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Measuring Text Sizes For Labels

Label FAQ

One of the most common labeling errors is using type that is too small on your label. So how do you determine the right size of type? And what font size is that?

The right size of type is determined by the size of the container (not the size of the label itself), and the placement is determined by the size of type used.

Principal Display Panel

Every package, whether it is a bar of soap, a box, or a bottle has a “principal display panel” (referred to as the “PDP“). The Principal Display Panel is defined as the part of the package or label that the consumer sees or examines when the product is displayed for retail sale. Generally, it’s the top or the front of the package.

The principal display panel is an imaginary space; the actual label may be larger or smaller than the PDP.  It is, however, the size of the PDP that determines the size of the text to be used.

Soap and Cosmetic Labeling questions

Determining the PDP Size

The first step is to determine the PDP size, which is calculated based on the total size of the package. The PDP size is defined in “square inches,” which is a space 1 inch wide by 1 inch high.

Rectangular Container

For rectangular packages (such as boxes or bars of soap), the calculation is easy; the PDP is equal to the size of one entire side of the rectangle.

If a soap bar is 2 inches by 3 inches and 1 inch thick, then one entire side is 2 inches by 3 inches. To calculate the square inches, multiply 2 inches by 3 inches and you get 6 square inches, which is the size of your PDP.

Round or Cylindrical Container

For a round or cylindrical container (such as a bottle), the calculation is a little different; it’s 40% of the entire surface. To calculate, measure around the bottle (the circumference) and the height of the bottle, not including the slope at the top (called the “shoulder”). Multiply those two numbers, and you get the total of the entire surface of the bottle. Multiply that by 40% and you have the PDP.

If you have a 4 oz. cosmo bottle, the circumference is about 5.5 inches and the height about 3.5 inches. Multiply those two numbers and you get a total surface area of 19.25 square inches. Multiply that by 40%, and you have a PDP of 7.7 square inches.

Very Small Containers

For a small container that holds less than 1/4 ounce (by weight) or 1/8 oz. (by volume), which is labeled with a tag or an attached card, then the PDP can be calculated based on the size of the tag or card to which the product is attached.

Type Size

As noted, the type size is determined by the size of the PDP. Another factor in determining the type size is what information you are displaying.

Net Contents

For the Net Contents (which is placed on the front of your actual label within the imaginary outline of the PDP), the type size must be:

  • PDP area less than 5 square inches: 1/16 inch type
  • PDP area of 5 to 25 square inches: 1/8 inch type

 

Ingredient Declaration

For the ingredient declaration (which is placed on your actual label somewhere OTHER THAN the imaginary outline of the PDP), the type size is determined by the TOTAL space available for labeling (not just the PDP):

  • Total labeling area of less than 12 square inches: 1/32 inch type
  • Total labeling area of 12 square inches or more: 1/16 inch type

Which Font Size?

The size of the type is determined by:

  • All upper case: size of upper case “L”
  • Upper and lower case: size of lower case “o”

Since fonts are measured in “points” (not inches) and different fonts have different-sized letters, the font size required may differ based on the font you are using. Here are some examples:

All Upper Case

  • 1/32 inch: Arial 3 pt, times 3 pt, Bodoni MT Condensed 4 pt
  • 1/16 inch: Arial 6 pt, Times 6 pt, Bodoni Condensed 8.5 pt
  • 1/8 inch: Arial 12 pt, Times 12 pt, Bodoni Condensed 14 pt

Lower and Upper Case

  • 1/32 inch: Arial 5 pt, times 5 pt, Bodoni MT Condensed 6 pt
  • 1/16 inch: Arial 9 pt, Times 10 pt, Bodoni Condensed 12 pt
  • 1/8 inch: Arial 16 pt, Times 18 pt, Bodoni Condensed 20 pt

Additional Net Contents Requirements

When it comes to the Net Contents, there are a few additional requirements pertaining to the size of type to be used:

  • The font needs to be bold.
  • There must be a space the size of an upper case “N” both above and below the net contents, separating it from other text.
  • There must be a space the size of 2 upper case “N’s” on either side of the net contents, separating it from other text.
  • The letters themselves can’t be more than 3 times taller than they are wide.
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Comments

21 responses to “Measuring Text Sizes For Labels”

  1. James CHIANG

    Why do I see some dietary supplements PDP between 20-23 sq.in using 1/25.4 high for the ingredient information?

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      Probably because they are not following the existing regulations.

      Reply
  2. William

    Help with my label its 3.5 high X 9 circumference

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      If the CONTAINER is 3.5 inches high and 9 inches around, that’s 31 square inches. The principal display panel is 40% of that = 12.6 square inches. Your net contents need to be 1/8 inch high, measuring the height of the lower case “o” for upper and lower case text, or the height of an uppercase “L” if you are using all uppercase text. Your ingredients must be at least 1/16 inch high, using those same letters to measure.

      Reply
  3. Chris Laffin

    How to get all ingredient and safety warning and instruction on a 1″ round label is impossible. Do you have any recommendations.

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      The text size requirements are based on the size of the principal display panel, which is based on the size of the container (not the label that is applied to it).

      If you have a very small container (like a lip balm pot), on which a 1 inch round label is the largest that will fit, you should consider using the top and the bottom for labels. You might be able to fit everything.

      If you still can’t fit all the required information the the actual container label and it is very small, you could use an attached card or put the product in a box. In that case, the PDP is the front of the card or box, and that is what would determine the font size.

      If the product is actually larger and you are just choosing to use a small label, then you would need to increase your label size so you can put all the required text on the product.

      Reply
  4. Sharon

    My rectangular box is 4 1/2 X 4 which equals 16 inch surface (12 inches in circumference wide and 16 inches in circumference in length) Is this the way to calculate the surface? Does that mean the font must be 1/16 for ingredients?

    The font for ingredients is very tiny. How do I measure the font or find a good example of size?

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      For a rectangular package (a box, for example), the PDP is measured by the width times the length of one of the largest sides. In the case of your box, that would be 4.5 inches x 4 inches = 19 square inches.

      At that size, the net content must be at least 1/8 inch in height and the ingredients must be at least 1/16 inch in height, measuring the lower case “o” of the font used. Both may be larger than the minimum.

      Fonts and printers vary, so the best way to check is to actually measure the text on printed label with a ruler. But, as a rough guideline, in upper and lower case, 1/8″ font would be about Arial 16 pt, Times New Roman 18pt or Bodoni 20pt; 1/16 inch font would be Arial 9pt, Times 10pt, and Bodoni 12pt.

      In my book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling, calculating the PDP size is covered on pages 51-54. Chapter 5, “General Rules for Product Labels,” gives a chart of various font sizes (pg 67).

      Page 99, in the section “Large Enough Type,” gives the size for the ingredient declaration. On your package, the total surface that could TAKE a label is well above 12 square inches, so the ingredient size text cannot be reduced.

      If you don’t have Soap and Cosmetic Labeling, it is available at Amazon here.

      Reply
  5. Tania

    Do the words “Do not use if you have nut allergy” , have to be on the Front Display panel?? Does it have to be on there at all?

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      Nut allergy warnings are required for food, but not for cosmetics. Certainly not required on the front panel!

      If you choose to put a nut allergy warning on your product, you could put it on any panel of the label.

      Reply
  6. Mickey

    Sorry, had to add something. I was searching the definition of PDP and came across the phrase Principle Display Surface. The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations defines them as:

    Principal Display Surface: in the case of a container that has a side or surface that is displayed or visible under normal or customary conditions of sale or use, the total area of such side or surface excluding the top, if any…

    Principle Display Panel: in the case of a container that is mounted on a display card, that part of the label applied to all or part of the principal display surface of the container or to all or part of the side of the display card that is displayed or visible under normal or customary conditions of sale or use or to both such parts of the container and the display card,
    in the case of an ornamental container, that part of the label applied to all or part of the bottom of the container or to all or part of the principal display surface or to all or part of a tag that is attached to the container, and
    in the case of all other containers, that part of the label applied to all or part of the principal display surface.

    This leads me to believe the PDP is just the label size, not the entire front package. Thanks in advance for the clarification.

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      The PDP is determined based on the size of the package, not the label. If the container is small and affixed to a display card, then the size of the display card is used to determine the size of the PDP. Following that, the size of the text required is determined based on the size of the PDP, not the size of the label.

      The directions for calculating the size of the PDP are given in the post.

      An example of how this would be applicable is a half-gallon jug. The principal display panel is calculated as the height x circumference x 40% (or about 45 square inches, depending on the handle size and placement). Since the PDP is between 25 to 100 square inches, the text size of the net contents would need to be at least 3/16 inch high (measuring the height of a lower case “o” when the text is upper and lower case).

      However, let’s say the actual LABEL is only 4 inches x 5 inches (or 20 square inches). The text size would still be determined by a PDP that is 25-100 square inches, not by the label which is less than 25 sq. in.

      In other words, the required text size isn’t reduced just because you choose to use a small label on a large package.

      Reply
  7. Mickey

    Hi Marie Gale, Can you define this statement further: The principal display panel (referred to as the “PDP”) is an imaginary space – the actual label may be larger or smaller than the PDP. It is, however, the size of the PDP that determines the size of the text to use.

    The USDA’s definition seems to me that it’s the size of the label since it says the PDP must contain mandatory labeling information:

    The term principal display panel as it applies to food in package form and as used in this part, means the part of a label that is most likely to be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under customary conditions of display for retail sale. The principal display panel shall be large enough to accommodate all the mandatory label information required to be placed thereon by this part with clarity and conspicuousness and without obscuring design, vignettes, or crowding.

    If I have a rectangular package of sliced meat that’s 5×8. The actual sticker label is 3×5. Which is the PDP? Is it the entire front panel, or just the area of the actual sticker label.

    I become confused each time I’m asked to send the PDP dimension. Thanks for your help.

    Reply
  8. Chiara

    The size of the type is determined by: All upper case: size of upper case “L”

    example
    16.9 FL OZ (1.06 PT) 500 mL
    Question
    I want to use all capital letters but I must use the lower case for the letter “m” in “mL”.
    This lower case “m” constrain to consider the statement an upper and lower case?

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      If you are using all uppercase, I believe you can use the uppercase “ML”.

      Reply
  9. krissy

    Hi its me again. I have purchased your book and i love it. thank you for all that you do for your fellow soapers. Above in one of your comments you state that the total label-able surface determines the txt size. in your book it says the pdp determines the txt size. which is correct?

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      The size of the net contents is determined by the size of the PDP (see page 76). The ingredient declaration must be 1/16th of an inch (regardless of the PDP size), EXCEPT, if the TOTAL surface area of the container that could be labeled is less than 12 square inches, the ingredient declaration may be 1/32nd of an inch high (see page 99).

      Reply
  10. krissy

    for net contents if my PDP is 9. the type is 1/8 which is 16 pt in arial correct?

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      If your net contents is in upper and lower case, then the type size should be at least 1/8 inch high (measuring the lower case “o”). That’s about arial 16 pt. But you should measure the output from your printer to be sure.

      If your net contents is all in upper case, measure the upper case “L.”

      If you are asking about the INGREDIENT DECLARATION, the font size should be 1/16 inch high (measuring the same letters).

      Reply
  11. krissy

    My bottle is 5 inches around and 4.5 inches tall. Which means surface area is 22.5. Times that by .40 gives me 9 PDP. So my ingredients should be 1/16which is 9pt in Ariel. That seems so large and i know I’ve seen some commercial products at shopping places who’s ingredients are in smaller Txt. Did do my math correct? Or am I missing something. Thanks for any help

    Reply
    1. Marie Gale

      Thank you for the comment. In reading it, I realized there was an error in the post.

      For the ingredient declaration, the text should be 1/16 inch high for containers with a total labelable surface area of 12 square inches or greater. Less than 12 square inches, the text may be 1/32 inch in height.

      Corrected March 1, 2015 to clarify that it’s not the size of the PDP, but the size of the total labelable surface area that determines the size of the ingredient declaration.

      Reply

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