Navigation usability checklist: 20 checks

Key takeaways

The GBL Navigation Usability Checklist is 20 yes or no checks in five groups of four: findable, worded, located, consistent and onward. Score one point per yes. A total of 16 or more is well run; 12 to 15 means fix the weakest group first; under 12 means start with a usability test and a structure review before changing labels.

• 20 yes or no checks in five groups of four.
• 16 or more: well run. Keep testing after changes.
• 12–15: fix the weakest group first.
• Under 12: test with users and review the structure.

Findable: can visitors reach key pages?

These four checks cover whether the pages buyers need are easy to reach from anywhere on the site.

• 1. Key pages are within two clicks or taps of every page.
• 2. The main menu is visible on desktop, not behind an icon.
• 3. The main action is visible on phones without opening the menu.
• 4. A second route exists, such as search, a sitemap or contextual links.

• How clear website navigation improves user experience
• How many menu items should a website have?

Worded: do visitors understand the labels?

These checks cover whether labels say clearly what is behind them, in customers' words.

• 5. Menu labels use words customers use in enquiries and searches.
• 6. No vague labels such as 'Solutions', 'Resources' or 'More'.
• 7. Link text describes the destination; no 'click here'.
• 8. Each service, page and action has one consistent name.

• Menu labels: words visitors understand at a glance
• Descriptive link text: why 'click here' loses visitors

Located: do visitors know where they are?

These checks cover orientation, especially for visitors who land deep in the site.

• 9. The current section is highlighted in the menu.
• 10. Every page has a unique, descriptive title.
• 11. The main heading matches the menu label that led there.
• 12. Deeper pages show breadcrumbs or a section menu.

• 'You are here': show visitors where they are
• Page titles and headings: the navigation visitors forget

Consistent: does the menu stay the same?

These checks cover whether visitors can rely on the navigation everywhere.

• 13. The menu has the same items, order and position on every page.
• 14. Mobile and desktop menus contain the same links.
• 15. Shop, booking and blog templates share the main header.
• 16. Menus work by keyboard, with visible focus and a skip link.

• Consistent navigation: same menu, same place, every page
• Skip links: let keyboard users jump past the menu

Onward: does every page offer a next step?

These checks cover whether visitors always have somewhere sensible to go.

• 17. Every key page ends with a relevant next step.
• 18. Prices or fees and proof are linked from service pages.
• 19. The 404 and no-results pages offer routes forward.
• 20. The back button always returns visitors to where they were.

• Website dead ends: pages that leave visitors nowhere to go

How do you use the score?

Count the yes answers. A score of 16 to 20 is well run; 12 to 15 means one or two groups need work, so fix the group with the fewest yes answers first; under 12 suggests deeper problems, so run a five-person usability test and review the structure before changing labels. The thresholds are GBL's working rule of thumb.

• The navigation clarity score: rate your menu in 20 minutes
• Navigation usability testing: five tasks, five people

What does this look like in practice?

A pattern we see: a site scores 13, losing points mainly on 'located' and 'onward': no active menu state, generic page titles, service pages without next steps and a default 404. Those are template fixes, done once for every page.

• See client work
• Website Design & Development for UK businesses

Next step

Run the 20 checks on your homepage, one service page and one blog post, and note your score.