How to Make PDFs Accessible
A complete guide to creating WCAG 2.2 and PDF/UA compliant PDF documents. From authoring to testing to remediation.
Reviewed by Khushwant Parihar, CPACC
Updated
What Makes a PDF Accessible?
An accessible PDF is one that can be read and navigated by people using assistive technology like screen readers. It requires proper structural markup, descriptive alt text, logical reading order, and metadata that helps software understand the document.
Tagged Structure
Headings, paragraphs, lists marked with proper tags
Alt Text
Every meaningful image has a text description
Document Language
Primary language declared for screen readers
Bookmarks
Navigation bookmarks for documents over 5 pages
Reading Order
Content flows in a logical, meaningful sequence
Table Headers
Data tables have proper header cell markup
Tagged vs Untagged PDFs
The single most important factor in PDF accessibility is whether the document is tagged. Tags are the PDF equivalent of HTML elements — they define the structure and meaning of content.
Tagged PDF
Screen readers can navigate by headings, read tables cell-by-cell, and announce image descriptions.
Content reflows properly on mobile devices and when zoomed.
Copy-paste preserves logical reading order.
Search engines can index the document structure.
Untagged PDF
Screen readers read content in visual order, which may be meaningless (columns read across instead of down).
No heading navigation — users must listen to the entire document linearly.
Tables are unstructured — cells read as a flat stream of text.
Images are invisible to assistive technology.
Creating Accessible PDFs
The best approach is to build accessibility into your source document before exporting. Here is how to do it in common authoring tools:
Microsoft Word
Use built-in Heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) instead of manually formatting text as bold/large.
Add alt text to images via right-click > Edit Alt Text. Mark decorative images as decorative.
Use the built-in table tool with a header row. Run the Accessibility Checker (Review tab) before exporting.
Export via File > Save As > PDF, and check “Document structure tags for accessibility.”
Adobe InDesign
Map paragraph styles to PDF tags via Edit > Tags > Map Styles to Tags.
Set alt text on images via Object > Object Export Options > Alt Text.
Define reading order in the Articles panel (Window > Articles).
Export with “Create Tagged PDF” checked in the Export dialog.
Google Docs
Use heading styles from the toolbar dropdown. Add alt text to images via right-click > Alt text.
Google Docs generates basic tags on PDF export, but the output often needs remediation for full compliance.
For critical documents, consider exporting to .docx first, then using Word for final PDF export.
Testing PDF Accessibility
After creating your PDF, validate it using automated tools and manual testing:
Run our PDF Accessibility Checker
Upload your PDF for 14 automated checks covering structure, metadata, text, images, and navigation.
Use the PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker) desktop tool
PAC validates against PDF/UA (ISO 14289) and WCAG 2.2 with detailed reporting. Free to download.
Test with a screen reader
Open the PDF in NVDA (free) or JAWS and navigate by headings, read tables, and verify alt text is announced correctly.
Remediating Existing PDFs
If you have existing PDFs that are not accessible, here are your options for remediation:
Adobe Acrobat Pro
The most comprehensive tool. Use the Accessibility panel to add tags, set reading order, add alt text, fix headings, and repair table structure. Run the built-in accessibility checker for guidance.
Re-export from Source
If you have the original Word/InDesign file, fix the accessibility issues in the source document and re-export. This is often faster and produces better results than remediating the PDF directly.
Third-Party Remediation Tools
Tools like CommonLook PDF Validator, axesPDF, and PDFix provide specialized PDF remediation features. For large-scale remediation, consider professional accessibility remediation services.
Have It Remediated For You
If the backlog is larger than your team can absorb, we remediate documents per page and tag them to PDF/UA and WCAG 2.2 AA. Standard text-led pages are $3 per page, structured pages with tables or columns are $7, and complex pages with forms, charts, or scanned content are $12. See PDF accessibility remediation pricing.
The PDF/UA Standard
PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility), formally ISO 14289, defines the technical requirements for accessible PDF documents. Key requirements include:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tagged PDF?▾
A tagged PDF contains structural markup that describes the document's logical structure — headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and images. Screen readers use these tags to navigate the document and read content in the correct order. Without tags, a PDF is largely inaccessible.
What is the difference between WCAG and PDF/UA?▾
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) provides general accessibility requirements that apply to all digital content including PDFs. PDF/UA (ISO 14289) is a standard specifically for accessible PDF documents, defining technical requirements for tags, fonts, alt text, and structure. Meeting PDF/UA generally satisfies the PDF-related WCAG criteria.
Can I make a scanned PDF accessible?▾
Yes, but it requires OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing first to convert the scanned images into actual text. After OCR, you still need to add structural tags, headings, alt text, and reading order. Adobe Acrobat Pro and ABBYY FineReader are common tools for this.
How do I test PDF accessibility?▾
Use our free PDF Accessibility Checker tool to run 14 automated checks. For thorough testing, also use the PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker) desktop tool, Adobe Acrobat Pro's built-in checker, and test with an actual screen reader like NVDA or JAWS.
Which authoring tools create accessible PDFs?▾
Microsoft Word (with proper heading styles), Adobe InDesign (with export tags mapping), Google Docs (limited), and LibreOffice Writer all support exporting tagged PDFs. The key is using proper styles and structure in the source document before exporting.
Is PDF accessibility legally required?▾
Yes, in many jurisdictions. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Section 508 (US federal agencies), the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and EN 301 549 all require accessible documents. PDF accessibility has been specifically cited in ADA lawsuits.
Essential Accessibility Resources
Comprehensive tools, checklists, and guides to help you create inclusive digital experiences