Canva Accessibility Features

Canva includes accessibility features for images and pdfs. While this page summarizes how to use certain features, it’s best to check the Canva Help Center on Accessibility for the most current features and updates. 

Images

Include Alt-Text for Images

Describe your images and elements using alternative text. This enables individuals with visual or cognitive impairments to experience your designs.

How to add alt text to images

  • Right click on the image or other non-text element and select Alternative Text
  • Type in alternative text or assign the image as decorative
  • Alt text must be assigned for each copy of an image.
  • NOTE: Avoid using images of text

Fonts

  • Choose fonts that are easy to read and not decorative or overly stylized.

Colors

  • Ensure minimum color contrast standards are met when selecting colors.
  • The design accessibility tool will check color contrast accessibility.

PDFs

Download designs as PDFs that work better with screen readers and assistive technologies.

To export a PDF with accessibility tags

  • Open the design you want to export
  • Go to 
Share, then select Download
  • From the File type, select PDF Standard
    • Make sure the Flatten PDF checkbox is unchecked
    • Flattening removes accessibility tags
  • Select Download

Canva accessibility features specific to PDFs

Reading order of elements

Screen readers read content in the order elements appear in your design. Reading order is automatically calculated on export and works best for simple, linear layouts.

Note: According to the Canva help center, manual reading order adjustment isn’t supported yet.

Define Headings

Documents exported as a Standard PDF include heading tags, enhancing the reading experience for screen reader users. This feature is available for all PDF-published documents.

Assign headings and other text properties

    • With an open document, select File —> Accessibility —> Edit text semantics
    • In the left column you will see, and be able to assign, a label for each block of copy in your file including: H1–H6, Paragraph, and Quote
    • Note: Canva automatically tags heading levels based on visual hierarchy, such as font size and placement. If the structure doesn’t match your intent, you can edit it manually

To edit headings:

    • Go to File, then select Accessibility
    • Select Edit text semantics
    • Choose a text element and update its heading level
    • Heading levels include: H1–H6, Paragraph, and Quote

Design Accessibility Tool

Canva offers an accessibility checker that scans your design for accessibility issues and allows you to fix some issues, including typography, color contrast, and alt-text.

To use the Design Accessibility Tool in Canva:

File —> Accessibility —> Check design accessibility

In the right column you will see accessibility information about typography, color contrast, and alternative text and be able to fix most issues.

Issues with screen readers and Canva PDFs

There may be issues where built-in browser PDF readers and VoiceOver may not read exported PDFs correctly when opened in macOS Preview or Safari. Some content may be skipped. This can happen even when tags appear correctly in Adobe Acrobat. Canva recommends opening exported PDFs in Adobe Acrobat. Adobe Acrobat reads accessibility tags more consistently than built-in browser viewers.

Compliance notes from Canva

Canva PDFs aren’t PDF/UA or WCAG compliant. If you need fully compliant PDFs, you may need to manually fix accessibility issues after export.