The Sign Maker for the very best in Bespoke Signage:Help with choosing the correct Letter Height and Sign Size.

Signs Sizes and
Letter Heights

We are often asked - What size sign do I need?

It can be quite a task choosing the correct letter height and sign size. If you know the size you want your sign or plaque - its easy - just leave the rest to our designers.

However if you want a particular letter height or have the sign seen from a distance it can be a bit more difficult to choose the appropriate sign size. The starting point would be to know the distance you want the sign to be viewed from

As a rule of thumb - divide the distance you want the sign seen from in metres by 0.4. This gives you the letter height in mm for a sign that most people can read.

Upper Case Letter Size in mm
Distance Good Eyesight (/.6) Most people can read (/.4) Comfortable (/.2) Large Letters (/.15)
5m 8mm 12mm 25mm 33mm
10m 17mm 25mm 50mm 67mm
15m 25mm 37mm 75mm 100mm
20m 33mm 50mm 100mm 133mm
25m 42mm 62mm 125mm 167mm
30m 50mm 75mm 150mm 200mm
40m 67mm 100mm 200mm 267mm
50m 83mm 125mm 250mm 333mm

Once you have decided on letter height you can work out the sign size. Use the images below or ask our designers to do it for you. Don't forget to add space around the wording for a balanced sign.

These are only guidelines as it can depend on font used.

5mm high lettering

5mm letters

11 upper case letters and spaces to 50mm
15 lower case letters and spaces to 50mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance - 1m

Can be used for - laser engraved stainless steel, laser engraved laminate, coloured engraved aluminium, scratch engraved brass - no paint fill, printed vinyl signs, engraved corian,

Too small for - slate & stone signs, wooden signs, cut vinyl lettering, paint filled engraved brass & aluminium, engraved laminate


10mm high lettering

10mm letters

11 upper case letters and spaces to 100mm
15 lower case letters and spaces to 100mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance - 2m

Can still be see from 4m

Can be used for - wood, laser engraved stainless steel, laser engraved laminate, paint filled engraved brass & aluminium using fonts without serifs eg arial,  engraved laminate, printed vinyl signs, tactile signs.

Too small for - slate & stone signs, cut vinyl lettering


15mm high lettering

15mm letters

7 upper case letters to 100mm
11 lower case letters to 100mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance - 1.8m

Can still be see from 6m


20mm high lettering

20mm letters

5 upper case letter to 100mm
Just under 8 lower case letters to 100mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance - 4m

Can still be see from 8m


25mm high lettering

25mm letters

4 upper case letter to 100mm
6 lower case letters to 100mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance -5m

Can still be see from 10m


50mm high lettering

50mm letters


6 upper case letters to 300mm
9 lower case letters to 300mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance - 10m

Can still be see from 20m


75mm high lettering

75mm letters

4 upper case letters to 300mm
6 lower case letters to 300mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance -15m

Can still be see from 30m


100mm high lettering

100mm letters

3 upper case letters to 300mm
4-5 lower case letters to 300mm

Comfortable Viewing Distance - 20m

Can still be see from 40m


If all this seems too confusing just put the details of your sign onto the Design Your Sign form and ask our designers to work out letter size for you. At the same time the office will work out the cost.


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Made in the UK.          Our team at The Sign Maker looks forward to helping you choose the correct size for your sign.

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