An accessibility checklist for online stores
By The AsasWeb team 1 min read
An accessible online store is one more people can buy from, so check the pages where sales happen. Product images need descriptive alt text, variant pickers must work by keyboard, and price and availability cannot be signalled by colour alone. The whole checkout should be completable with only a keyboard, with visible labels, helpful errors, and the right mobile input types. Finish with a real keyboard-only and screen reader purchase test, because automated tools miss what those reveal.
Every barrier in an online store is a barrier to a sale. An accessible store is simply one more people can buy from, which is why accessibility and revenue point the same way here. Use this short checklist on the pages that matter most.
Product pages
- Product images carry descriptive alt text, so a screen reader user knows what they are buying.
- Variant pickers, such as size and colour, are operable by keyboard and clearly labelled.
- Price, availability, and the add-to-cart action are announced clearly, not signalled by colour or position alone.
Search and navigation
- Search is reachable by keyboard, and results are announced when they update.
- Filters can be applied and removed without a mouse, and the current state is clear.
- Focus is visible at every step, so keyboard users never lose their place.
Cart and checkout
- The checkout works end to end with a keyboard, with a logical focus order.
- Form fields have visible labels, helpful errors, and the right input type on mobile.
- Nothing essential is locked behind a hover or a drag, and time limits, if any, can be extended.
Test it for real
Automated tools catch a lot, but a keyboard-only run through a full purchase, plus a screen reader pass, reveals what they miss. We test checkouts that way before launch.
An accessible store is a better store for everyone, and it widens your market at the same time. If you want a checkout that no one bounces out of, start a project.