Line length and type size work as a pair: increase the type size in the same-width container and fewer characters fit on each line; widen the container and lines grow longer. For English screen text, a practical starting point is an effective body size of at least 16px and roughly 45–75 characters per line, then adjust the combination in the actual font and at the screen sizes people use. These are guidance ranges, not a universal optimum.
How long should a line of text be?
For English body copy on screen, Digital.gov describes 45–75 characters per line as acceptable and approximately 66 as comfortable. The guidance is a useful starting point, not a scientific rule that applies equally to every font, reader, or layout. A typeface’s design affects how large text appears and how much space its characters occupy.
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W3C gives a separate accessibility reference: WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.4.8 includes an option to limit text width to 80 characters or glyphs, or 40 for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) text. This is a Level AAA visual-presentation criterion, not a claim that every reader prefers the same line length. W3C notes that long lines can make it harder for some people to keep their place. See W3C’s explanation of Visual Presentation.
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Character counts are not directly interchangeable across writing systems. W3C specifies a lower limit for CJK because glyphs are approximately twice as wide under comparable readability conditions. For other scripts or content where a character count is a poor proxy for visual measure, judge the rendered line rather than relying on an English count.
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How type size changes the reading measure
Digital.gov recommends an effective screen body-text size of at least 16px, while noting that perceived size varies by typeface. In a fixed-width container, increasing the type size usually reduces the number of characters on each line. If the result feels too narrow, consider adjusting the container as well as the type size; do not preserve a character target by making text uncomfortably small.
Line height matters alongside both variables. Digital.gov suggests roughly 1.4–1.65 for body text and notes that larger type and wider measures generally call for greater line height. GOV.UK’s type scale illustrates coordinated values, including 19px text with 25px line height and 16px text with 20px line height. Those pairs are examples from its design system, not mandatory settings for every site. Digital.gov’s visual-design accessibility guidance and the GOV.UK type scale provide the respective recommendations and examples.
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How to tune line length and size in a real layout
- Set a readable starting size. Begin with at least 16px effective body text on screen, then assess how it looks in the chosen typeface and viewing context.
- Choose a moderate measure. For English body copy, start within Digital.gov’s 45–75 character range, using approximately 66 as a reference rather than a required target.
- Check the rendered combination. Read paragraphs in the actual font and layout. Look at line length, perceived text size, line height, and paragraph separation together; changing one can affect the others.
- Repeat at relevant viewport sizes. Confirm that the measure and type scale remain comfortable on small and large screens. GOV.UK’s documentation says its type scale changes with screen size and that its large-screen scale applies above a 640px tablet breakpoint.
- Test zoom and user adjustments. Verify that users can enlarge text and that the page reflows without forcing repeated horizontal scrolling to read each line.
- Use a script-appropriate measure. Do not apply English character counts mechanically to CJK text; consider the width of the glyphs and the content being read.
What accessibility guidance requires—and what it does not
WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.12 addresses what happens when users override text spacing. To meet it, content and functionality must remain available when line height is set to at least 1.5 times the font size, paragraph spacing to at least 2 times the font size, letter spacing to at least 0.12 times the font size, and word spacing to at least 0.16 times the font size. These are test values for user-applied changes, not required default styles for the page. Read W3C’s explanation of Text Spacing.
W3C’s visual-presentation guidance also emphasizes that authors should not prevent text resizing or make readers scroll horizontally back and forth to follow a line in a full-screen desktop window. Responsive sizing and relative CSS units can help layouts accommodate magnification and user preferences; GOV.UK’s type-scale documentation describes its responsive approach.
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For print, use print-specific guidance
Screen CSS pixels and print points are different units and should not be treated as equivalent recommendations. UK Space Agency branding guidance recommends 12pt as a default for general-audience print and at least 16pt for print specifically aimed at people with visual impairment or older people. It also gives print guidance on leading and line length; consult the UK Space Agency branding guidelines for those print-specific recommendations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare layouts using more than a character count
- Effective size: Does the text remain easy to perceive in its particular typeface?
- Measure: Is the rendered line comfortable at each viewport, rather than only at one desktop width?
- Spacing: Do line height and paragraph separation support following the text?
- User control: Does the page tolerate zoom and text-spacing overrides without losing content or functionality?
- Writing system and content: Is character count meaningful for the script and material being compared?
No single combination wins for every reader. Choose a moderate measure and readable size, then validate the complete layout under the conditions in which it will be read.
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