When designing content for display on a digital sign, typography is often overlooked. In other words, most people do not think twice about the fonts they are using. Your choice of font says a lot about how you want your audience to perceive your brand, and it can make a huge difference on how legible your content is from certain distances. In this article, we will be discussing the recommended font sizes and types for digital signage.
Serif vs. Sans-Serif
Two of the most important font styles to know are serif and sans-serif fonts. On some font styles, like Georgia, you may notice small decorative barbs attached to ends of the letters.
A typeface with any decorative flourishes at the end of the letter is called a “serif” by graphic designers. Its counterparts are called sans-serif fonts, which do not contain serifs or decorative flair, and appear plain when compared to the serif fonts.
Sans-serif fonts are best used for short snippets of text, as this looks simpler, cleaner, and it does not detract from the message of the text. Often, digital signage content is best displayed with sans-serif fonts, as the audience can view the text quickly and easily.
Here are some examples of popular sans-serif fonts:
- Roboto
- Arial
- Calibri
Here are some examples of popular serif fonts:
- Georgia
- Garamond
- Times New Roman
Screen & Font Size
When determining font size, the legibility of your content is imperative. Very seldom does it make sense to have a large block of text on digital signage, as this requires a closer viewing distance and longer attention span.
It’s important to note that legibility is not the same thing as visibility. Visibility is how easy it is to see that there is an image on a sign, but legibility is your actual ability to read the content on a display.
Font Size
There’s not much point in digital signage if no one can read it, so ensure that your text size is optimized for the distance viewers will see your screen from.
Distance from Screen Font Size:
- 10ft – 20 pt
- 15 ft – 34 pt
- 20 ft – 50 pt
- 25 ft – 66 ptt
- 35 ft – 100 pt
- 50 ft – 133 pt
- 75 ft – 200 pt
Screen Size & Distance
How far away is your audience going to be from the screen? Choose the right sized screen for the best viewing experience.
When selecting your screen size the first thing that should be decided is how many feet away from the screen are you expecting the viewer to be? The answer to that question will help you in choosing the right size for your screen.
For example, if your viewer is expected to be no more than 12 feet away from the screen then you would want to choose at the minimum a 48″ screen. However if you expect your viewer to be closer to the screen such as 6 feet away you would choose something smaller such as a 32″ screen.
Screen Size Distance from Screen:
- 32″ – 6 ft
- 43″ – 10 ft
- 48″ – 12 ft
- 55″ – 16 ft
- 65″ – 18 ft
Considering Point Of View
Another thing you might want to consider when choosing your screen is the point of view from your client. While we may think we have a larger view angle and ability to see more than what is in front of us, we are actually limited to only 20°.
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