Level AASince WCAG 2.1
1.4.12 Text Spacing
Guideline 1.4: Distinguishable – Content is easy to see and hear: contrast, size, spacing.
What does the rule require?
People can increase spacing without text being cut off or overlapping: line height 1.5 times, paragraph spacing 2 times, letter spacing 0.12 times and word spacing 0.16 times the font size.
How to get it right
Do not give text containers a fixed height. Use min-height instead of height and let boxes grow with their content.
Who benefits most?
- People with low vision
- People with dyslexia
Official wording
This page explains the rule in simple words. Only the original W3C text is normative.
- “Understanding Text Spacing” at W3C (external site)
- Techniques in the WCAG Quick Reference (external site)