Designing for Everyone: Accessibility Best Practices for Shopify Stores
Building a Shopify store that’s visually appealing and easy to use is just the start. To truly serve all your customers—and comply with growing legal requirements—you need to design your site to be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it’s about delivering a seamless, inclusive shopping experience that expands your audience and builds lasting brand loyalty.
In this article, we’ll cover practical, actionable accessibility best practices tailored specifically for Shopify merchants and agencies.
1. Prioritize Clear and Consistent Navigation
Navigation is the backbone of your store’s usability. For users with disabilities, it’s critical that your navigation is:
Keyboard accessible: Ensure all menus, dropdowns, and links can be reached and used without a mouse. Shopify themes should support logical tab order.
Descriptive link text: Avoid generic “click here” or “read more.” Use clear labels that describe the destination, like “View Men’s Sneakers.”
Skip to content links: Provide shortcuts to bypass repetitive navigation for screen reader and keyboard users.
2. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast
Many Shopify themes don’t meet recommended color contrast ratios, making text difficult or impossible to read for users with low vision or color blindness.
Follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines: text should have at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio against its background.
Test your color choices using tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker or browser extensions.
Avoid relying solely on color to convey important information (e.g., error messages).
3. Use Meaningful Alt Text for Images
Images enhance your store but can exclude users relying on screen readers if they lack descriptive alternative text.
Provide concise, accurate alt text that describes the image’s purpose.
For decorative images, use empty alt attributes (
alt="") to let screen readers skip them.Avoid stuffing alt text with keywords; focus on helpful descriptions.
4. Design Accessible Forms and Checkout Flows
Forms—especially checkout processes—are critical paths for users to complete purchases. Make sure they’re fully accessible:
Label all form fields clearly, using
<label>elements associated with inputs.Provide error messages that are descriptive and programmatically linked to fields.
Ensure all interactive elements (buttons, checkboxes, dropdowns) are keyboard operable.
Use logical tab order so users can navigate forms predictably.
5. Implement Keyboard Accessibility Everywhere
Some Shopify stores rely on hover effects or mouse-specific interactions that aren’t keyboard-friendly.
Avoid exclusive reliance on hover to reveal menus or buttons.
Make all interactive elements reachable and usable with keyboard tab and enter keys.
Test your store using only keyboard navigation to spot issues.
6. Use Semantic HTML and ARIA Roles
Proper HTML markup helps assistive technologies interpret your site correctly.
Use semantic tags (
<header>,<nav>,<main>,<footer>) to structure pages.Apply ARIA roles and landmarks to enhance screen reader navigation, but don’t overuse them.
Avoid generic
<div>or<span>for important content or controls.
7. Choose Accessible Shopify Apps and Integrations
Third-party apps can introduce accessibility problems if they aren’t designed inclusively.
Vet apps for accessibility before installing.
Request accessibility information or certifications from app developers.
Regularly test your store after installing apps to catch new issues.
8. Test and Monitor Accessibility Continuously
Accessibility is an ongoing effort—not a one-time fix.
Use automated tools like axe, WAVE, or Lighthouse for regular scans.
Conduct manual testing with screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver) and keyboard navigation.
Engage real users with disabilities for feedback when possible.
Incorporate accessibility checks into your content updates and new features.
How Reguweb Supports Shopify Merchants in Accessibility
At Reguweb, we specialize in making Shopify stores fully accessible, combining automated and manual testing to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards and legal requirements.
We work with merchants and agencies to:
Audit existing themes and customizations
Fix accessibility issues at code and content levels
Provide ongoing monitoring and support
Help integrate accessibility into your design and development processes
Conclusion: Accessibility Is Good Business
Designing for everyone isn’t just ethical—it makes your Shopify store better for all users. It boosts SEO, increases conversions, and builds a brand that stands out for inclusion.
If you’re ready to make your Shopify store truly accessible and compliant, Reguweb can help.
Schedule your Shopify accessibility audit with Reguweb today and start designing for everyone.