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WordPress Lighthouse Performance Checklist

WordPress Performance

WordPress Lighthouse Performance Checklist

Getting a high Lighthouse score in WordPress is not about installing another performance plugin.

It comes from optimizing the entire website, from asset loading to Core Web Vitals.

This is the checklist I use when optimizing WordPress websites for speed and user experience.

1. Optimize Asset Loading

Many WordPress websites load CSS and JavaScript on every page, even when they are not needed.

Start by identifying unnecessary assets and remove them.

Checklist

  • Load CSS only where required.
  • Load JavaScript only where needed.
  • Defer non-critical JavaScript.
  • Use Async only for independent scripts.
  • Remove unused plugin assets.
  • Prevent page builders from loading assets globally.

2. Optimize the LCP Element

Largest Contentful Paint is usually the hero image or heading.

Checklist

  • Use WebP or AVIF images.
  • Set image width and height.
  • Preload the hero image.
  • Add fetchpriority="high" to the main image.
  • Never lazy-load the LCP image.
  • Reduce render-blocking CSS.

3. Optimize Images

Images are often the largest resources on the page.

Checklist

  • Convert images to WebP or AVIF.
  • Compress images before upload.
  • Use responsive image sizes.
  • Lazy-load below-the-fold images.
  • Always define width and height.
  • Remove unused media files.

4. Optimize Fonts

Poor font loading can delay rendering.

Checklist

  • Host fonts locally.
  • Preload critical fonts.
  • Use font-display: swap.
  • Remove unused font weights.
  • Limit font families.

5. Reduce Render Blocking

Every blocking CSS or JavaScript file delays rendering.

Checklist

  • Inline critical CSS.
  • Remove unused CSS.
  • Split large CSS files.
  • Defer JavaScript.
  • Minimize dependencies.

6. Control Third-Party Scripts

Analytics, chat widgets, maps, and embedded videos can significantly reduce performance.

Checklist

  • Delay analytics.
  • Lazy-load YouTube embeds.
  • Use click-to-load maps.
  • Load scripts only where needed.
  • Delay marketing scripts until interaction.

7. Configure Proper Caching

Caching improves performance after the website itself is optimized.

Checklist

  • Enable page caching.
  • Enable browser caching.
  • Use Redis object caching.
  • Enable OPcache.
  • Configure a CDN.
  • Optimize database queries.

8. Clean Your WordPress Installation

A clean website is usually a fast website.

Checklist

  • Remove inactive plugins.
  • Delete unused themes.
  • Clean old revisions.
  • Remove orphaned shortcodes.
  • Delete unused media.
  • Optimize autoloaded options.
  • Remove unnecessary widgets.

9. Monitor Core Web Vitals

Always optimize for real users, not only Lighthouse.

Metrics

  • LCP
  • CLS
  • INP

Recommended Tools

  • PageSpeed Insights
  • Lighthouse
  • Chrome DevTools
  • GTmetrix
  • WebPageTest
  • Google Search Console

10. Test Multiple Pages

Never optimize only the homepage.

Test:

  • Homepage
  • Blog posts
  • Product pages
  • Landing pages
  • Mobile devices
  • Logged-out users
  • Slow network conditions

Final Thoughts

High Lighthouse scores are the result of good engineering rather than a single optimization technique.

When asset loading, images, fonts, caching, and server configuration all work together, achieving consistent 95+ Lighthouse scores becomes both practical and repeatable.