Resource guide
1.4.12 Text Spacing
Content must not break when users override text spacing properties such as line height, letter spacing, and word spacing.
By Calling All Minds·Last updated April 2026
Success criterion
Conformance level
Legal standard — required for EAA compliance.
What it means
Some people, particularly those with dyslexia or low vision, set their own text spacing preferences using browser extensions or custom stylesheets. If a site uses CSS that overrides these preferences or breaks when they are applied, those users lose access to content.
The criterion defines specific spacing values that content must support without breaking: line height at least 1.5 times the font size, letter spacing at least 0.12 times the font size, word spacing at least 0.16 times the font size, and paragraph spacing at least 2 times the font size.
In practice
Apply the bookmarklet from the WCAG 2.2 documentation that tests these exact spacing values. Run it on every key page and check nothing breaks: no text is clipped, hidden, or overlapping.
Use flexible container heights. Avoid fixed heights on elements that contain text. Use min-height and allow elements to expand.
Avoid overflow: hidden on text containers unless the text truly cannot overflow.
Common failures
- Fixed-height navigation items that clip text when letter spacing is increased
- Card components with
overflow: hiddenthat cut off text when line height is increased - Tooltips or dropdown items that break layout when word spacing is applied
AXS Audit
AXS Audit checks your site against 1.4.12 and flags issues your team can act on straight away. It covers criteria that automated scanners often miss.