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Word count on signs. Recommendation for road signs, under 5?

Dennis Schaub

Dennis Schaub

New Member
We typically encourage customers to keep the number of words on signs along roadways under 5. I once read that every word over that decreases readability significantly. But I can't remember where I read it now. I would love to actually not the actual source to customers. Has anyone else read this?

Thanks!
Dennis
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
On billboards, who cares ?? We're not allowed to do them, but it generally depends on the size of the sign and how far away people are viewing. When doing baseball homerun signs that are 8' x 16' we try to keep it between 7 and 9 words at no less than 6" to 8"
 
2B

2B

Active Member
we use this chart for references and reduce the amount of information on a sign

1692112037278.png
 
N

netsol

Active Member
Gino said:
On billboards, who cares ?? We're not allowed to do them, but it generally depends on the size of the sign and how far away people are viewing. When doing baseball homerun signs that are 8' x 16' we try to keep it between 7 and 9 words at no less than 6" to 8"
Click to expand...
and obviously speed is important as well
 
Dennis Schaub

Dennis Schaub

New Member
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I am not looking for a "letter height" recommendation, but more the amount of information that is reasonable on a sign. I found the article I was referring to, it was in an old USSC book entitles sign legibility.
 
gnubler

gnubler

Active Member
Gino said:
On billboards, who cares ??
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I've seen more than one billboard that was so busy and packed with info, it was unreadable while driving. One looked like a magazine ad for tractors, showing eight different models with a bunch of text below each image...couldn't even read it.

Same applies for basic 24x18" yard signs. They're everywhere, usually advertising lawncare/construction services, and some are crammed with so much info they're unreadable from 50ft away. These are probably the ones people are ordering online themselves, who decide to play graphic designer at Vistaprint.
 
2B

2B

Active Member
Dennis Schaub said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I am not looking for a "letter height" recommendation, but more the amount of information that is reasonable on a sign. I found the article I was referring to, it was in an old USSC book entitles sign legibility.
Click to expand...

Link?
 
FlorenceC

FlorenceC

Coffee first. Your problems later.
The average driver will only have about 5 to 10 seconds to view your billboard design, read any text, and comprehend the message. In those 5 to 10 seconds, the driver could also be glancing from the billboard, to the road, and back to the billboard again depending on the severity of traffic.
Click to expand...

This doesn't directly answer your question, but I think it's a good guideline to follow. Of course, reading comprehension speed differs from person to person, but less is more. I was always taught that, if catering to the lowest common denominator, to gauge it based on spoken reading time.
 
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