Mobile tap targets: how big should buttons and links be?
Buttons and links that are too small or too close frustrate phone shoppers. See recommended tap target sizes and how to check yours.
2 min read
Area
CRO & UX
Severity
Medium
Fix effort
Small
Stores failing
8%
Of 62 stores we scanned where this check applies, 8% fail it and 60% pass. See all benchmarks.
A tap target is any button or link a shopper presses with a finger. Fingers are far less precise than a mouse, so targets need to be big enough and far enough apart. Google suggests at least around 48 pixels across with some spacing. This check looks at your main actions.
Why it matters
Missed taps are frustrating and cause wrong clicks, such as the wrong size selected or the wrong item removed. On a product page, the main actions are the ones that matter, because errors there lose the sale.
What the audit looks at
The audit looks at whether the main buttons and links on the product page are big enough and far enough apart to tap on a phone.
What usually causes it
- Small text links used for important actions
- Icon buttons with no padding
- Quantity and variant controls packed tightly together
- Close buttons on pop-ups that are tiny
How to fix it
Make tappable things at least 24x24px to meet WCAG 2.2 AA, and 44x44px on anything that matters. The effort is small, usually a setting or a paste and under 30 minutes.
- 24x24px is the WCAG 2.2 AA floor; 44x44px is Apple's guideline and the right size for buy buttons, variant swatches and navigation.
- Increase padding rather than font size -- the target grows without the layout changing.
- Adjacent links in footers and variant swatches are the usual offenders.
How to check it yourself
- Use your own thumb on a real phone and see whether you hit the intended control each time.
- Check Lighthouse accessibility reports for tap target warnings.
- Zoom in on the product page and look at spacing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the recommended tap target size?
Google suggests about 48 by 48 CSS pixels, with enough space around each target to avoid hitting a neighbour.
Do all links need to be this large?
Prioritise primary actions. Small text links inside paragraphs are harder to enlarge.
Related checks
Check your own store
See whether your store passes this check
Paste your store URL. The audit loads your pages in a real browser and shows the result for this check with the evidence behind it.