DISTANCE CHART
How Far Can They See It?
The size of the logos and other information will need to increase in size as distance and travel speeds increase. This helpful chart provides guidance for selecting an appropriate size for building signage.
Please note that this is just a guide and additional factors can affect the readability of a sign such as viewing angle, obstructions, time of day, weather conditions, and the color and/or contrast of the building.
How to use this chart:
This chart takes the maximum viewing distance and calculates the time it takes to travel that distance at the various speeds listed. For example, 10” letter height has a maximum viewing distance of 400’. At 30mph, it takes 9.09 seconds to travel 400’.
Viewing Distance (ft)
| Letter Height | Optimal | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 10' | 40' |
| 2" | 20' | 80' |
| 3" | 30' | 120' |
| 4" | 40' | 160' |
| 5" | 50' | 200' |
| 6" | 60' | 240' |
| 7" | 70' | 280' |
| 8" | 80' | 320' |
| 9" | 90' | 360' |
| 10" | 100' | 400' |
| 11" | 110' | 440' |
| 12" | 120' | 480' |
| 13" | 130' | 520' |
| 14" | 140' | 560' |
| 15" | 150' | 600' |
| 16" | 160' | 640' |
| 17" | 170' | 680' |
| 18" | 180' | 720' |
| 19" | 190' | 760' |
| 20" | 200' | 800' |
| 21" | 210' | 840' |
| 22" | 220' | 880' |
| 24" | 240' | 960' |
| 26" | 260' | 1040' |
| 27" | 270' | 1080' |
| 28" | 280' | 1120' |
| 30" | 300' | 1200' |
| 32" | 320' | 1280' |
| 36" | 360' | 1440' |
| 42" | 420' | 1680' |
| 48" | 480' | 1920' |
Viewing Exposure Time (sec)
| Letter Height | 20 mph | 30 mph | 40 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1" | 1.36 | 0.91 | 0.68 | 0.55 | 0.45 |
| 2" | 2.73 | 1.82 | 1.36 | 1.09 | 0.91 |
| 3" | 4.09 | 2.73 | 2.05 | 1.64 | 1.36 |
| 4" | 5.45 | 3.64 | 2.73 | 2.18 | 1.82 |
| 5" | 6.82 | 4.55 | 3.41 | 2.73 | 2.27 |
| 6" | 8.18 | 5.45 | 4.09 | 3.27 | 2.73 |
| 7" | 9.55 | 6.36 | 4.77 | 3.82 | 3.18 |
| 8" | 10.91 | 7.27 | 5.45 | 4.36 | 3.64 |
| 9" | 12.27 | 8.18 | 6.14 | 4.91 | 4.09 |
| 10" | 13.64 | 9.09 | 6.82 | 5.45 | 4.55 |
| 11" | 15 | 10 | 7.5 | 6 | 5 |
| 12" | 16.36 | 10.91 | 8.18 | 6.55 | 5.45 |
| 13" | 17.73 | 11.82 | 8.86 | 7.09 | 5.91 |
| 14" | 19.09 | 12.73 | 9.55 | 7.64 | 6.36 |
| 15" | 20.45 | 13.64 | 10.23 | 8.18 | 6.82 |
| 16" | 21.82 | 14.55 | 10.91 | 8.73 | 7.27 |
| 17" | 23.18 | 15.45 | 11.59 | 9.27 | 7.73 |
| 18" | 24.55 | 16.36 | 12.27 | 9.82 | 8.18 |
| 19" | 25.91 | 17.27 | 12.95 | 10.36 | 8.64 |
| 20" | 27.27 | 18.18 | 13.64 | 10.91 | 9.09 |
| 21" | 28.64 | 19.09 | 14.32 | 11.45 | 9.55 |
| 22" | 30 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| 24" | 32.73 | 21.82 | 16.36 | 13.09 | 10.91 |
| 26" | 35.45 | 23.64 | 17.73 | 14.18 | 11.82 |
| 27" | 36.82 | 24.55 | 18.41 | 14.73 | 12.27 |
| 28" | 38.18 | 25.45 | 19.09 | 15.27 | 12.73 |
| 30" | 40.91 | 27.27 | 20.45 | 16.36 | 13.64 |
| 32" | 43.64 | 29.09 | 21.82 | 17.45 | 14.55 |
| 36" | 49.09 | 32.73 | 24.55 | 19.64 | 16.36 |
| 42" | 57.27 | 38.18 | 28.64 | 22.91 | 19.09 |
| 48" | 65.45 | 43.64 | 32.73 | 26.18 | 21.82 |