{
  "name": "Digital Signage Viewing Distance and Font Size Reference 2026",
  "publisher": "DigitalSignage.com (MediaSignage Inc.)",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "page": "https://digitalsignage.com/digital_signage/docs/guides/typography-viewing-distance/",
  "updated": "2026-09-19",
  "method": "Point sizes are the values published on the DigitalSignage.com typography guide for a 1080p canvas. Minimum body text follows the line body_pt = 12 + 2.4 x viewing distance in feet (about 12 + 7.9 x metres); headline = 2 x body; fine print = body x 2/3. Physical letter heights follow the signage rule of thumb of 1 inch of letter height per 10 feet of viewing distance for comfortable reading and 1 inch per 20 feet as the minimum. PPI values are computed from the diagonal and native resolution and rounded.",
  "formulas": {
    "minimum_body_pt_from_feet": "12 + 2.4 * distance_ft",
    "minimum_body_pt_from_metres": "12 + 7.9 * distance_m",
    "headline_pt": "2 * body_pt",
    "fine_print_pt": "body_pt * 2 / 3",
    "comfortable_letter_height_in": "0.1 * distance_ft",
    "minimum_letter_height_in": "0.05 * distance_ft",
    "physical_text_height_in": "text_height_px / display_ppi"
  },
  "viewing_distance": [
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 3,
      "viewing_distance_m": 1,
      "min_body_text_pt": 18,
      "headline_pt": 36,
      "fine_print_pt": 12,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 0.3,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 0.15,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 8,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 4
    },
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 6,
      "viewing_distance_m": 2,
      "min_body_text_pt": 24,
      "headline_pt": 48,
      "fine_print_pt": 16,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 0.6,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 0.3,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 15,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 8
    },
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 10,
      "viewing_distance_m": 3,
      "min_body_text_pt": 36,
      "headline_pt": 72,
      "fine_print_pt": 24,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 1,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 0.5,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 25,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 13
    },
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 15,
      "viewing_distance_m": 5,
      "min_body_text_pt": 48,
      "headline_pt": 96,
      "fine_print_pt": 32,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 1.5,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 0.75,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 38,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 19
    },
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 20,
      "viewing_distance_m": 6,
      "min_body_text_pt": 60,
      "headline_pt": 120,
      "fine_print_pt": 40,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 2,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 1,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 51,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 25
    },
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 30,
      "viewing_distance_m": 9,
      "min_body_text_pt": 84,
      "headline_pt": 168,
      "fine_print_pt": 56,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 3,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 1.5,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 76,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 38
    },
    {
      "viewing_distance_ft": 50,
      "viewing_distance_m": 15,
      "min_body_text_pt": 132,
      "headline_pt": 264,
      "fine_print_pt": 88,
      "comfortable_letter_height_in": 5,
      "minimum_letter_height_in": 2.5,
      "comfortable_letter_height_mm": 127,
      "minimum_letter_height_mm": 64
    }
  ],
  "display_ppi": [
    {
      "display_in": 32,
      "ppi_1080p": 69,
      "ppi_4k": 138,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 69,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 138
    },
    {
      "display_in": 43,
      "ppi_1080p": 51,
      "ppi_4k": 102,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 51,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 102
    },
    {
      "display_in": 55,
      "ppi_1080p": 40,
      "ppi_4k": 80,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 40,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 80
    },
    {
      "display_in": 65,
      "ppi_1080p": 34,
      "ppi_4k": 68,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 34,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 68
    },
    {
      "display_in": 75,
      "ppi_1080p": 29,
      "ppi_4k": 59,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 29,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 59
    },
    {
      "display_in": 86,
      "ppi_1080p": 26,
      "ppi_4k": 51,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 26,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 51
    },
    {
      "display_in": 98,
      "ppi_1080p": 22,
      "ppi_4k": 45,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_1080p": 22,
      "px_per_inch_of_text_4k": 45
    }
  ],
  "sizes_by_application": [
    {
      "application": "Retail promo",
      "primary_pt": "96+",
      "secondary_pt": 48,
      "body_pt": 36,
      "note": "Prices prominent"
    },
    {
      "application": "Menu board",
      "primary_pt": 60,
      "secondary_pt": 36,
      "body_pt": 24,
      "note": "Scannable layout"
    },
    {
      "application": "Wayfinding",
      "primary_pt": 72,
      "secondary_pt": 48,
      "body_pt": 30,
      "note": "Arrows and icons large"
    },
    {
      "application": "Corporate lobby",
      "primary_pt": 48,
      "secondary_pt": 36,
      "body_pt": 24,
      "note": "Elegant, refined"
    },
    {
      "application": "Emergency alert",
      "primary_pt": "120+",
      "secondary_pt": 72,
      "body_pt": 48,
      "note": "Maximum visibility"
    },
    {
      "application": "Video wall",
      "primary_pt": "144+",
      "secondary_pt": 96,
      "body_pt": 72,
      "note": "Scale for distance"
    }
  ],
  "contrast": [
    {
      "content_type": "Body text",
      "wcag_minimum": "4.5:1",
      "recommended_for_signage": "7:1"
    },
    {
      "content_type": "Large text (over 18pt)",
      "wcag_minimum": "3:1",
      "recommended_for_signage": "4.5:1"
    },
    {
      "content_type": "Headlines",
      "wcag_minimum": "3:1",
      "recommended_for_signage": "7:1"
    }
  ],
  "dwell_time": [
    {
      "context": "Passing viewers (corridor, street)",
      "typical_dwell_time": "2 to 3 seconds",
      "max_words": "7 to 10 words"
    },
    {
      "context": "Retail floor, waiting area",
      "typical_dwell_time": "3 to 5 seconds",
      "max_words": "15 to 20 words"
    },
    {
      "context": "Queue, lobby, break room",
      "typical_dwell_time": "10 seconds or more",
      "max_words": "up to 3 lines of 5 words per screen"
    }
  ]
}