What WCAG level should an e-commerce site meet?

WCAG 2.2 Level AA. It is the standard courts, the Department of Justice, and settlement agreements reference for commercial websites. Level A alone leaves gaps that plaintiffs exploit, and Level AAA is designed for specialized services, not retail. Practically: test every template against AA criteria, track your status per criterion, and keep dated proof of conformance over time.

What the levels mean in practice

Level A is the floor: without it, entire groups of users simply cannot operate the site. Level AA adds the criteria that map to real shopping friction, like visible focus, contrast ratios, error identification, and consistent navigation. Level AAA contains criteria that are genuinely impractical for content-rich retail, like sign language interpretation for all video, and no court expects it of a store.

Why 2.2 and not 2.1

WCAG 2.2 became the current recommendation in late 2023 and adds criteria that matter directly to e-commerce, including target size for touch, drag alternatives, and focus appearance. New filings and consent decrees increasingly cite 2.2. Testing against the older version leaves you arguing yesterday's standard against today's letter.

How to know where you stand

A score without a criterion breakdown is marketing. What you want is per-template, per-criterion status tracked over time: which pages pass, which fail, what changed, and when it was fixed. That trend line is also what insurers and acquirers have started requesting in diligence, so it earns its keep beyond litigation risk.