Letters - Proper setup for Billboards

Letter Visibility Chart
Viewing Distance in Feet with Minimum Required Letter Height in Inches

50 ft 2” high letters

100 ft 4” high letters

250 ft 10” high letters

360 ft (city block) 16” high letters

500 ft 22” high letters

750 ft 33”  high letters

1000 ft 43” high letters

1320 ft (1/4 mile) 57" high letters

Calculations based on externally (or naturally) lit sign with all upper case Helvetica letters utilizing optimal negative space. Factors that may affect required letter size are: color scheme, font selection, traffic and weather conditions, or sign standoff.


This letter visibility chart has been made based upon information provided by Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Penn State University and the United States Sign Council (USSC).