Great typography is often invisible. When body text is set well, readers move through paragraphs without noticing the type at all. When it is set poorly, they tire quickly, lose their place or abandon the page. The good news is that readability depends on a small set of decisions you can learn and apply to almost any project, from a blog post to a printed brochure.

Start with a sensible size

Body text needs to be large enough to read comfortably without zooming. On the web, a base size of around 16 pixels is a common starting point, though the right number depends on the typeface. Some fonts have a large x-height, which means their lowercase letters look bigger at the same nominal size, while others look smaller and may need a slight increase.

In print, the typical range for body copy is often described as somewhere between 9 and 12 points, but again it varies with the font, the paper and the audience. Always test a sample on the real device or printed page rather than trusting the number alone.

Give lines room to breathe

Line height, also called leading, controls the vertical space between lines. If it is too tight, ascenders and descenders crowd each other and the paragraph feels dense. If it is too loose, lines drift apart and the text no longer reads as a block.

For paragraphs of body text, many designers start between 1.4 and 1.6 times the font size and adjust from there. Longer lines usually benefit from more line height, while short lines can handle a little less. Headings usually need tighter spacing than body text because they are short and large.

Keep line length under control

Line length is one of the most overlooked factors. When lines run very long, the eye has trouble finding the start of the next line. When they are very short, reading becomes choppy.

A frequently cited guideline is roughly 45 to 75 characters per line, including spaces, for comfortable reading. You can control this on the web with a maximum width on your text container, often set in characters or in a unit that scales with the font. On narrow screens, lines will naturally be shorter, which is usually fine.

Contrast and color

Text needs enough contrast against its background. Pale gray text on white may look elegant in a mockup but can be tiring for many readers, especially in bright light or on low-quality screens. Pure black on pure white can also feel harsh for long reading; slightly softened tones sometimes help, as long as contrast stays comfortable.

If you are building a palette to support your text, our guide to building a color palette from scratch offers a practical method for choosing colors that work together.

Alignment, spacing and paragraphs

Left alignment is the safest choice for most body text in left-to-right languages, because it keeps consistent word spacing.
Justified text can look tidy but may create uneven gaps between words unless hyphenation and spacing are well controlled.
Paragraph spacing should be clear. Use either a blank line or an indent, rather than both.
Avoid long blocks of italic or all caps, which are harder to read in large amounts.

Choosing the typeface

For body text, pick a typeface with clear letterforms, open counters and even spacing. Many fonts look beautiful at display sizes but become tiring when used for paragraphs. Always read an actual paragraph in the font before committing. Remember to check how you are allowed to use the font; if you are unsure about terms, our article on reading a design asset license explains what to look for before you download.

A quick checklist

Is the size comfortable on the target device?
Is line height generous without making lines drift apart?
Do lines stay within a comfortable character count?
Is contrast clear for all readers?
Have you read a full paragraph, not just a headline, in the chosen font?

Frequently asked questions

Is bigger text always better? Not necessarily. Text that is too large can make lines break awkwardly and reduce the amount of content visible. The goal is comfort for the reader, not maximum size.

Should I use the same line height for headings and body text? Usually no. Large headings typically look better with tighter line height than paragraphs.

How do I know if my line length is right? Count the characters on a typical line, or simply read a full paragraph aloud and notice whether your eyes struggle to find the next line.

Steps

Set a comfortable base size: Start with a body size that reads easily on your target screen, commonly around 16 pixels on the web, and adjust to the typeface.
Adjust line height: Give lines breathing room, often between 1.4 and 1.6 times the font size for paragraphs of text.
Control line length: Aim for roughly 45 to 75 characters per line so the eye can return to the next line without effort.
Check contrast and test: Confirm that text and background are clearly distinguishable and read a real paragraph on the actual device.