Articles > Type Size Choice

The appropriate type size depends on many factors but there are some general type size guidelines to follow to insure readability for the main audience of your publication.

How to Choose Type Size

• In general, the older your target audience, the larger the type size should be for comfortable reading.

• For a predominantly older readership of 65 and over or for audiences with known visual handicaps, set body text in sizes from 14 to 18 points.

• Use an 11 to 12 point type size for readers in the 40-65 age range.

• For most general audiences, body copy type size at 10 or 11 points is good.

• For beginning readers of any age, a larger type size around 14 points is good.

• Keep headlines between 14 and 30 points in most cases, keeping in mind that the closer in size to the body text, the harder it is to distinguish headlines from other text.