESC to Dismiss: ESC key dismisses autocomplete suggestions
Loading States: aria-busy indicates when search is processing
Search Results Structure: Results page has proper heading hierarchy
No Results Message: Clear message when search returns no results
Search Filter Compatibility: Search works alongside product filters

Filters & Sorting

Filter Labels: All filter checkboxes have programmatic labels
Fieldset & Legend: Filter groups wrapped in <fieldset> with <legend>
Keyboard Navigation: Tab through filters logically
State Announcements: aria-live announces applied filters and result counts
Clear Filters Button: Descriptive “Clear all filters” button
Price Slider Accessibility: Range sliders keyboard accessible with value announcements
Selected Filters Display: Visual and programmatic indication of active filters
Filter Count: Number of results updates accessibly when filters change
Mobile Filter Drawer: Filter panel on mobile is properly contained and dismissible

4. Product Pages Checklist

Product Information

Product Title: H1 heading for product name
Price Clarity: Price clearly labeled and announced by screen readers
Stock Status: Out of stock/in stock clearly indicated
Product Description: Descriptive, structured content with headings where appropriate
SKU & Product Details: Technical specifications in accessible table or list format

Product Options & Variants

Color Selection: Color names provided (not just swatches)
Size Selection: Radio buttons or properly labeled select dropdown
Option Labels: All variant options have visible and programmatic labels
Selected State: Visual and programmatic indication of selected options
Unavailable Options: Disabled options clearly marked and explained

Quantity Selection

Quantity Label: Input field labeled “Quantity” or similar
Increment Buttons: Plus/minus buttons have accessible names (“Increase quantity”, “Decrease quantity”)
Keyboard Input: Users can type quantity directly
Min/Max Limits: Clear error messages for quantity limits
Quantity Confirmation: Changes announced to screen readers via aria-live
Mobile Touch Targets: Quantity controls meet 44x44px minimum on mobile

Add to Cart

Button Label: Clear “Add to Cart” button text
Success Confirmation: Accessible notification when item added (aria-live)
Error Handling: Clear error messages if add to cart fails
Loading State: Button indicates processing state
Wishlist Alternative: Wishlist/save for later options are accessible

Ratings & Reviews

Rating Display: Star ratings have text equivalents (“4 out of 5 stars”)
Rating Input: Review form rating selection is keyboard accessible
Review Form Labels: All form fields are properly labeled
Form Validation: Clear error messages for required/invalid fields
Helpful Buttons: “Was this helpful?” buttons have descriptive labels
Review Pagination: Page navigation is properly labeled
Review Sorting: Sort dropdown accessible and announces changes
Verified Purchase: Verification badges have text alternatives

5. Shopping Cart Checklist

Cart Structure

Cart Table Markup: Proper <table> with <thead>, <tbody>, <th> elements
Table Headers: Column headers use scope=”col”
Cart Heading: H1 or H2 for “Shopping Cart” section
Empty Cart Message: Clear heading and message when cart is empty

Cart Items

Product Images: Product thumbnails have descriptive alt text
Remove Button: Descriptive text “Remove [Product Name] from cart”
Update Quantity: Quantity changes work accessibly
Item Details: Product name, size, color clearly labeled
Price Display: Individual and total prices clearly labeled

Cart Updates & Totals

Live Region Updates: Cart total updates announced to screen readers (aria-live)
Subtotal Label: Subtotal clearly labeled
Tax & Shipping: Tax and shipping costs clearly indicated
Promo Code Field: Promo code input properly labeled
Apply Code Button: Clear button to apply discount codes
Discount Display: Applied discounts clearly shown and announced

Cart Modal/Drawer

Focus Management: Focus moves to cart when opened
Focus Trapping: Tab key stays within open cart drawer
Close Button: Clear “Close cart” button
ESC to Close: ESC key closes cart drawer
Modal Semantics: Uses role=”dialog” and aria-modal=”true”
Backdrop Click: Clicking outside cart closes it (with keyboard alternative)

Checkout Navigation

Checkout Button: High contrast, clear “Proceed to Checkout” button
Touch Target Size: Checkout button meets 44x44px minimum
Continue Shopping: Clear link back to shopping
Save Cart: Option to save cart for later (if available)

6. Checkout Process Checklist

Checkout Progress

Progress Indicator: Visual and programmatic step indicator
Current Step: aria-current=”step” on active step
Step Labels: Clear labels for each checkout step
Completed Steps: Visual indication of completed steps

Forms & Fields

Field Labels: All inputs have visible, associated <label> elements
Required Fields: Asterisks accompanied by text “(required)”
Placeholder Text: Not used as sole label
Input Types: Appropriate input types (email, tel, etc.) for mobile keyboards
Autocomplete Attributes: HTML autocomplete attributes for personal info
Fieldset Groups: Related fields grouped (shipping address, billing address)

Address & Personal Info

Address Autocomplete: Works with screen readers or has alternative
Country Selection: Keyboard accessible dropdown
State/Province Field: Adjusts based on country selection
Phone Number Format: Clear formatting instructions
Same as Shipping: “Use shipping address” checkbox properly labeled

Validation & Errors

Inline Validation: Errors shown near relevant fields
Error Summary: List of errors at top of form with links to fields
Error Icon: Error indicators not solely color-based
aria-describedby: Error messages linked to fields programmatically
aria-invalid: Set on fields with errors
Real-time Validation: Optional fields validate on blur, not on every keystroke
Success Confirmation: Accessible confirmation after successful submission

Payment Methods

Payment Selection: Radio buttons for payment method choice
Payment Icons: Card type icons have alt text
Secure Badge: Security indicators accessible
Third-party Gateways: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay are accessible
Card Number Formatting: Clear formatting for card numbers
CVV Help: Accessible tooltip or help text for CVV field

Order Review

Order Summary: Clear heading structure for review section
Item List: Accessible list of items being purchased
Edit Options: Clear links to edit cart, shipping, billing
Terms Checkbox: Terms and conditions checkbox properly labeled
Terms Link: Link to terms opens in new tab with warning
Final Total: Total cost clearly displayed before submission

Submit Order

Submit Button: Clear “Place Order” or “Complete Purchase” button
Loading State: Button shows processing state and disables
Double Submit Prevention: Prevents multiple submissions
Confirmation Page: Accessible order confirmation with heading structure
Order Number: Order number clearly displayed and labeled
Email Confirmation: Note about confirmation email

7. Forms & User Account Checklist

Login & Registration

Login Form Labels: Email and password fields labeled
Show Password Toggle: Toggle visible password with accessible icon
Remember Me: Checkbox properly labeled
Forgot Password: Clear, descriptive link
Create Account Link: Easy to find registration link
Social Login: Third-party login options accessible
CAPTCHA Alternative: Audio or other alternative to visual CAPTCHA

Account Dashboard

Dashboard Navigation: Account menu keyboard accessible
Order History: Orders in accessible table or list
Order Details Link: Descriptive link text for viewing orders
Profile Edit Form: Account info form fully accessible
Save Confirmation: Success message after updating account

Password Management

Password Requirements: Clear requirements stated
Password Strength Indicator: Accessible strength meter
Current Password: Labeled field for current password when changing
Password Confirmation: Confirm new password field labeled

Newsletter & Preferences

Subscription Checkboxes: Properly labeled opt-in checkboxes
Email Preferences: Accessible preference center
Unsubscribe: Clear unsubscribe option
Privacy Policy Link: Accessible link to privacy policy

8. Footer & Additional Pages Checklist

Footer Navigation

Footer Headings: Column headings use proper heading tags
Footer Links: All links keyboard accessible and descriptive
Social Media Icons: Icons have accessible names
Newsletter Signup: Footer email signup form accessible
Language/Currency Selector: Dropdowns keyboard accessible

Customer Service Pages

Contact Form: Fully accessible with labels and validation
FAQ Accordions: Expand/collapse works with keyboard and screen readers
Live Chat Widget: Chat interface keyboard accessible
Phone Numbers: Phone links use tel: protocol
Email Addresses: Email links use mailto: protocol

Legal & Policy Pages

Terms of Service: Properly structured with headings
Privacy Policy: Accessible document structure
Return Policy: Clear, easy-to-read formatting
Shipping Info: Structured information about shipping

Store Locator (if applicable)

Search Input: Store locator search field labeled
Map Alternative: Text-based list of locations
Store Cards: Each location properly structured
Directions Links: Clear links to directions
Filter Options: Store filters keyboard accessible

9. Plugins & Third-Party Components Checklist

Common Shopify Apps

Review Apps: Yotpo, Judge.me, Loox are configured accessibly
Chat Widgets: Tidio, Gorgias, Zendesk accessible
Email Popups: Klaviyo, Privy popups meet accessibility standards
Wishlist Apps: Swym, Wishlist Plus keyboard accessible
Product Recommendation: Frequently bought together sections accessible

Widget Accessibility

Modal Close Buttons: All popups have accessible close buttons
Focus Management: Focus trapped in open modals
Timing Controls: Automatic dismissals can be paused/disabled
Popup Announcements: Screen readers announce popup content
Cookie Banners: GDPR banners keyboard accessible

Social Media Integrations

Social Share Buttons: Share buttons properly labeled
Instagram Feed: Social media embeds have alternatives
Facebook Pixel: Doesn’t interfere with assistive technologies
Social Proof Widgets: Review popups don’t create accessibility barriers

10. Testing & Quality Assurance Checklist

Automated Testing Tools

axe-core: Run browser extension scan
WAVE: Scan pages with WebAIM WAVE
Lighthouse: Run accessibility audit in Chrome DevTools
Pa11y: Automated command-line testing (for developers)
ARC Toolkit: Additional automated scan

Manual Testing

Keyboard-Only Navigation: Navigate entire site with Tab, Enter, Space, Arrow keys
Screen Reader Testing: Test with NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac)
Mobile Screen Reader: Test with mobile screen readers (TalkBack, VoiceOver)
Zoom Testing: Test at 200% and 400% zoom levels
Color Contrast: Use WebAIM Contrast Checker on all color combinations
Tab Order: Verify logical tab order on all pages
Focus Indicators: Check focus is visible on all interactive elements

Browser & Device Testing

Cross-Browser: Test on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Mobile Devices: Test on iOS and Android devices
Tablet Testing: Test on iPad and Android tablets
Assistive Tech Compatibility: Test with JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack

User Testing

Real User Feedback: Test with actual users with disabilities
Usability Testing: Observe users completing key tasks
Feedback Mechanism: Provide way for users to report accessibility issues

11. Content Strategy & Documentation Checklist

Accessible Content Writing

Plain Language: Use clear, simple language
Short Paragraphs: Break up long text blocks
Bulleted Lists: Use lists for scanning
Descriptive Headings: Headings describe section content
Link Text: Links make sense out of context
Avoid Jargon: Define technical terms

Documentation

Accessibility Statement: Published accessibility statement on the site
Contact for Issues: Way for users to report accessibility problems
Known Issues: Document known accessibility limitations
Roadmap: Share timeline for accessibility improvements
VPAT: Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (for B2B)

12. Legal Compliance & Risk Management Checklist

Regulatory Compliance

ADA Compliance: Site meets ADA Title III requirements (US stores)
AODA Compliance: Meets AODA standards (Canadian stores)
EAA Compliance: Meets EAA requirements (EU stores from June 2025)
Section 508: Federal contractor compliance (if applicable)
EN 301 549: European standard alignment

Legal Protection

Accessibility Policy: Written accessibility commitment
Regular Audits: Schedule annual accessibility audits
Remediation Process: Clear process for fixing issues
Training: Staff trained on accessibility basics
Legal Review: Accessibility statement reviewed by legal counsel

Monitoring & Maintenance

Automated Monitoring: Set up continuous monitoring (Siteimprove, Monsido, etc.)
Regression Testing: Test after theme/plugin updates
New Content: Review new products/pages for accessibility
Quarterly Reviews: Regular accessibility check-ins
Issue Tracking: System to log and fix accessibility bugs

13. Performance & Technical Checklist

Page Performance

Page Load Speed: Fast loading doesn’t interfere with assistive tech
Lazy Loading: Images lazy load but remain accessible
Animations: Can be paused or respect prefers-reduced-motion
Timeout Warnings: Users are warned before session timeouts
Auto-refresh: Pages don’t auto-refresh unexpectedly

Technical Accessibility

Lang Attribute: HTML lang attribute set correctly
Skip to Content: Skip link as first focusable element
ARIA Usage: ARIA used correctly (not overused)
No ARIA Better than Bad ARIA: Don’t use ARIA if not needed
Semantic First: Use semantic HTML before ARIA
Valid ARIA: ARIA attributes used correctly per spec

Progressive Enhancement

Works Without JavaScript: Core functions work if JS fails
Works Without CSS: Content accessible without stylesheets
Graceful Degradation: Features degrade gracefully
Error Boundaries: Errors don’t crash the entire site

Implementation Priority Guide

Phase 1: Critical Issues (Fix Immediately)

Keyboard navigation failures
Missing form labels
Insufficient color contrast
Non-functional checkout process
Inaccessible cart
Missing alt text on product images

Phase 2: High Priority (Fix Within 30 Days)

Product filter accessibility
Search functionality improvements
Focus indicators
Error message improvements
Rating and review accessibility
Mobile touch targets

Phase 3: Medium Priority (Fix Within 90 Days)

Advanced ARIA implementations
Enhanced navigation structures
Product gallery improvements
Video captions
PDF accessibility
Third-party widget improvements

Phase 4: Ongoing Maintenance

Content accessibility reviews
Regular automated testing
User feedback integration
Plugin compatibility checks
New feature accessibility testing

Additional Resources

Need Help?

If you need professional assistance auditing or remediating your Shopify store, consider working with accessibility consultants who can provide:

Comprehensive WCAG 2.2 audits
Remediation guidance and support
Developer training
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance
Legal compliance documentation

Making your Shopify store accessible is an ongoing commitment that benefits all your customers while protecting your business from legal risk.