2.5.5 Target Size (Level AAA) — WCAG 2.1
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 2.5.5 Target Size (Level AAA): what it requires, a common e-commerce accessibility failure, and how to fix it.
This is educational technical reference content, not legal advice. It explains what WCAG 2.1 requires and how to meet it — not whether a specific site carries legal risk. Compliance with WCAG, the ADA, or any other accessibility law or standard is a legal determination; consult qualified counsel for legal risk assessment.
WCAG 2.1 guidelines hub → Operable → 2.5.5 Target Size
2.5.5 Target Size (Level AAA)
What it requires: Touch/click targets are at least 44x44 CSS pixels, unless the target is inline in a sentence, has an equivalent-sized alternative elsewhere, or the small size is essential.
Common failure: Tiny icon-only controls (a close “×” on a mobile filter drawer, quantity-stepper buttons) are rendered at 20x20px or smaller, making them hard to hit precisely for users with limited fine motor control.
Fix it: Size interactive touch targets to at least 44x44px, or add sufficient padding around a visually smaller icon so the tappable area meets that size even if the icon itself doesn’t.
In 2.5 Input Modalities: ← 2.5.4 Motion Actuation · 2.5.6 Concurrent Input Mechanisms →
This is educational technical reference content, not legal advice. It explains what WCAG 2.1 requires and how to meet it — not whether a specific site carries legal risk. Compliance with WCAG, the ADA, or any other accessibility law or standard is a legal determination; consult qualified counsel for legal risk assessment.
This page was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a person for accuracy before publication.