WooCommerce Accessibility: Checklist and Guidelines

In our journey towards accessibility online, we continue to delve deep in all the different web platforms out there and how to make them accessible to people with disabilities.

In today’s blog post we’ll be discussing how to create an accessible WooCommerce store. What is WooCommerce and how to make your website accessible, read along.

Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WooCommerce_logo.svg">Automattic</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What Is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is one of the most popular ways you can make your blog or WordPress based website into a merchant website. This is an open-source plugin that allows you to sell your goods online.

It’s designed by WordPress for small and large companies online. The plug-in was launched back in 2011 and it quickly became very popular. Why? Well, that’s because you can make a working merchant website really easy.

According to latest research, WooCommerce is used by a staggering 9,2% of all working websites in October 2024. In numbers, this means that 3,6 million online stores use this plug-in.

How Accessible Is WooCommerce Already?

WooCommerce has made clear during the years that its platform prioritizes Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) for level AA.

The WCAG 2.0 is the golden standard of accessibility worldwide. These core guidelines are devised and updated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and are the foundation of most modern laws in accessibility.

The guidelines have different compliance levels. Level AA is considered very high compliance with current accessibility guidelines and is also part of the modern laws in the field.

WooCommerce also prioritizes the use of CMS platforms that are already accessible and accessibility is a top priority. That way the company has made sure that it’s in compliance with all existing laws and guidelines.

WooCommerce has some basic accessibility features built-in. For example, if you use the default theme for your website (Storefront from the wordpress theme directory) you can rest assured that you’re covered – that theme is accessible.

Also, you have to keep in mind that WooCommerce is highly customizable. So, the more you customize your website, the easier it is to make mistakes with accessibility.

WooComers stores use a variety of plugins to add functionality. The platform plugins are accessible but you must keep in mind that third-party plugins may not follow web accessibility standards.

How Do I Know if My WooCommerce Website Is Compliant?

One way to know if your WooCommerce website is already accessibility compliant is to choose a CMS and design that are accessible right from the start. That way you can eliminate any problems in the future.

One other way is to use our accessibility software and check your WooCommerce website. We provide high quality reports on every accessibility problem your website may have, but most importantly – our tools give suggestions on how to fix those problems.

Also, don’t be afraid of customer feedback. Sometimes real-world data can be the best in finding all the accessibility problems you have. Having said that – you can test your website yourself or hire a trained accessibility professional to do it for you.

Source: Pexels

Am I Required to Make My WooCommerce Website Accessible?

Depending on your area of operations, you’ll most likely be required by law that your website is accessible. Most countries have accessibility laws which follow the core guidelines we mentioned earlier.

For example, if your WooCommerce website is based in the United States, you’ll fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA. This act makes sure that all public places and websites, operating in the US, are accessible to people with disabilities. This also means that you have to achieve ADA compliance.

For the EU, the corresponding law is the European Accessibility Act. For Canada it’s AODA and so on.

As you can see, there are many examples of existing laws that you have to comply with in order to operate your WooCommerce website and not put yourself in the way of lawsuits and legal proceedings.

Source: Pexels

How Do I Make My WooCommerce Website Accessible?

As we said, the WooCommerce platform is really customizable, so one way to achieve accessibility is through design. Here we are going to outline some of the key ways to make your WooCommerce website accessible.

Website Theme

First off, let's start with the theme you choose. WooCommerce lets you choose premade themes for your online shop – some of them are accessible, some of them aren’t. You should be really careful when choosing your theme in making sure it’s accessible to everybody.

Pro tip: Choose an accessible theme from your WordPress themes directory. Customize after you’ve made your choice so you can be sure that not only the theme but also the features are accessible.

Heading and Structure of Text

Language and the way you use it is also key to accessibility. Use clear and descriptive language when you are creating content, and make sure you add accessible headings. The structure of texts is used by a wide variety of screen readers to navigate the page, so having titles, headings and subheadings is really important.

Color

Color is essential for accessibility. There’s a wide variety of disabilities that are affected by colors. For example, if you use color to convey a message, someone with colorblindness may not understand that. Make sure that your website has a sufficient contrast between text and background colors to make it easier for people with visual impairments.

Media and Navigation

For multimedia, provide transcripts and captions for content, such as videos or audio files, to make them accessible to users with hearing impairments.

Testing is also essential. You should do testing on the navigation of your page. Use screen readers and conduct regular accessibility audits in order to be sure that everything on your website works as it is supposed to.

Conclusion

WooCommerce is the go-to choice for business owners designing their online stores. It’s important to make them accessible for people with disabilities, because that way you’ll reach a wider audience.

If you follow accessibility guidelines and test your website for compliance regularly, you can make sure that you comply with all current laws. This will also help develop your business in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is an eCommerce plug-in designed by WordPress.

How accessible is WooCommerce?

The platform has some basic accessibility, but you have to keep in mind that the more you customize it, the more it can lose its accessibility features.

Can I choose an already accessible theme for my WooCommerce website?

Yes, and that is our best guidance. By choosing such a theme, you can be sure that all the accessibility features have been taken into account.