How Much Space Between House Numbers Should You Have?

Installing new numbers for your house is a great way to accent the colors of your abode. But if you have never done it before, you'll want to make sure that they are spaced properly. If you are not sure how much room to leave, this post can help you. We researched this topic in depth so that you'll be certain that the space you leave will be correct.

The house numbers need to be evenly spaced apart so that they are readable. They should be at least half an inch apart. If your home sits far back from the street, this spacing should be adjusted so that they are farther apart. In addition to the spacing, you should also consider the design, size, and color of the numbers.

Now that we know how much room to leave between house numbers, we'll look at why this is important. You might also be wondering how tall the numbers should be or where house numbers should be placed. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what our research has uncovered.

House number 75 mounted on a gray wall, How Much Space Between House Numbers Should You Have?

What You Should Know About The Numbers On Your House

House numbers should be easy to find and easy to read. This is not only so your postal carrier can find your front door. It can also mean a matter of life or death.

Emergency personnel need to know where they are going when they are called. Imagine being a policeman or paramedic on an urgent call, only to have to waste precious time trying to determine which house they need to enter.

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A black frame for a house number in front of a house

Ensuring that there is half an inch of space between the numbers is important, but it is only part of what you should be keeping in mind. The numbers need to be bold and visible to anyone who is called to your home. 

Number Design

You should only use Arabic numerals for your house numbers. These digits are bold and easy to read. Other fonts can be a little more difficult to read, especially from a distance.

Avoid using house numbers that are written out. While having the numbers written out might look appealing to you, they will certainly take more time to decipher from the roadway.

You will also want to display the numbers horizontally (in other words, with the numbers arranged naturally from left to right). This, again, makes them easy to read and is more uniform with the universal building code recommendations.

Number Size

The size of the numbers is important. They need to be visible from the street. Later in this post, we'll discuss the minimum size recommendations.

Universal building codes recommend that the numbers be at least 4 inches high. The stroke width is recommended to be at least half an inch.

Number Color

The color of the numbers should be in sharp contrast to the background they are placed against. If you have a tan house and install tan numbers, no one would be able to see them. But if you use black numbers against a tan background, those numbers will jump out at you. 

The most visible way to display numbers is to put white digits on a black background. This can be done by having a signpost made and installed on your home. Paint the signpost black and install white numbers onto it.

Experts also say to avoid any numbers made from bronze or brass. Though you might like the look of this material, they offer only a minimal amount of visibility after dark.

How Tall Should The Numbers On Your House Be?

House number nineteen mounted on a wall

When you are at the hardware store, you'll probably see house numbers of varying sizes. You might be inclined to think that the size selection is based on your own personal taste. But there is a very practical reason why some sets of house numbers are bigger than others.

Your house numbers should be visible from the street. Just how far the numbers are from the road will determine how tall they need to be. Experts say that for the house numbers to be readable, you will need to follow these requirements:

  •  If your home is less than 70 feet from the road, the numbers should be 3 inches high or larger.
  •  If your home is between 70 feet and 110 feet from the road, the numbers should be 4 inches high or larger.
  •  If your home is between 111 feet and 132 feet from the road, the numbers should be 5 inches high or larger.
  •  If your home is between 133 feet and 160 feet from the road, the numbers should be 6 inches high or larger.
  •  If your home is between 161 feet and 300 feet from the road, the numbers should be 8 inches high or larger.
  •  If your home is 301 feet or more from the road, the numbers should be 10 inches high or larger.

Where Should The Numbers On Your House Be Placed?

Stainless steel number fourteen house number on the door trim

Picking the correct spot for the numbers to be installed on your home will not be limited to just one place. Some homes will have many great locations for the numbers to be placed. For you to determine where yours should go, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Numbers should be visible from the roadway and should be at eye level or higher when looking at them from the street. Numbers should be visible after dark, as well. Placing them in an area where the porch light will illuminate them is also important.

Commonly, house numbers are installed next to, or above, the front entryway. This puts them above eye level and within the area of the porch light's shine.

You will sometimes find house numbers above the garage, especially on homes that are further from the street. A well-placed yard light will make numbers installed here visible when you need them to be.

A black powder coated house number

Can You Change A Street Address?

The street address for your home was assigned for a reason. It will be a difficult thing to change with your local government unless you have a valid reason to do so.

Generally, there are a minimal number of legitimate reasons for the address on a building to change. If you can prove the wrong address was assigned, you should be able to get it changed to the correct one without any issue. 

The other reasons for a local government to approve an address change include:

  • A division of the lot
  • A change in access to the residence
  • The building was converted from single family to multi-family
  • The building was converted from multi-family to single family
  • The street address was a duplicate

For you to change the street address, you will most likely need to petition your local government. A professional in the building development department will be able to determine if your reasons for requesting a change are valid. They will also be able to help guide you through the legal process.

Final Thoughts

House number 75 mounted on a gray wall

The numbers on your house not only need to be properly spaced apart but they also need to be the correct size. Where you install the house numbers will determine how easy they are to locate, making your home faster to find for your guests, first responders, or postal employees.

For best results, place the house numbers above eye level in a place where a light can shine on them after dark.

We hope this post on house numbers answered all of your questions. For additional helpful information, we suggest reading the following posts:

Should The Driveway Be Higher Than The Lawn? [And What Type Of Border To Use!]

5 Types Of Garage Door Openers [Plus Some Need To Know Info]

13 Spooky And Spectacular Halloween Decorations For Your Front Porch

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