Why You Should Avoid Using Accordions in FAQ Sections

Using accordions in FAQ sections is common, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. While they might seem like a clean, space-saving solution, they often create a frustrating user experience that can hurt engagement and even reduce conversions. Let’s break down why accordions aren’t ideal and what you should do instead.

What Is an Accordion?

An accordion is a web design element that allows users to expand and collapse content sections by clicking on a heading or button. It’s commonly used in FAQ sections, menus, and mobile navigation to save space and keep layouts visually clean. When a user clicks on a question, the answer appears beneath it, usually pushing down the surrounding content. While this might seem like an efficient way to organize information, it often creates unnecessary friction by forcing users to take extra actions to see what they need.

If It’s Important, Don’t Hide It

If an FAQ is meant to address common concerns, why make users work to find the answers? Studies show that users spend an average of 5-8 seconds deciding whether to stay on a page. If they don’t immediately see the information they need, they might leave without ever expanding a single question.

Web usability research highlights that users don’t read word-for-word—they scan. If FAQs are collapsed, visitors can’t scan them quickly. Instead, they have to click each one, which adds unnecessary friction.

Extra Clicks Reduce Engagement

Every additional interaction you require from a user increases the chance they’ll abandon the page. This is based on Fitts’s Law, a principle in UX design that states that the more effort required to complete an action, the less likely users are to do it. Clicking each FAQ item, especially on mobile, adds extra effort that many users just won’t bother with.

Case studies show that reducing friction on a website increases conversion rates. The same principle applies here—simplifying access to information helps users take action.

Mobile Users Struggle with Accordions

Mobile browsing now accounts for over 58% of global web traffic (Statista, 2024). On smaller screens, clicking tiny accordion toggles can be frustrating, especially when touch targets are small or too close together. Instead of making users tap multiple times, it’s better to display answers outright so they can scroll and skim easily.

Google’s own UX guidelines emphasize minimizing interaction costs, meaning users shouldn’t have to do unnecessary work to get the information they need.

Space Concerns? There’s a Better Way

One of the main arguments for using accordions is to save space. But in reality, well-designed FAQ sections don’t need to take up much room. Here’s what you can do instead:

  • Write concise answers – If a response is more than two sentences long, consider turning it into a dedicated page or article.
  • Use a clean layout – A well-structured design with clear typography and spacing can make a FAQ section easy to read without feeling overwhelming.
  • Limit FAQ items – Stick to six questions or fewer. Too many FAQs usually indicate that key information is missing elsewhere on the site.

When Can You Use Accordions?

If your FAQ section is purely for SEO purposes—meaning you’re adding keywords but don’t expect real users to engage with it—then accordions are fine. Google still indexes hidden content as long as it’s properly structured in the HTML. However, if you actually want visitors to read the answers and take action, it’s best to avoid them.

The Bottom Line

FAQs should be easy to read and require zero effort to access. Hiding them behind accordions may look neat, but it can hurt user experience, engagement, and even sales. If you want people to find the answers they need, just show them—no clicks required.

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