Responsive website checklist: 15 points to test
Over 60% of all web traffic comes from mobile. If your website doesn't work properly on small screens, you're losing the majority of your potential customers.
Use this checklist to systematically test your website. Every point can be tested for free.
Layout and structure
- No horizontal scroll — all content fits within the screen width
- Menu works on mobile — hamburger menu opens and closes correctly
- Tables are responsive — either scroll horizontally or reformat to card layout
- Forms are usable — input fields are large enough, labels are visible, keyboard matches the field type (email, tel, number)
Text and typography
- Text is readable without zoom — minimum 16px font size on mobile
- Headings wrap correctly — no long words breaking the layout
- Line spacing is sufficient (line-height: 1.5+)
Images and media
- Images scale to screen width (max-width: 100%)
- Images are optimized — use WebP/AVIF, lazy loading below the fold
- Videos are responsive — embeds adapt to the container
- No images blocking content — avoid fixed-position hero images covering text
Interaction and touch
- Touch targets are at least 44x44px — buttons and links should be easy to tap with a finger
- Sufficient spacing between clickable elements (at least 8px)
- No hover-only functionality — everything shown on hover should be accessible without a mouse
Performance
- Loads in under 3 seconds on 4G — test with PageSpeed Insights on mobile
How to test
Free tools
- Your own phone — the most important test. Browse the entire site as a customer.
- Chrome DevTools — Press F12, click the mobile icon, and test at different sizes (375px, 768px, 1024px).
- PageSpeed Insights — Gives a mobile-specific performance and UX score.
- BrowserStack — Free trial for testing on real devices.
Common problems and solutions
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Text too small | Set font-size: 16px as minimum |
| Buttons too small | Use min-height: 44px and padding |
| Images too large | Add max-width: 100%; height: auto |
| Menu doesn't work | Test hamburger menu JavaScript on mobile |
| Tables break layout | Wrap in overflow-x: auto container |
When is it time for a redesign?
If your website fails on more than 5 of the 15 points, you should consider an update. A site that doesn't work on mobile costs you customers every single day.
Need help?
Contact me for a free review of your website's mobile-friendliness.
