Letter size chart
Pick your letter height from the distance people read your sign from, then check it fits your wall and your city sign code. All sizes in inches and feet.
Letter height by viewing distance
A common sign-industry rule of thumb: about 1 in of capital letter height for every 10 ft of viewing distance reads easily and stands out; about 1 in for every 30 ft is close to the limit of what a person can still read. Bold, simple fonts and strong contrast read farther; thin scripts read shorter.
| Viewing distance | Easy to read and noticed | Still readable |
|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | 2.5 in | 1 in |
| 50 ft | 5 in | 1.5 in |
| 75 ft | 7.5 in | 2.5 in |
| 100 ft | 10 in | 3.5 in |
| 150 ft | 15 in | 5 in |
| 200 ft | 20 in | 6.5 in |
| 300 ft | 30 in | 10 in |
| 400 ft | 40 in | 13.5 in |
| 500 ft | 50 in | 16.5 in |
Rules of thumb for good light and a clear view. Moving traffic, glare and busy backgrounds call for bigger letters. Check the maximum sign size in your city sign code and lease. Full guide
Fit the letters to the wall
On a sign band (fascia), keep clear space above and below the letters: a single line of capitals usually fills about two thirds of the band height. Two lines need the smaller line at about half the height of the main line. The sign preview tool shows the width of your text at any height.