Understanding the Key Differences Between Kerning, Tracking and Leading in Typography

Typography shapes how we read and understand text. When you look at a well-designed page, the spacing between letters and lines feels natural and easy on the eyes. But achieving that balance requires attention to three important concepts: kerning, tracking, and leading. These terms often confuse beginners and even some experienced designers because they all deal with spacing, yet each controls a different aspect of text layout.

This post breaks down the differences between kerning, tracking, and leading. You will learn what each term means, how they affect readability and aesthetics, and when to use them effectively in your design projects.

What Is Kerning?

Kerning adjusts the space between two individual letters. It is a fine-tuning process that fixes awkward gaps or collisions between specific letter pairs. For example, the letters "A" and "V" often look too far apart if left at default spacing because of their shapes. Kerning brings them closer to create a more balanced visual flow.

Why Kerning Matters

• Improves readability by preventing distracting gaps or overlaps.

• Enhances visual harmony in logos, headlines, and large text.

• Creates professional-looking typography by addressing letter pair issues.

  
  

How Kerning Works

Kerning is applied selectively to letter pairs that need adjustment. It does not affect the spacing of the entire word or paragraph. Designers often adjust kerning manually or use software tools that suggest kerning pairs based on font metrics.

Example of Kerning

Consider the word "AVOID." Without kerning, the space between "A" and "V" might look too wide. Proper kerning reduces that space, making the word appear more cohesive.

What Is Tracking?

Tracking controls the overall spacing between letters in a block of text. Unlike kerning, which targets specific pairs, tracking applies uniformly across a word, sentence, or paragraph.

Why Tracking Is Important

• Adjusts text density to fit design needs.

• Improves legibility in different contexts, such as headlines or body text.

• Creates mood or tone by tightening or loosening letter spacing.

  
  

When to Use Tracking

• To make text more readable at small sizes by increasing spacing.

• To create a compact look by reducing spacing in headlines.

• To fill or reduce white space in a layout without changing font size.

  
  

Example of Tracking

If you increase tracking on the word "TYPOGRAPHY," the letters will spread out evenly, making the word appear airy. Decreasing tracking tightens the letters, giving a denser look.

What Is Leading?

Leading refers to the vertical space between lines of text. It affects how easy it is to follow lines when reading paragraphs or blocks of text.

Why Leading Is Crucial

• Enhances readability by preventing lines from crowding.

• Controls the overall texture of a page or screen.

• Balances the white space around text blocks.

  
  

How Leading Works

Leading is measured from baseline to baseline of consecutive lines. The default leading is usually 120% of the font size, but designers adjust it based on the font style, line length, and reading context.

Example of Leading

If the font size is 12 points, the default leading might be 14.4 points. Increasing leading to 18 points adds more space between lines, making the text easier to scan. Reducing leading to 12 points causes lines to overlap, making reading difficult.

Close-up view of printed text showing letter spacing and line spacing

Close-up view of printed text showing letter spacing and line spacing

Key Differences Summarized

Aspect	Kerning	Tracking	Leading
Controls	Space between two letters	Space between all letters	Space between lines of text
Scope	Specific letter pairs	Entire word, sentence, or block	Vertical spacing between lines
Purpose	Fix awkward gaps or collisions	Adjust overall text density	Improve readability of paragraphs
Applied to	Individual letter pairs	Whole text sections	Lines of text

Practical Tips for Using Kerning, Tracking, and Leading

• Kerning: Always check kerning in large text like logos or headlines. Small adjustments can make a big difference.

• Tracking: Use tracking to improve readability in body text or to create stylistic effects in titles. Avoid extreme tracking in long paragraphs.

• Leading: Increase leading for long blocks of text to reduce eye strain. Tighten leading for short text or captions to save space.

  
  
  
  

How These Spacing Elements Affect Design

Good typography balances kerning, tracking, and leading to create a smooth reading experience. Poor spacing can make text look amateurish or hard to read. For example:

• Too much kerning can cause letters to appear disconnected.

• Too little tracking makes text feel cramped and difficult to scan.

• Insufficient leading causes lines to overlap, confusing readers.

  
  

Designers often experiment with these settings to find the right balance for each project.

Tools to Adjust Kerning, Tracking, and Leading

Most design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign offer controls for kerning, tracking, and leading. Here’s how you can find them:

• Kerning: Usually adjusted in the character panel, often with a dropdown or numeric input.

• Tracking: Also found in the character panel, labeled as "tracking" or "letter spacing."

• Leading: Located in the paragraph or character panel, sometimes called "line spacing."

  
  

Using these tools, you can preview changes in real time and fine-tune your typography.

Final Thoughts on Typography Spacing

Mastering kerning, tracking, and leading is essential for anyone working with text. These spacing elements shape how your message is perceived and understood. By paying attention to the details of letter and line spacing, you can create designs that are not only beautiful but also easy to read.