Character-related factors

Intercharacter space

The minimum intercharacter space values recommended in DIN 1450 were revised in 2024. They are a function of type width and, for sans-serif typefaces, range from 67% to 72% of type width for body text, from 70% to 75% for consultation text and from 73% to 78% of type width for signage text. For serif typefaces, recommended intercharacter spaces vary between 90% and 105%. Serifs should not touch one another.

Intercharacter space is measured between two vertical stems of adjacent lower-case letters, e.g., two n’s. Type width, in contrast, is measured between the two vertical stems of the same letter »n«.

While the intercharacter spaces of serif typefaces and dynamic sans-serif typefaces are frequently adequate for body text, those of static and geometric sans-serif typefaces are generally too narrow and thereby adversely affect legibility. For signage text, in particular, their intercharacter spaces should be increased to the minimum DIN values.

However, intercharacter spaces that are too big (as with fully justified text, for example) can also reduce legibility.

In visual terms, all spaces between individual characters should look the same size. Spaces between words should be twice the size of those between letters.

For light text on a dark background, intercharacter space should be increased by a further 2%¹ .