Target size (enhanced)

All interactive elements should have a minimum target size of at least 44 by 44 points.

Impact

Small targets are harder to activate, especially for people with motor impairments. Ensure targets are large enough to allow users to activate them easily. This improves usability for everyone, including users operating devices with a single hand or on the go.

Description

Interactive elements - such as buttons, links, icons, and checkboxes - must be large enough to be easily activated.

A minimum size of 44x44 points is required, except for the situations listed below.

Exceptions

• The same function is available via another, larger control on the same screen.
• The target is inline, such as a link or icon within a block of text.
• The target size is defined by the platform (e.g. native iOS or Android components) and not modified by the developer.
• A smaller size is essential or legally required.

Related rules

• Target size (minimum)

Examples

A “Save” button that has a target size of 44x44 points (including padding or spacing).

Failures

A “Save” button that has a target size of 32x32 points (including padding or spacing).

Testing

Android

Procedure

On Android, density-independent pixels (dp) is a unit based on the physical density of the screen, used for consistent scaling across different screen resolutions.

To determine the size of an element in the dp unit, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Find device model

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to About phone or About device.
3. Find your product name, e.g. Galaxy M12.

Step 2: Find display properties

1. Search the Web for documentation about your device, e.g. by searching for Galaxy M12 screen size.
2. Find the width, height, and screen size at a reputable source, such as the manufacturer.
3. Calculate the DPI using the following formula: √(width² + height²) ÷ size. (Calculator)

Example:

Property	Value
Width	720
Height	1600
Size	6.5"
DPI	270

Step 3: Find element size in pixels

1. Take a screenshot, share it to your computer.
2. Open the screenshot in an image editor.
3. Use the select tool to draw a rectangle around the element.
4. Read the dimensions of your selection, e.g. 50x50 (width x height).

Step 4: Calculate element size in DP

The formula is: Pixels ÷ (DPI ÷ 160) (Formula source)

Example: 50 ÷ (270 ÷ 160) ≈ 36 DP

Expected result

• If the element has a target size of at least 44x44 points, it passes.
• If the element has a target size that is less than 44x44 points and none of the exceptions apply, it fails.

iOS

Procedure

On iOS, points (pt) is a unit based on a standard reference density, used for consistent scaling across different screen resolutions.

To determine the size of an element in the pt unit, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Find device model

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to the General section.
3. Select the Info section.
4. Find your device model, e.g. iPhone 14 Pro.

Step 2: Find display properties

1. Open the ios-resolution.com website.
2. Find your device model in the list.
3. Mark down Physical width, Physical height, and Scale Factor.

Example:

Property	Value
Width	1179
Height	2556
Scale	3

Step 3: Find element size in pixels

1. Take a screenshot, share it to your computer.
2. Open the screenshot in an image editor.
3. Use the select tool to draw a rectangle around the element.
4. Read the dimensions of your selection, e.g. 100x100 (width x height).

Step 4: Calculate element size in points

The formula is: Pixels ÷ Scale

Example: 100 ÷ 3 ≈ 33 points

Expected result

• If the element has a target size of at least 44x44 points, it passes.
• If the element has a target size that is less than 44x44 points and none of the exceptions apply, it fails.

Solutions

Resources

• WCAG Success Criterion 2.5.5