Checklist

Email Signature Accessibility Checklist

Ensure your email signatures are usable by everyone, including people who use screen readers, have low vision, or navigate with keyboards. Follow WCAG guidelines for inclusive design.

11 Steps

To accessible signatures

20 min

Average completion time

15%

Of users rely on assistive technology

What This Checklist Covers

Visual Accessibility

Ensure sufficient color contrast, readable font sizes, and clear visual hierarchy for users with low vision.

Screen Reader Support

Structure signatures with semantic HTML and descriptive alt text so screen readers convey information accurately.

Text Alternatives

Provide meaningful text alternatives for all images, icons, and visual elements in the signature.

Accessibility Checklist

Add descriptive alt text to all images (logo: "Company Name logo", headshot: "Photo of [Name], [Title]")

Verify that all text meets WCAG AA contrast ratio: 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (18px+ or 14px+ bold)

Avoid using color alone to convey information — pair colors with text labels or icons

Use semantic HTML elements (role attributes and proper table structure) to help screen readers parse the signature

Set link text that is descriptive rather than generic ("Visit our website" instead of "Click here")

Ensure all clickable elements (links, phone numbers) have sufficient tap target size of at least 44x44 CSS pixels

Use a minimum font size of 12px for body text and 10px for disclaimers to ensure readability

Test the signature with a screen reader (NVDA, VoiceOver, or JAWS) to verify the reading order is logical

Verify that the signature degrades gracefully when images are blocked — all essential info should remain as text

Avoid using tables for visual layout tricks that would confuse screen readers — keep table structure simple and linear

Add lang attributes to signature HTML when the signature contains text in multiple languages

Why Accessible Signatures Matter

Reach Every Recipient

Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. Accessible signatures ensure your message reaches everyone.

Legal Compliance

Many jurisdictions require digital accessibility under laws like the ADA, Section 508, and the European Accessibility Act. Accessible emails help you stay compliant.

Inclusive Brand Image

Accessibility demonstrates your organization values inclusion, which strengthens your brand reputation with customers and partners.

Better Usability for Everyone

Accessibility improvements like clear contrast, readable fonts, and descriptive links benefit all recipients, not just those using assistive technology.

"We had no idea our signatures were unreadable for screen reader users until we ran through this checklist. The fixes were simple but made a huge difference."

Tomás Reyes

Accessibility Lead, Evergreen Financial Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Do email signatures need to be WCAG compliant?

While WCAG is primarily a web standard, accessibility best practices apply to any digital content. Organizations subject to ADA, Section 508, or the European Accessibility Act should make signatures accessible.

How do I test my signature with a screen reader?

Send a test email to yourself and open it with a screen reader enabled. On Mac, use VoiceOver (Cmd+F5). On Windows, use NVDA (free) or JAWS. Listen to how the signature reads and fix any confusing or missing information.

What alt text should I use for a company logo?

Use the company name followed by "logo" — for example, "Siggly logo". Avoid generic alt text like "image" or "logo" without the company name.

Should I remove decorative images from signatures for accessibility?

You do not need to remove them, but set their alt text to an empty string (alt="") so screen readers skip them. This prevents screen readers from reading out file names or "image" for decorative elements.

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