How big should the letters on your banner be? Enter how far away people will read it, and we’ll tell you the minimum letter height, plus the banner height you’ll need for that headline.
How It Works
- The rule of thumb: about 1 inch of letter height for every 10 ft of viewing distance. A 50-ft distance needs letters at least 5 inches tall.
- Headline size: a headline usually takes up about a quarter of the banner’s height, so a 3-ft-high banner fits headline letters about 9 inches tall.
- Moving traffic: drivers have only a few seconds, so give them bigger letters and fewer words than people walking by.
Letter Height Tips
- Bold, simple fonts read farther than thin or script fonts.
- Strong contrast, like dark text on a light background, matters as much as size.
- Keep phone numbers and web addresses large enough for the distance too.
Letter Height FAQ
How big should letters be to read from 100 feet?
At least 10 inches tall. A banner about 4 ft high or taller fits headline letters that size, such as a 4x8.
How far can 6-inch letters be read?
About 60 ft, using the 1-inch-per-10-ft rule of thumb.
Where can I see how far each banner size reads?
Every size page lists its headline letter size and readable distance.
