Vinyl Lettering

Sizing & specification

How letter height is measured

Letter height is affected by different combinations of capitals, lowercase, tails of y p q etc - please read below

The height you select is based on the first Capital Letter or tallest letter if no capitals A name with descenders like p, g or y will affect the overall size. This means that you will get a Bigger Graphic for your money than other suppliers that base on overall size. Please bear and mind the measurements shown are an estimate and may vary due to technical limitations and reasons.

Lowercase letters that hang below the line (descenders) or rise above it (ascenders) are included in the Overall Size estimate.
The one exception: text with no capital letters at all, and no ascenders or descenders, e.g. "cave man", has nothing for us to measure against, so it will show a measurement shorter than selected - it will in this case be sent at the height selected

The Select dropdown is based on Capital Letter height

Every font handles height differently. The same "100 mm" selection produces a taller-looking capital in one typeface than another, so rather than measuring the whole design, we measure from the baseline (where letters sit) to the top of a capital letter. That's what the size you choose in the designer.

The four examples below show how that plays out depending on what you type.

Example 1: all capitals

100 mm target

baseline

MOON BAY

Every letter is a capital, so the full height reads cleanly at the selected 100 mm.

Example 2: a capital, with descenders

100 mm target

baseline

Skipper

The capital S is what's measured, and sits at 100 mm. The tails on the p's hang below the baseline as part of the font's normal design. This doesn't reduce the letter height, it just means the finished decal extends a little further down than the capital alone.

Example 3: a capital, no descenders

100 mm target

baseline

Sunrise

Same as above. The capital S sets the 100 mm reference, and the lowercase letters that follow simply sit at their natural, shorter height, exactly as they would in print.

Example 4: the rare exception

100 mm target

baseline

cave man

!!!"cave man" has no capital letters, and none of its letters rise or descend, so there's nothing for us to measure a capital height against. The actual letters come out shorter than selected, typically 50–75% of the chosen height depending on the font. This combination is rare in practice: most names include a capital or at least one tall/descending letter. But if your text is entirely lowercase like this, capitalise it ("Cave Man") or if you are happy by default, we will send it at the overall letter height selected, but note it will be longer and taller than the estimate displayed in this case.

Arched, wave & bulge-top lettering

Height is measured the same way as straight lettering above (excluding shadows or outlines), it's still the capital letter's height that the selected size refers to.

Convex & concave lettering

Here the selected height refers to the overall height of the curved design rather than an individual letter (excluding shadows or outlines), because of the curve, the finished length can vary more than with straight text.

Shadows & outlines

The quoted height is always based on the front, non-shadowed lettering. Add a shadow or outline and the finished decal will measure larger overall than the number you selected, since the effect sits outside the letter itself.

Letter length

The length shown in the designer is an estimate. Character widths vary a lot between fonts, so identical text can come out noticeably longer or shorter depending on the typeface you pick. If your lettering needs to fit a specific space, tell us and we'll confirm the exact finished length before you order.

Background preview

The background colour shown behind your text in the designer is for contrast while you work. It isn't part of your order. Every design ships as pre-spaced, self-adhesive cut vinyl on application tape, ready to fit. Need it mounted on a coloured backing panel instead? Ask us for a quote.

Using the designer

Type your text into the designer and select your letter height.
Choose your font and vinyl colour.
Add an outline, shadow, or other effect if you'd like one.
If you've added a shadow, use the 8-direction selector to set exactly where it falls.

Custom made, non-returnable. Every order is cut to your exact specification, so we're unable to accept returns once it's made. If you have a specific size or space to fit, or just want a second opinion before ordering, contact us first. We're always happy to check.

We want your lettering to be exactly right, same as you do. If anything here is unclear, or you're just not sure which option to pick, get in touch and we'll help you get it right first time.