White space (empty space) is not wasted space. It separates ideas, guides the eye and makes pages feel calm and professional.
Where white space matters
- Between sections, so each idea stands apart.
- Around buttons, so they stand out.
- Between lines of text (line height around 1.5).
- In margins, so text does not touch screen edges.
Line length
Lines of roughly 50–75 characters are easiest to read on desktop. Very wide text blocks tire readers.
Consistent spacing
Use a spacing scale (for example 8, 16, 24, 32, 48 pixels) and apply it consistently. Convert to rem with our px to rem converter.
Mobile
Keep at least 16px side padding, and do not cram elements together to fit more above the fold.
Contrast
Readable text needs both space and contrast; check with our contrast checker.
Read choosing website fonts.
Want the full picture? This article is part of Business websites: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
