[FAQ]

Hi,

I’m a communications officer for a government agency in Wellington, and we’re currently working to ensure all of our public communications meet high accessibility standards.

We’ve handled the basics like alt-text for images, but now we’re focusing on the typography of our email newsletters. I’m looking for a clear set of best practices to follow. For example, what are the safest fonts to use? What is the absolute minimum font size we should be using for body copy? And what are the rules around text alignment and line spacing for maximum readability?

Our goal is to make our emails as easy to read as possible for all users, including those with visual impairments.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Jeff Bullas]

A critically important topic. Accessible design is not an option; it’s a requirement for effective communication.

Short Answer: To ensure accessibility in email typography, you must use a simple, widely-supported font at a sufficient size and contrast level. The key is to prioritize readability and clarity over stylistic flair, focusing on adequate font size, line spacing, and left-aligned text.

The goal is to create an effortless reading experience for all subscribers, including those who use screen readers or have visual impairments.

First, let’s talk about your font choice. You should use standard, widely-supported sans-serif fonts for all body text. Fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana are excellent choices because they are designed for screen readability and are available on virtually every device. Avoid using custom or highly decorative fonts, as they may not render correctly in all email clients and can be difficult for people with reading disabilities like dyslexia to parse.

Next is font size, which is one of the most common accessibility failures. Your body text should have an absolute minimum font size of 16px. Anything smaller becomes very difficult to read on high-resolution mobile screens. For your headlines, aim for at least 22px to create a clear visual hierarchy.

The layout of your text is also crucial. Your line spacing should be generous, at least 1.5 times your font size, to prevent the text from feeling cramped. Crucially, all of your main body text must be left-aligned. While centered text can be used for short headlines, large blocks of centered or justified text are significantly harder to read and can be a major barrier for users with dyslexia.

Finally, you must ensure high contrast between your text colour and the background colour or image. The safest combination is pure black text on a plain white background. If you use other colours, you must use a contrast-checking tool to ensure you meet at least the WCAG AA standard. Never place text directly over a busy background image without a solid colour block behind the text to guarantee readability.

Cheers,
Jeff

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