Logo clearspace: breathing room rule (x-height)
Give logos breathing room with x-height clearspace rules that keep layouts clean at any size.
Breathing room that protects
Clearspace is empty margin equal to the height of the letter x around all sides. For a 400 pixel logo with 40 pixel x-height, keep 40 pixels clear on every edge across signs, pages and 6 inch screens.
Crowded layouts cut recall by 30 percent within 7 seconds of viewing crowded flyers. If you make your logo online, preview clearspace at 800 and 200 pixels wide to confirm nothing crowds the mark.
Exclusion zone in practice
Measure clearspace with the cap height for wordmarks over 200 pixels wide and x-height for icons. On 1050 pixel business cards, reserve 60 pixels top and sides so finger smudges avoid 90 percent of marks.
Show exclusion zones with dotted lines in brand guides across 20 pages for teams of 10. Enforce the rule for 5 years because consistent spacing lifts perceived value by 15 percent in buyer surveys.
- x-height on all sides
- 40 px guard at 400 px
- 60 px on business cards
- Dotted redline guides
- 30 percent recall lift