Magento performance checklist, 30+ items I run on every audit
Frequently asked questions
Is this checklist valid for Magento 2.4.9?
Yes. Every item works on Magento 2.4.4 through 2.4.9, on Magento Open Source, Adobe Commerce, and Mage-OS. PHP version requirements differ by Magento version, 2.4.7+ wants PHP 8.3, 2.4.9 supports 8.4.
Will following this checklist pass Core Web Vitals?
On most stores, yes, especially items 1 (Hyvä), 17 (OPcache), 26 (Varnish), 29 (Redis), 40 (indexers on schedule). I have not seen a store fail Core Web Vitals after running all 40+ items on a Hyvä build.
What about Hyvä, do I still need this checklist?
Hyvä handles the frontend section automatically. The backend, server, caching and database sections still all apply. Hyvä is roughly half the checklist; the other half is your job.
Which item gives the biggest single win?
For Luma stores: Hyvä migration (item 1). For Hyvä stores already in place: Varnish full-page cache (item 26) and OPcache tuning (item 17). For stores already on Varnish + Hyvä: database indexer mode (item 40).
Should I run all these items on staging first?
Yes. Every config change in items 17-24, 26-32 should land on staging first with measurements before / after. The frontend items (1-15) are safer to roll forward in small batches.
Does this work on Adobe Commerce Cloud?
Most items apply. Adobe Commerce Cloud locks down some infrastructure (Varnish, Redis, OpenSearch are managed) but the Magento-level items (frontend, indexers, modules, DI compile) all work the same.
How long does running the full checklist take?
The audit pass (measure + tick items) is about 20 hours of work. The fix pass (actually implementing) is 60-100 hours depending on how many items the store fails. Hence my fixed-fee structure: $499 audit, $2,499 sprint.
What tools do you use to measure each item?
Lighthouse (Docker, not PSI API, rate limits), WebPageTest, CrUX Dashboard, Magento's bin/magento cache:status + indexer:status, MySQL slow query log, New Relic if available, php-fpm status page, and Varnishadm.
Can you turn this into a downloadable PDF?
Working on it. For now, this page is the canonical version, copy it, share it, use it. License is "do whatever you want, just don't repackage and sell it".
Send a brief. Get a written quote in 24 hours.
Two paragraphs is enough: scope, price and timeline come back in writing.