Letter Visibility Guide: How Big Does Your Signage Text Need to Be?

Our Letter Visibility Guide helps you make smarter choices. It's designed to show the ideal letter height based on viewing distance, giving you quick clarity on how to size your text so it grabs attention when it matters most.

This isn't about guesswork. It’s about designing with intent—and making signs that actually do their job.

Real Results in the Real World

Unlike mock-ups or screen previews, visibility is affected by:

By referencing the Letter Visibility Guide, you help to ensure your signage cuts through all these variables with clarity and confidence.

How Big Should Your Letters Be? Quick Guide to Signage That Works

Whether you're printing a banner, poster, or shop sign, understanding readable letter sizes can be the difference between being noticed—or missed.

• 50mm uppercase letters → Readable from up to 15 metres
  Ideal for close-range posters, product displays, or aisle-end signs.
  
• 100mm letters → Visible from up to 30 metres
  Perfect for retail signage, indoor wall graphics, and overhead signs in shopping centres or exhibition booths.
  
• 200mm letters → Readable from up to 60 metres
  Great for banners above entryways, pop-up walls, or standout messaging across larger open spaces.
  
• 300mm letters → Clear from around 90 metres
  Best used on hero banners across large stalls, atriums, or conference hall backdrops—without maxing out your print space.

No matter where your signage is going—whether it’s above a retail counter, across an exhibition stand, or hanging in a busy shopping centre—getting the letter size right means getting your message seen. Use our Letter Visibility Chart to plan with confidence, then let us bring it to life with fast, high-quality vivid banner and sign printing.

We print banners, signs, A-frames, wall graphics, decals, and more—fast, with same day printing options for most items.

Whether you need something small and sharp or oversized and bold, this chart helps ensure your message is read, not missed.

Minimum Letter Height for Visibility

These measurements are based on all-uppercase Helvetica letters under optimal contrast and conditions.

Design Tip: Use Capital Letters for Distance

Capital letters are easier to read from further away than sentence case. For maximum impact, use bold, all-caps for key headings and shorter messages.

Ready to Print?

Whether you’re designing for a shopfront, exhibition stand, or in-store display, the right letter size helps your message get seen—and acted on.

At Same Day Printing, we print banners, signs, A-frames, wall graphics, decals and more, with same day options available.

Let’s make your signage impossible to miss.