Free calculator
Hoarding Readability Calculator
Find the minimum letter height and maximum word count for your hoarding at its real viewing distance and speed.
Rules of thumb: ~1 inch of capital-letter height per 10 ft of distance; viewers read about one word per second after ~2 seconds to notice the board. Use as a starting point, then check a printed proof at real distance.
Minimum headline letter height
15″
≈ 38 cm capital height
Time in view
4.4 s
for a passing vehicle
Max words to use
2
Keep it to the brand + one line
Phone number height
12″+
Second-largest element
How it works
About this tool
How big should letters be on a hoarding?
A common rule of thumb is about 1 inch of capital-letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance. A hoarding read from 200 ft needs headline letters of roughly 20 inches.
How many words can people read on a billboard?
Roughly one word per second of viewing time, after a couple of seconds to notice the board. On a fast road that often means six words or fewer.
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