The Cost of an Accessible Website

What does an accessible website cost? As an agency for accessible websites we can offer you here an overview of the possible costs incurred for implementing an accessible website. You will not find here exact details regarding how much it will cost you to implement an accessible website.

Maybe you have already seen price quotes for “accessibility analysis” – for instance, that assessing the current status would cost roughly between €600 and €1,200. A comprehensive analysis can at times cost as much as €5,000 to €10,000.

The following points should provide some insight into why such sweeping statements are often problematic, if not outright wrong – and in any case unprofessional.

What does an accessible website cost?

Cost factor 1: What needs to be (or can be) implemented?

Before you even think about performing an analysis of the current status of your website when it comes to accessibility, you should ask yourself “Why?”

Are you required to provide an accessible website? This question is one of the cost factors, since legal requirements determine the degree of accessibility and therefore the amount of work required.  

• Government agencies and authorities are subject to the Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (BITV 2.0). This regulation sets the highest standard for website accessibility.

• Private-sector companies are only subject to the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), which came into effect in June 2025. 
  

Attention: There are numerous blanket statements doing the rounds regarding accessibility, which can come quickly to sow confusion. In actual fact, not all companies are required to offer an accessible website – exceptions can apply in certain cases even where a legal obligation exists in principle, for instance for micro-enterprises or public bodies when the effort involved would be “disproportionately high as per § 5.”

Cost factor 2: Analysis of the website

Logically, performing an analysis of your website is only necessary if you do not plan a complete relaunch of your website, but rather want to “improve” individual elements. An analysis can also be useful in case you haven’t yet established whether you need a relaunch or only a reworking of the website.

In this case the cost involved in the analysis also depends on the individual objectives – standards/legal requirements are the website checked against and what specific functions are available on the website? 

Some service providers take the number of subpages into account as a cost factor in their analysis. In our experience it makes little sense to verify every single blog post, for instance. The website should instead be examined as a whole, with content categories and website functions treated separately.

We recommend that you perform an analysis of the current accessibility status of your website at the project level, if necessary. In other words, that the analysis and the implementation be carried out in a centralized way, in coordination with the relevant service providers.

Cost factor 3: Scope of the website

Larger doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive – here it is important to distinguish between the core features that make a website accessible.

• An accessible navigation (operation via keyboard) needs to be programmed only once. It is generally irrelevant whether there are 5 or 20 subpages. Keyboard accessibility for accordion menus must be considered separately and programmed individually.
  
• The same applies to color gradients. Once the CI for programming has been defined in a style guide (link coming soon), it can be applied to any number of subpages.
  
• For contrast, the BITV and the BFSG specify a ratio 3:1 for most subpages. However, the different categories (home page, blog post, product page, etc.) must be taken into account in the style guide. The more categories there are, the more complex the style guide.
  
• An accessible font size generally means at least 16 px. However, the font needs to be first and foremost specified in relative size and scalable. According to BITV 2.0, special additional rules apply to, for instance, the home page of a website, which needs to have an adjustable font size. The effort involved therefore doesn’t necessarily scale with the size of a website, but rather with the accessibility requirements it is subject to. 
  
• Aria attributes like labels for screen reader compatibility must be defined for each subpage and website function in part. Buttons and functions should not only be recognizable, but their functions must be read aloud. The interaction options and the status (closed or open) of a drop-down field must be recognizable. 

The number of subpages on an accessible website is therefore not the most important factor. The cost factors are rather based on the complexity of the functions of a website.

An overview of the costs associated with an accessible website

The following cost info is divided into an accessibility update of an existing website and a full (re)launch of the website.

The cost ranges provided serve only as a guide since it is practically impossible to offer flat rate costs for individual websites. Depending on the legal requirements and individual needs, the prices may vary significantly from quoted figures.

	Accessibility “update”	(Re-)Launch
1) Analysis of the website	Free options:  Analysis tools such as Lighthouse are integrated into the Chrome browser and are therefore usable free of charge.    AI tools on an annual subscription basis: AI auditing tools are typically offered on an annual subscription basis and can cost between €1,200 and €2,000 per year.   Service provider:  Specialized service providers often base their estimates on the number of subpages and the complexity of the website (webshop vs. informational website). A one-time check including a report can cost between€5,000 and €10,000.	For a full (re)launch of the website it is not necessary to analyze its current accessibility status.
2) Conceptual design of the website	A well thought-out conceptual design of the website is necessary whether the goal is updating the accessible elements of an existing website or a full relaunch of the website.   In this case, the price range depends to a high degree on the individual functions, the layout of the subpage categories and ultimately on the individual requirements of the customer. Other aspects, such as SEO, can also influence the price range.    That results in a price range between €5,000 and €15,000.
3) Design	The extent of the accessibility updates needed by a website depends heavily on the requirements and its current status.   Therefore, a preliminary estimate of the cost range cannot be made.	Depending on the number of subpage categories and the (legal) requirements regarding the accessibility of the website, the cost of creating a style guide can be anywhere from €10,000 to €20,000.
4) Programming	Since every website is different and individual functions are also a variable along with the number of pages, it is not possible to quote a price range for coding either the accessible elements or the entire website in the absence of a detailed briefing.
5) Easy read	The translation into easy read of a text approximately 1,800 characters long can cost between €250 and €500.
6) Videos in sign language	The cost of translating into sign language for the accessible content, navigation and explanatory videos varies depending on the number of words to be translated and the length of the videos.   A video with 250 to 400 words of speech and a length between 5 to 8 minutes can cost between €750 and €1,500.
7) Accessible graphics/images	The requirements regarding contrast, colors and font size also apply to graphics and images. The effort involved in developing them depends on the (legal) requirements, as well as on the complexity and number of elements involved. As a result, the price range can only be determined on a case by case basis.
8) Publishing website content	The amount of website content that needs to be published cannot be determined in advance since things like foreign languages or easy read versions must also be taken into account along with text, images and videos.
9) Handover and workshop	A Workshop, a guide and/or a video tutorial on the maintenance of the website/accessible website elements can cost between €2,000 and €3,500.

Service provider costs: How can I identify good specialists and service providers for digital accessibility?

Choosing the right agency or service provider is a critical factor for the creation of an accessible website – not only in terms of content, but also from a financial standpoint. But how can you distinguish between those that really have the necessary expertise and the ones merely jumping on the bandwagon of accessibility?

• Seek a dialogue – experience and knowhow trump a certification!
  Certifications such as ”IAAP CPACC” or ”BITV Tester” sound good – but practical experience is still more important. Did the agency already implement accessible projects? How do service providers respond to your inquiry? Are you asking the right questions?
  
  The first consultation already indicates whether the topic of an accessible website is well understood. Working through the requirements of the WCAG is worlds apart from actually implementing them in a sensible and effective way.

• Holistic thinking
  Good service providers don’t just consider the technical aspects, but also the conceptual ones: They consider in equal measure the navigation and structure of the website, as well as contrast, content and accessibility.
  
  Make sure that your briefing is properly understood and treated with a critical eye. Professional agencies propose practical solutions rather than just working through checklists.

• Teamwork rather than a black box
  Professional service providers will get you on board! Development, editing, design. They don’t just deliver results, but provide support during implementation as well.


  
  With a professional agency you have a designated online marketing manager as your contact person. You will be made aware of the next steps and actively kept up to date on the progress of the project – in a way that even non-programmers can easily understand.

• Flat-rate offers are a red flag!

  Keep away from package deals with no clear objectives! A good service provider will explain exactly what services are needed. They outline the additional costs that may arise and present the items offered in a structured and logical manner.

Why is an accessible website a good idea

Even if you are under no legal obligation to provide an accessible website, we would still like to urge you to consider the benefits of digital accessibility. 

Obstacles online have the same effect as those on the road: The lack of a keyboard control option is like a flight of stairs without a wheelchair ramp. A poorly structured page layout feels like a sidewalk without guide strips. And a video without subtitles is just as incomprehensible to many as train station announcements are to deaf people.

An accessible website provides an effective solution. Not only for people with disabilities or temporary limitations, but also for older users, people with learning difficulties or with limited language skills. It makes sure that digital content is accessible, understandable, and usable.

For whom is an accessible website mandatory?

1. Regulations for companies and service providers

Starting June 28, 2025 the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) applies to manufacturers of certain products as well as to service providers: 

Products like computers, smartphones, tables or internet-enabled TV sets must be accessible starting from this point in time. However, the service sector is more relevant for many companies, since this is the area where the BFSG has a particularly wide reach.

The services to which this applies include: Banking and financial services, communication services, long-distance passenger transport and electronic business transaction websites.

The latter is particularly relevant in many cases since it covers not only conventional online shops, but also appointment scheduling and reservation systems. Everything that involves a business transaction with a customer must be accessible.

2. Regulations for public bodies and authorities

The updated Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (BITV 2.0) came into force on May 25, 2019. It requires websites, mobile apps and digital platforms of public services to provide full accessibility. Along with federal and state level authorities, public bodies also include institutions and organizations that are more than 50% state funded.

Even systems used internally, such as intranets or systems used for management purposes, must be accessible as per BITV 2.0 – for federal and state authorities as well as for museums and libraries.

Funding opportunities for accessible websites

Accessibility comes at a cost – but there are subsidy programs available, designed to help reduce the financial burden. Small and medium-sized companies, as well as non-profits, are particularly likely to be eligible for them. The following subsidy programs are available, among others:

State level programs like MID-Digitalisierung (NRW) or Digitalprämie Berlin offer additional funding, in some cases up to €17,000.

Integration authorities promote accessibility improvements in cases where a company employs people with disabilities.

EU-Förderung (ESF+) supports accessibility as part of larger inclusivity projects.

Important information: The programs are generally request-based, require advance planning, and entail clear project goals. Depending on the funding source, different requirements may apply – such as the obligation to use consulting services or co-financing.

Contact info for companies and public institutions