A WCAG 2.2 AA audit is typically priced the same as a WCAG 2.1 AA audit, or only marginally higher. Most accessibility audits start at 1,000 dollars and range to 3,000 dollars, and the version selected rarely shifts the quote in a meaningful way. Per-page pricing in the industry runs 100 dollars to 250 dollars per page or screen regardless of whether the evaluation references 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA. What moves the price is scope, complexity, and the number of pages or screens, not the WCAG version.
| Factor | How It Affects Price |
|---|---|
| Version selected | Minimal to no impact on audit pricing in most quotes. |
| Baseline range | Most audits start at 1,000 dollars and range to 3,000 dollars. |
| Per-page pricing | 100 dollars to 250 dollars per page or screen, version-agnostic. |
| What drives cost | Page count, template reuse, interactive complexity, and environment coverage. |
| Backwards compatibility | WCAG 2.2 includes all 2.1 criteria, so evaluators cover 2.1 material regardless. |
Why the Version Rarely Changes the Quote
WCAG 2.2 is backwards compatible with 2.1. A site that conforms to 2.2 AA also conforms to 2.1 AA. The evaluator covers the same foundational material during either engagement, plus a small set of additional criteria under 2.2 AA.
Evaluation time per page is driven primarily by how much is on the page: interactive components, forms, navigation patterns, dynamic content, and media. The version selected adds marginal evaluation time per page, which rarely translates into a higher line item on the quote.
What Actually Moves the Price
Audit cost is a function of scope. Version is near the bottom of the list of factors that matter. The items below carry real weight in a quote.
- Page or screen count: More pages means more evaluation hours. This is the largest cost driver.
- Template reuse: Pages built from shared templates can be sampled rather than evaluated individually, reducing the effective count.
- Interactive complexity: Custom components, single-page application patterns, modals, and complex forms require more evaluation time than content pages.
- Environment coverage: Desktop only, mobile only, or both. Additional environments add hours.
- Authentication: Pages behind a login require session-based evaluation and additional setup time.
When 2.2 AA Could Cost Slightly More
A small premium is possible if a provider prices per criterion rather than per page, which is uncommon. A premium is also possible when an organization requests a detailed gap analysis specifically mapped to the additional 2.2 criteria, with separate reporting on each. In most standard audit engagements, the quote looks the same whether the standard is 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA.
Choosing Between 2.1 AA and 2.2 AA
The version decision is usually driven by contractual or regulatory context, not price. ADA Title II references WCAG 2.1 AA. Procurement requirements, customer contracts, and internal policies may specify one version or the other.
If the buyer has flexibility, selecting 2.2 AA covers everything in 2.1 AA and positions the organization against the current version of the guidelines. Ask the provider for a written quote that specifies the standard, the page or screen count, the environments covered, and the deliverables. The number on that quote will look similar under either version, because the scope is what determines the cost.