WCAG accessibility audit costs typically range between $2,500 and $7,500 for most websites. For a quick estimate, multiply $250 by the number of pages in scope.
Factors That Affect Pricing
Before we get into cost factors, it’s important to understand that pricing for accessibility audits is primarily driven by the amount of work involved. Unlike some services that have standardized pricing regardless of scope, accessibility audits are priced based on the time and expertise required to thoroughly evaluate your digital asset.
Number of Pages in Scope
Most websites have 7-15 pages in scope. These typically include:
- Homepage
- Primary product/service pages
- Contact page
- Checkout process (for ecommerce)
- Login/account pages
Complexity of the Website
Simple websites cost less to audit than complex ones. Interactive elements that increase complexity include:
- Forms
- Search functionality
- Dynamic content
- Dropdown menus
- Sliders
- Pop-ups
- Status messages
State of Accessibility
Websites loaded with accessibility issues take longer to audit. If a website’s homepage has dozens of unique issues, this means more work and higher costs.
WCAG Version
- WCAG 2.0 AA: 38 success criteria
- WCAG 2.1 AA: 50 success criteria
- WCAG 2.2 AA: 56 success criteria
Going with WCAG 2.2 AA typically adds about 10% to the cost compared to 2.1 AA.
Environment Requirements
Desktop-only audits cost less than desktop + mobile. Adding more environment combinations (different browsers, operating systems, etc.) increases the cost.
What’s Included in an Audit?
Understanding what you’re actually paying for helps explain the cost of accessibility audits. A proper audit isn’t just a quick scan of your website—it’s a comprehensive, methodical evaluation conducted by technical accessibility experts.
A legitimate WCAG audit includes these methodologies:
- Screen reader testing
- Keyboard navigation testing
- Visual inspection
- Code inspection
- Browser zoom testing
- Color contrast analysis
- Automated scan review
The final report will detail:
- What each issue is
- Steps to reproduce the issue
- URL/location of the issue
- Associated WCAG success criterion
- Screenshots or clips
- How to fix it
Don’t Confuse Audits With Scans
There is no such thing as an automated accessibility audit. If it’s automated, it’s a scan, not an audit. Scans can only flag about 25% of WCAG issues.
WAVE and AXE are free scans that help identify some issues, but they can’t replace a manual audit.
Additional Costs to Consider
Beyond the initial audit cost, it’s crucial to budget for the remediation phase that follows. Many organizations focus solely on the audit price without considering the resources needed to actually fix the identified issues. This can lead to stalled accessibility projects when teams realize midway that they haven’t allocated sufficient budget for the complete process. Planning for these additional costs from the beginning ensures your accessibility initiative maintains momentum.
Remediation
After the audit, you’ll need to fix the issues. Remediation starts at approximately $2,500 and varies based on:
- Number of issues
- Complexity of fixes
- Whether you use in-house developers or external help
Technical Support
Most clients use their own developers for remediation but purchase technical support hours (around $195/hour) to help with complex issues and validate fixes.
Cost-Saving Options
If a full audit is beyond your budget:
- Single or few page audits: Focus on your homepage or most critical pages ($250 – $850).
- Strategic approach: Prioritize fixing the most commonly claimed issues in lawsuits:
- Missing alt text
- Keyboard navigability issues
- Missing form field labels
- WCAG Course: Train your team to understand and implement accessibility ($99 per license).
Summary
For most small to medium websites, expect an audit will cost in the low 4-figures.
Ready to get started? Contact us for a quick quote and we’ll be right back with you.