How to Make Your Emails ADA Compliant: Complete Guide to Email Accessibility
Making your emails accessible isn't just good practice—it's a legal requirement. With WCAG 2.1 AA standards and rising lawsuits, ensuring accessibility is essential. This guide covers what to do and how to test.
Why Email Accessibility Matters
- Legal requirement (ADA); lawsuits are rising
- Broader audience (15%+ of people have disabilities)
- Better deliverability and engagement
What is WCAG 2.1 AA for Email?
- Sufficient color contrast
- Alternative text for images
- Keyboard navigability
- Screen reader compatibility
- Readable font sizes and spacing
Key Accessibility Requirements
1. Color Contrast and Typography
- 4.5:1 contrast ratio minimum
- 16px+ body text; 1.5 line spacing
- Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning
2. Image Accessibility
- Descriptive alt text for images;
alt=""for decorative - Long descriptions for complex visuals
- Avoid text embedded in images
3. Links and Buttons
- Descriptive link text (avoid “Click here”)
- Warn before opening new windows
- Minimum 44px touch targets
- Multiple link indicators (color + underline)
4. Structure and Semantics
- Proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
- Logical content flow
- Simple, accessible tables
5. Mobile Accessibility
- 44px touch targets; responsive design
- Allow zoom; avoid horizontal scrolling
- Mobile-friendly navigation
How to Test Email Accessibility (Fast)
- Send your email to your personal MailMoxie agent
- Get AI-powered accessibility analysis (contrast, alt text, links, semantics)
- Fix issues and retest until you hit a high score (90%+)
MailMoxie Accessibility Features
- WCAG 2.1 AA checks (contrast, font, alt text, headings)
- Link accessibility and CTA checks
- Mobile and screen reader validations
- Actionable recommendations with priority
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
- Low contrast → adjust colors to pass 4.5:1
- Missing alt text → add meaningful descriptions
- Generic links → use descriptive text
- Small targets → ensure 44px+ tap areas
Start Making Your Emails Accessible Today
Use MailMoxie to test and fix accessibility issues.