What font size should I use for a teleprompter?

The one you can read comfortably from your real recording position without leaning in or squinting. Test at that distance, starting too large and shrinking until it gets uncomfortable, then go one step back.

How big should teleprompter text be for my distance?

The farther you are, the larger it must be. There is no exact number for every screen and pair of eyes, so test on your own setup instead of trusting a chart.

Does bigger text make a teleprompter easier to use?

Up to a point. Larger text is easier to read but fits fewer words per line and scrolls more, so a very large size can make you lose your place or rush.

Should teleprompter text be light on dark or dark on light?

Either works if the contrast is high. Choose what you read comfortably in your room, and avoid low-contrast grey text.

What font size should a teleprompter use? How to size the text for your distance

Published October 18, 2026 · 5 min read

There is no single best teleprompter font size, because the right size depends on how far your eyes are from the screen and how big the screen is. The reliable way to choose is to test: sit or stand exactly where you will record, set the text so you can read it comfortably without leaning in or squinting, then check that your eyes still look steady when you read. Bigger text is easier to read at a distance, but it fits fewer words on each line and makes the script scroll more.

This applies to any prompter: a phone, a tablet, a laptop or a glass rig. The steps below use no special software.

Why is there no standard size?

Text size on a screen is only half the story. What your eye sees is the size of the letters compared with the distance. The same text that is easy to read from 40 centimetres on a laptop is too small from two metres away on the same screen.

Vendors of prompter hardware give rules of thumb, for example matching the screen size in inches to the viewing distance in feet. Treat them as a starting point and confirm on your own setup, because eyesight, lighting and the screen all change the answer.

Step 1: set up the way you will really record

Test in the final position, not at your desk with the screen close. Sit or stand where you will record, with the camera where it will be and the screen where it will be.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses when you film, wear them for the test too.

Diagram: five steps to size teleprompter text — test from your real position, read without leaning in, keep lines short, check contrast, record a short test

Step 2: make it readable without leaning in

Start too big, then shrink. Reduce the size step by step until you notice yourself leaning forward or narrowing your eyes, then go one step back up.
Read a full paragraph aloud, not a single line. A size that works for a headline can tire you after a minute.
Leave a margin for error: your face, light and energy change between rehearsal and the real take.
If you must keep text small to fit the screen, move the screen closer rather than squinting, and keep it right under the lens so your eyes still look near the camera.

Step 3: keep lines short

A narrow column is easier to read than a full-width block, because your eyes do not sweep left and right across the screen and so look more steady on camera. A few words per line also help you keep your place when you glance back.

If a line wraps awkwardly, adjust the width or break the sentence in the script. Short sentences, one idea per line, read better at any size.

Step 4: check contrast and spacing

Use light text on a dark background, or the reverse, but keep the contrast high. Low-contrast grey on a bright screen is the usual reason people squint.
Give lines some space. Cramped lines make you lose your place when the text scrolls.
Lower the screen brightness if the glow shows in your glasses or on the lens, and raise it if you struggle to read in a bright room.

Step 5: record a 20-second test

Record a short clip and watch it. Look at where your eyes are, whether you lean in, and whether you sound like you are reading. If your eyes drift or you speed up to chase the words, try a larger size or a shorter line, and slow the scroll.

Fix one thing at a time. Change the size, test again, then change the width.

Where Talkzy helps

Talkzy for Mac is a script bar that hangs from the MacBook’s notch, or sits top-centre on a display without one, and stays above other windows without taking focus. It is on the Mac App Store for macOS 14 or later. Its settings are made for this kind of tuning.

In Settings, on the Overlay tab, set the text size (14 to 36 pt), the width (360 to 900 pt), the number of visible lines (2 to 6) and the background opacity (60 to 100 %).
Turn on the highlight of the current line to keep your place.
Pick which display it appears on, and drag the bar if you want it somewhere else.
The bar and these settings are free; voice-follow is free for 3 sessions a day, and Pro removes the limit.

The iPhone and iPad app is coming soon to the App Store.

Frequently asked questions

What font size should I use for a teleprompter?: The one you can read comfortably from your real recording position without leaning in or squinting. Test at that distance, starting too large and shrinking until it gets uncomfortable, then go one step back.
How big should teleprompter text be for my distance?: The farther you are, the larger it must be. There is no exact number for every screen and pair of eyes, so test on your own setup instead of trusting a chart.
Does bigger text make a teleprompter easier to use?: Up to a point. Larger text is easier to read but fits fewer words per line and scrolls more, so a very large size can make you lose your place or rush.
Should teleprompter text be light on dark or dark on light?: Either works if the contrast is high. Choose what you read comfortably in your room, and avoid low-contrast grey text.