Target Size (Enhanced)
Tier 1 · The normative floor
Baseline compliance
What the normative text of WCAG 2.2 requires, and nothing more. Only a failure of this tier is a WCAG failure.
The bare minimum
Pointer targets are at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels. Exceptions: an equivalent target of that size is on the same page; the target is in a sentence or block of text; the browser sets the size and the author hasn't changed it; or the presentation is essential.
Normative text
Verbatim from WCAG 2.2, W3C Recommendation 12 December 2024. Underlined terms are defined below.
The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels except when:
- Equivalent
- The target is available through an equivalent link or control on the same page that is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels;
- Inline
- The target is in a sentence or block of text;
- User Agent Control
- The size of the target is determined by the user agent and is not modified by the author;
- Essential
- A particular presentation of the target is essential to the information being conveyed.
Definitions used (7)
Glossary definitions are normative. Their notes are informative.
- target
-
region of the display that will accept a pointer action, such as the interactive area of a user interface component
Informative notes (1)
If two or more targets are overlapping, the overlapping area should not be included in the measurement of the target size, except when the overlapping targets perform the same action or open the same page.
- pointer input
-
input from a device that can target a specific coordinate (or set of coordinates) on a screen, such as a mouse, pen, or touch contact
Informative notes (1)
See the Pointer Events definition for "pointer" [[pointerevents]].
- CSS pixel
-
visual angle of about 0.0213 degrees
A CSS pixel is the canonical unit of measure for all lengths and measurements in CSS. This unit is density-independent, and distinct from actual hardware pixels present in a display. User agents and operating systems should ensure that a CSS pixel is set as closely as possible to the CSS Values and Units Module Level 3 reference pixel [[css3-values]], which takes into account the physical dimensions of the display and the assumed viewing distance (factors that cannot be determined by content authors).
- blocks of text
-
more than one sentence of text
- user agent
-
any software that retrieves and presents web content for users
- presentation
-
rendering of the content in a form to be perceived by users
- essential
-
if removed, would fundamentally change the information or functionality of the content, and information and functionality cannot be achieved in another way that would conform
Tier 2 · The gap
Usability & user impact
Where content can meet this criterion and still make things harder for people with disabilities. These are not failures of SC 2.5.5, so raise them as usability defects. Known failures, including failures of related criteria, are listed in Tier 1.
None beyond 2.5.8. This is the stricter version.
Tier 3 · The golden path
Recommended best practice
The pattern that meets the floor, closes the gap, and avoids audit disputes. A recommendation, not a requirement.
Make 44 by 44 the default for primary actions and touch interfaces.
W3C's Understanding document and techniques for SC 2.5.5 ↗ are informative: sufficient techniques show ways to pass, and documented failures show common ways to fail, but neither changes what the criterion requires.
How SC 2.5.5 maps to the WCAG 3 draft
From this site's reviewed map to the WCAG 3 editor's draft. It's an interpretation: W3C has not published a mapping.
No provision in the current draft covers target size.
From WCAG 2.2, section 5.1: “The main content of WCAG 2.2 is normative and defines requirements that impact conformance claims. Introductory material, appendices, sections marked as "non-normative", diagrams, examples, and notes are informative (non-normative). Non-normative material provides advisory information to help interpret the guidelines but does not create requirements that impact a conformance claim.”