Level AAWCAG 2.1

1.4.12 Text Spacing

No loss of content or functionality occurs when a user sets line height to at least 1.5 times the font size, spacing following paragraphs to at least 2 times the font size, letter spacing to at least 0.12 times the font size, and word spacing to at least 0.16 times the font size.

Last reviewed: September 9, 2026

Understanding 1.4.12

Many people with low vision or dyslexia rely on browser extensions or user style sheets to increase text spacing for readability. If a site's layout breaks (text overlapping, getting clipped, or containers failing to expand) when that spacing is applied, those users lose access to content even though the assistive spacing itself is working correctly.

How to Meet It

Avoid fixed-height containers around text (use min-height instead of height, and let containers grow with their content), avoid overflow: hidden on text containers that would clip expanded text, and test the page with a tool such as the W3C's text-spacing bookmarklet that applies the four specified spacing values, confirming nothing overlaps, gets cut off, or becomes unusable.

Code Examples

INCORRECT

.card {
  height: 120px;
  overflow: hidden; /* clips text once spacing is increased */
}

CORRECT

.card {
  min-height: 120px;
  overflow: visible;
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the site itself need to provide spacing controls to pass this?

No. The criterion is about the layout not breaking when the user applies their own spacing overrides (via a browser extension, user style sheet, or a testing bookmarklet), not about the site providing spacing controls itself.

Are testers expected to type in the exact 1.5x/2x/0.12x/0.16x values by hand?

No. In practice, testers apply a standard tool, such as the text-spacing bookmarklet referenced in the WCAG Understanding documents, that injects exactly these values via a style sheet. The point is verifying the layout tolerates that level of spacing increase, not manually reproducing it.

Related Success Criteria

1.4.1 Use of Color 1.4.2 Audio Control 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)1.4.4 Resize Text

Quick Facts

Criterion1.4.12
LevelAA
IntroducedWCAG 2.1

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