Budgeting for European Accessibility Act (EAA) conformance starts with understanding the scope of your digital products and the cost categories involved. Most organizations spend between a few thousand and tens of thousands of dollars depending on the number of digital properties, their complexity, and how far current products are from meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA.
| Cost Category | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Accessibility Audit | 1,000 dollars to 3,000 dollars for most websites, based on 100 dollars to 250 dollars per page |
| Code Remediation | 250 dollars to 550 dollars per page or screen |
| Document Remediation | Starts at 7 dollars per page for PDFs and other documents |
| Ongoing Monitoring | Varies by platform and scan frequency; recurring annual cost |
What the EAA Requires and Why It Affects Your Budget
The EAA went into effect on June 28, 2025, and applies to products and services sold within the European Union. It references the EN 301 549 standard, which maps closely to WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.
Your EAA conformance budget depends on how many digital products fall under the regulation. Websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and digital banking services are all within scope. Each property needs its own evaluation and remediation plan.
Breaking Down the Cost Categories
Audits
An accessibility audit is the first expense to plan for. Audits are conducted by accessibility professionals who evaluate each page or screen against WCAG criteria. Expect to pay 100 dollars to 250 dollars per page, with most projects totaling 1,000 dollars to 3,000 dollars.
Automated scans are a useful supplement, but they only flag approximately 25% of accessibility issues. The remaining 75% requires human evaluation. Budget for a full audit, not a scan alone.
Remediation
Once an audit identifies issues, remediation is the next cost. Code remediation ranges from 250 dollars to 550 dollars per page or screen. If your digital properties include PDFs, forms, or other documents, document remediation starts at 7 dollars per page.
The total remediation cost correlates directly with the number and severity of issues the audit identifies. Products built with accessibility in mind from the start will cost significantly less to remediate.
Monitoring
EAA conformance is not a one-time expense. Every time your product changes, new accessibility issues can appear. Scheduled scans at daily, weekly, or monthly intervals catch regressions early. Budget a recurring line item for monitoring.
How to Structure the Budget
Separate your EAA conformance budget into three phases: assessment, remediation, and maintenance. Assessment covers the initial audit. Remediation covers fixing everything the audit identifies. Maintenance covers ongoing monitoring and periodic re-evaluation.
Organizations with multiple digital products should prioritize by risk. Products generating EU revenue or serving EU customers are the highest priority under the EAA.
Technical Support as a Budget Line
Development teams often need guidance during remediation. Technical support from accessibility specialists typically costs around 195 dollars per hour. Even a few hours of expert guidance can prevent costly rework, so allocating a small reserve for technical support is practical.
Planning each phase separately and accounting for ongoing costs gives organizations a realistic picture of what EAA conformance will require year over year.