Add or subtract space between the letters that make up a word with CSS

To add or subtract space between the letters that make up a word, use the letter-spacing CSS property. This property controls the horizontal spacing between characters in text.

Syntax

letter-spacing: normal | length | initial | inherit;

Property Values

  • normal - Default spacing between letters
  • length - Specific spacing value (px, em, rem, etc.)
  • initial - Sets to default value
  • inherit - Inherits from parent element

Example: Adding Letter Spacing

<html>
   <head>
      <style>
         .spaced-text {
            letter-spacing: 4px;
         }
         .tight-text {
            letter-spacing: -1px;
         }
         .normal-text {
            letter-spacing: normal;
         }
      </style>
   </head>
   <body>
      <p class="normal-text">Normal letter spacing</p>
      <p class="spaced-text">Increased letter spacing</p>
      <p class="tight-text">Decreased letter spacing</p>
   </body>
</html>

Different Units Example

<html>
   <head>
      <style>
         .px-spacing { letter-spacing: 3px; }
         .em-spacing { letter-spacing: 0.2em; }
         .rem-spacing { letter-spacing: 0.1rem; }
      </style>
   </head>
   <body>
      <p class="px-spacing">Spacing with pixels (3px)</p>
      <p class="em-spacing">Spacing with em units (0.2em)</p>
      <p class="rem-spacing">Spacing with rem units (0.1rem)</p>
   </body>
</html>

Comparison Table

Value Effect Use Case
Positive values (2px, 0.1em) Increases spacing Headlines, emphasis
Negative values (-1px, -0.05em) Decreases spacing Condensed text
normal Default spacing Regular body text

Conclusion

The letter-spacing property provides precise control over character spacing. Use positive values to spread letters apart and negative values to bring them closer together for various design effects.

Updated on: 2026-03-15T23:18:59+05:30

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