# How to Make Your QR Menu Accessible to Every Guest

> Practical steps to make a QR menu accessible: readable font sizes, strong contrast, alt text for photos, a clear structure, not relying on colour alone and a printed backup.

Guide · September 9, 2026 · https://qrcodemenu.co.uk/blog/accessible-qr-menu/

A QR menu should work for everyone at the table, including guests with low vision, colour blindness, shaky hands or little experience with smartphones. Accessibility is often treated as a technical extra, but most of it comes down to simple design habits. Getting it right makes the menu easier for every guest, not only for those who need it most.

## Make text easy to read

Small, light grey text on a white background is the most common accessibility problem in digital menus. Use a text size that is comfortable without zooming, and check that the page still works when a guest enlarges the text in their phone settings. Choose a plain, well-spaced font and keep lines short. Avoid writing whole sections in capitals or italics, which are harder to read.

## Use strong contrast

Text needs clear contrast with its background, especially in dim dining rooms or on sunny terraces. Dark text on a light background is the safest choice. Be careful with text placed over photos; if you must do it, add a solid band of colour behind the text. Prices, allergen notes and buttons deserve the same attention as dish names.

## Describe photos with alt text

Guests who use a screen reader cannot see your photos, but they can hear a short description. Give each product image alt text that says what is on the plate, for example “grilled salmon with lemon and green salad”. Keep it short and factual. Purely decorative images do not need a description. In QR Menu Manager, products are WooCommerce products, so their photos live in the WordPress media library, where you can add alt text to each image.

## Give the menu a clear structure

A clear structure helps screen reader users and everyone else. Use real headings for categories, keep items in a consistent order and make buttons and links say what they do. Tap targets should be big enough for a thumb, with space between them.

- Do not rely on colour alone: a red dot for spicy or a green label for vegetarian also needs a word or a clear icon with a text label.
- Write allergen information in words, not only as symbols.
- Keep pop-ups and auto-playing content to a minimum, as they confuse screen readers.

## Keep a printed menu available

Some guests will always prefer or need paper, whether because of their eyesight, a flat battery or simple habit. Keep a printed menu, ideally also in a large-print version, and make sure staff offer it without any fuss. A friendly line on the table sign, such as “Printed menu available on request”, saves guests from having to ask awkwardly.

> Turn on your phone’s screen reader and try to order one dish from your own menu with your eyes closed. It quickly shows what needs fixing.

QR Menu Manager runs inside your own WordPress and uses your theme’s header and footer, so you can apply the same accessibility checks to your menu as to the rest of your site. Small improvements, made one at a time, make your menu welcoming for every guest.