Free resource
The email accessibility checklist
Twenty-four checks we run on every email before it leaves, written for marketing teams rather than developers. Each says what to look for and why it matters.
Built on WCAG 2.2 AA, the standard behind the European Accessibility Act, and on the same rules as our automated Health Check.
Structure
- The email declares its language, for example lang="en-GB" on the html element.Screen readers choose pronunciation from it.
- Every layout table carries role="presentation".Otherwise each table is announced as data, cell by cell.
- There is one main heading, and headings follow in order.People using screen readers navigate by heading.
- Reading order matches visual order when columns stack on a phone.Stacked columns read top to bottom; the source order must too.
- A hidden preheader exists and adds to the subject rather than repeating it.AI summaries and previews read it; repetition wastes the line.
Get all 24 checks
The full list covers images, links and buttons, dark mode and pre-send testing, with a print-ready version for your team.