ADA Compliance Checklist for E-Commerce Websites

Introduction

In Today’s world, running an e-commerce website without considering the ADA compliance checklist is a primary danger, legally, financially, and reputationally. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) calls for virtual platforms, such as online stores, to offer equal get right of entry to to individuals with disabilities.

For e-commerce business owners, this means your website needs to meet positive accessibility requirements mentioned in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Non-compliance can lead to costly lawsuits, a loss of clients, and damage to your reputation.

This ADA compliance checklist will help you:

• Understand the key accessibility requirements for eCommerce websites.
• Identify website accessibility issues before they lead to legal trouble.
• Implement practical solutions for ADA and WCAG compliance.
• Improve user experience and conversions for all customers.

Why E-Commerce Stores Must Prioritize ADA Compliance Now

An ADA website compliance checklist isn’t just about avoiding lawsuits; it’s about building a better, more inclusive shopping experience, and the latest figures make that crystal clear.

• In the first half of 2025 alone, there were 2,014 ADA website accessibility lawsuits filed in U.S. courts—a 37% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
• eCommerce sites continue to be the biggest target. So far in 2025, 69% of all web accessibility lawsuits have been filed against online retailers.
• Industry-wide, 77% of all web accessibility lawsuits in 2024 targeted eCommerce businesses, underlining the high-risk nature of online storefronts.

ADA compliance benefits your store in several key ways:

• Expands customer reach to millions with disabilities by ensuring your shopping site is accessible and inclusive.
• Improves SEO, as accessible designs align with usability, clean structure, and mobile performance.
• Boosts conversions, allowing customers to shop more easily and complete checkout without barriers.
• Reduces legal risk by adhering to WCAG and ADA standards—and avoiding the rising wave of litigation.

These numbers speak for themselves: ADA compliance is no longer just best practice, it’s essential business protection and growth.

ADA Web Compliance Checklist Every eCommerce Owner Needs

Step-by-Step ADA Compliance Checklist for eCommerce

Below is a step-by-step ADA website accessibility checklist tailored for online stores:

1. Provide Alternative Text for Images

• Add meaningful alt text to all product images, banners, and icons.
• Avoid keyword stuffing — focus on describing the image.
• For decorative images, use empty alt attributes (alt=””).

2. Enable Full Keyboard Navigation

• All menus, product listings, filters, and checkout forms must be navigable without a mouse.
• Use logical tab order for better usability.
• Provide visible focus indicators for selected elements.

3. Maintain Proper Color Contrast

• The text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 with the background.
• Use tools like the Accessibility Assistant contrast checker to test your colors.
• Avoid using color alone to convey meaning (e.g., “items in red are required”).

4. Add Captions and Transcripts for Multimedia

• Include captions for all videos and product demos.
• Provide transcripts for audio-only content like podcasts or voice instructions.

5. Use Descriptive Link Text

• Instead of “Click here,” use “View our product sizing guide.”
• Descriptive links help screen readers and improve SEO.

6. Make All Forms Accessible

• Use clear, visible labels for all form fields.
• Provide instructions and error messages in text (not just color).
• Ensure the checkout process is barrier-free.

7. Ensure Mobile Accessibility

• Your eCommerce store should be fully functional on smartphones and tablets.
• Use responsive design and test on different devices.

8. Implement ARIA Landmarks Where Needed

• Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to improve navigation for assistive technologies.
• Example: <nav role=”navigation”> for menus.

9. Test with Screen Readers

• Use tools like NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac) to simulate the experience of visually impaired users.

10. Conduct Regular Accessibility Audits

• Use automated testing tools like:
  • Accessibility Assistant for Shopify
  • WordPress Accessibility Assistant
  • Wix Accessibility App
• Combine with manual testing to catch issues that automation misses.

Good read:- Learn the practical steps and tools to fully implement your checklist items in our guide on How to Achieve ADA Compliance for eCommerce Accessibility.

Real-Life Example of ADA Compliance in eCommerce

A mid-sized fashion retailer was on the verge of an ADA lawsuit after a visually impaired customer struggled with their online store. Issues included unlabeled checkout fields, missing alt text for product images, and poor keyboard navigation. This led to frustrated users and rising abandonment rates at checkout.

A mid-sized fashion store came to the verge of an ADA lawsuit after a visually impaired user struggled with its online store. Issues included unlabeled checkout fields, missing alt text for product images, and negative keyboard navigation. This led to frustrated users and rising abandonment costs at checkout.

After integrating Accessibility Assistant, the results were transformative:

• Accessibility score jumped from 64% to 98%, reflecting improved alt text, form labels, and site structure.
• The checkout abandonment rate fell by 15%, as visually impaired users could now complete purchases more easily.
• Positive feedback surged, with customers specifically noting smoother navigation and improved usability.
• Page load time decreased by 0.7 seconds, thanks to accessibility improvements like optimized code and image descriptions—boosting both UX and SEO.

Why this matters today: Accessibility-focused improvements are greater than ethical or compliance gear; they provide actual commercial enterprise value in 2025. As search engines more and more prioritize UX and Core Web Vitals, accessible websites now perform better in search rankings, garner consumer trust, and face fewer legal demanding issues.

Pros & Cons of Following the ADA Web Compliance Checklist

Implementing the ADA web compliance checklist goes beyond legal obligations; it brings tangible business advantages. To give you the most current perspective, here’s how it stacks up today:

Pros

1. Expands Audience Reach
   Millions of people with disabilities depend on digital accessibility, but the web stays largely inaccessible. A recent accessibility audit of the top 1 million websites located an average of 51 accessibility errors in line with homepage. Complying with ADA requirements opens your eCommerce shop to this significant, underserved market.
2. Improves SEO Rankings
   Accessible websites offer cleaner code, better structure, and enhanced usability, factors that help search engines like Google favor your site in rankings. Accessible websites provide purifier code, better structure, and greater usability, factors that assist search engines like Google and Yahoo in choosing your website in search results.

3. Reduces Legal Exposure
   E-commerce websites remain the maximum common objectives of ADA lawsuits. One document exhibits 81% of the pinnacle 500 U.S. Stores faced accessibility litigation within the last five years, and 15% of these lawsuits occurred in early 2025 by itself. Proactive compliance is a smart protection.
4. Enhances Brand Reputation
   Accessible shops resonate greater with clients. In the contemporary world, digital inclusivity boosts brand, trust, and demonstrates social responsibility.

Cons

1. Requires Initial Investment
   ADA compliance isn’t free. According to enterprise insights, remodeling or retrofitting a domain for accessibility may additionally increase 10–20% for your typical web design price range, even as DIY audits and remediation can cost between $250 to $550 consistent with web page.
2. Needs Ongoing Maintenance
   Accessibility isn’t a one-time fix, particularly with evolving technology, equipment, and compliance expectations. Regular audits and updates are essential to avoid regressions and persistent compliance.

FAQs on ADA Compliance for eCommerce Websites

Q1: What is ADA compliance?
ADA compliance means ensuring your website is accessible to people with disabilities, following the Americans with Disabilities Act and WCAG guidelines.

Q2: How do you check ADA compliance?
You can run automated scans and manual audits to identify accessibility issues. Tools like Accessibility Assistant make this process fast and effective.

Q3: Are E-commerce stores legally required to follow ADA compliance?
Yes. If you sell to U.S. customers, ADA compliance applies to your online store, regardless of size or platform.

Q4: How often should I run an ADA compliance check?
It’s best to run checks after every website update or at least quarterly to ensure ongoing compliance and avoid legal risks.

Q5: What is the most cost-effective way to achieve ADA compliance?
Using Accessibility Assistant’s affordable pricing plans helps you quickly make your store ADA & WCAG compliant without heavy development costs.

Conclusion

An ADA web compliance checklist is essential for ensuring your eCommerce store is accessible, compliant, and customer-friendly. By following these steps, you can protect your business legally, improve user experience, and increase your potential customer base.