How much does a web accessibility audit cost?
A third-party accessibility audit typically runs $2,500 to $30,000+, depending on site size, audit depth, and whether legal documentation is bundled in. That's a wide range — here's what actually drives the price, and how to figure out whether you need one now or can start with a self-audit instead.
Why the range is so wide
Typical cost range for a third-party accessibility audit and formal documentation package, before any remediation work begins.
Industry-standard agency/consultancy quote ranges, 2025Four things move a quote within that range:
- Site size and complexity. A 10-page marketing site is a fraction of the cost of a full e-commerce checkout flow or a complex SaaS app with dozens of interactive states.
- Automated-only vs. manual + assistive-technology testing. Automated scanners (axe, WAVE) catch roughly a third of issues reliably — missing alt text, contrast failures, malformed ARIA. A credible audit pairs that with manual keyboard and screen-reader testing, which is where the labor cost is.
- Deliverable format. A raw issue list costs less than a formal VPAT/ACR conformance report written to a specific buyer's procurement requirements.
- Legal-documentation bundling. Audits sold alongside an attorney review or a formal compliance program cost more than a straight technical scan.
What a self-audit gets you for $0-$99
For most small and mid-size businesses, a structured self-audit against WCAG 2.2 Level A + AA — the same 55 success criteria a paid auditor would test — covers a large share of what a third-party audit delivers, at a fraction of the cost:
| What you get | Self-audit (free tools + checklist) | Third-party audit ($2.5K-$30K) |
|---|---|---|
| Automated scan (alt text, contrast, ARIA) | Yes — free tools (axe DevTools, WAVE) | Yes |
| Manual keyboard + screen reader pass | Yes, if you do it yourself | Yes, by trained testers |
| Testing with actual assistive-tech users | No | Sometimes, at higher tiers |
| Formal WCAG 2.2 checklist to work from | Yes — $99 kit or free 20-item excerpt | Yes |
| VPAT/ACR conformance report for procurement | Template only, self-filled | Yes, professionally prepared |
| Independent third-party credibility | No | Yes |
| Typical cost | $0-$99 | $2,500-$30,000+ |
When a self-audit is enough — and when it isn't
A self-audit is usually enough if:
- You're a small or mid-size business without an existing legal complaint or regulatory inquiry.
- You need to produce an honest, defensible conformance statement — not a third-party-certified one.
- Your enterprise customers haven't specifically requested a professionally-prepared VPAT.
A professional audit is worth the investment if:
- You've already received a demand letter or regulatory inquiry — independent, defensible evidence matters more at that point. See our guide on what to do if you get an ADA demand letter.
- You operate in a regulated or high-risk sector (finance, healthcare, government contracting).
- An enterprise or government buyer explicitly requires a third-party-audited VPAT as part of procurement.
- You handle sensitive data or high transaction volume, where the cost of an undetected barrier is larger than the audit fee.
A useful middle path many businesses miss: run the self-audit first, fix the cheap, high-impact issues it finds (missing alt text, contrast failures, and missing form labels are usually quick wins), and only then decide whether a professional audit is worth paying for. That sequencing does two things — it shrinks the eventual audit scope (and often its price), and it means you're not paying a consultant's hourly rate to find the same missing alt attribute a free automated scanner would have caught in five minutes.
$99 gets you the self-audit + statement + policy — audit if you're high-risk after
AccessibleDocs Kit gives you the full WCAG 2.2 self-audit checklist, remediation plan, and accessibility statement templates for $99 — enough to produce a defensible, documented starting position for most businesses. If you land in the "worth a professional audit" bucket above, do that next, informed by what your self-audit already found.
Get Core — $99 Compare Core vs ProFAQ
Why do accessibility audit quotes vary so much?
Site size and complexity, whether testing is automated-only or includes manual/assistive-technology testing, deliverable format (issue list vs. formal VPAT), and whether legal-documentation review is bundled in all move the price within the $2,500-$30,000+ range.
Can I do an accessibility audit myself?
Yes, for most small and mid-size businesses. Free automated scanners (axe DevTools, WAVE) plus a structured manual pass against a WCAG 2.2 checklist covers a large share of what a paid audit delivers — the main gap is independent third-party credibility and testing with actual assistive-technology users.
Is a self-audit legally sufficient?
This isn't legal advice, but for most businesses without an active legal claim, an honest self-audit and a documented remediation plan is a reasonable, defensible starting position. Higher-risk situations — active complaints, regulated sectors, specific procurement requirements — usually warrant a professional audit.