Leading (pronounced "ledding") is the vertical space between lines of text, measured from baseline to baseline. It's named after the thin strips of lead that typesetters once inserted between lines of metal type to add spacing.
‍
In digital design, leading is usually expressed as a value in pixels, points, or as a unitless multiple of the font size, often called line height. Comfortable leading makes blocks of text easier to scan and read.

Why does leading matter?

Leading that's too tight makes lines feel cramped and can cause readers to lose their place when jumping to the next line. Leading that's too loose breaks the visual connection between lines and makes paragraphs feel disjointed.

As a general rule of thumb, body text reads well with leading set to about 120–150% of the font size. Longer line lengths and smaller text usually benefit from a bit more leading, while headlines often use tighter leading.

Similar