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Calcimator

Speech Bubble Sizing Calculator

Calculate speech bubble dimensions from word count, font size, and bubble shape to ensure readable lettering.

Inputs

pt
in
in
in
in

Results

Bubble Width

3.13 in

Bubble Height

0.54 in

Lines of Text2
Words Per Line7.6
Characters Per Line42
Panel Coverage14.8%
Readability Score100/100
Total Characters83
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter word count and font size (pt) — standard comic lettering is 6–8 pt.
  2. Set maximum bubble width (in), bubble shape, line spacing, inner padding, and letter case.
  3. Enter panel width and height.
  4. Review Bubble Width (in), Bubble Height (in), and whether the bubble fits within the panel.

How the result changes with Max Bubble Width (in)

Max Bubble Width (in)Bubble WidthBubble Height
1.451.81 in0.83 in
3.824.78 in0.54 in
6.675.77 in0.4 in
9.055.77 in0.4 in

What each input means

Word Count
Number of words in the dialogue. Ideal is 20-35 per bubble.
Font Size (pt)
Comic lettering font size. Standard is 6-8pt for print.
Max Bubble Width (in)
Maximum width you want the bubble to be.
Bubble Shape
0 = Ellipse (standard), 1 = Rectangle, 2 = Cloud/Thought, 3 = Caption Box.
Line Spacing
Line height multiplier. 1.0 = tight, 1.5 = loose.
Inner Padding (in)
Space between text and bubble edge.
Letter Case
0 = ALL CAPS (standard comics), 1 = Mixed case.
Panel Width (in)
Width of the panel containing this bubble.
Panel Height (in)
Height of the panel containing this bubble.

What each result means

Bubble Width
Minimum bubble width to fit the text.
Bubble Height
Minimum bubble height to fit the text.
Lines of Text
Number of text lines in the bubble.
Words Per Line
Average words per line. Ideal is 3-7 for readability.
Characters Per Line
Characters that fit per line at this width and font size.
Panel Coverage
Percentage of panel area covered by this bubble. Keep under 25% ideally.
Readability Score
Score based on word count and words-per-line best practices.
Total Characters
Estimated total character count including spaces.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Word Count = 15, Font Size (pt) = 7, Max Bubble Width (in) = 2.5, Bubble Shape = 0 = 9 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Bubble Width
    Bubble Width = (textBlockWidth + 2 * paddingIn) / sqrt(fillRatio)
    3.125 = 3.125
  3. Calculate Bubble Height
    Bubble Height = (textBlockHeight + 2 * paddingIn) / sqrt(fillRatio)
    0.542 = 0.542
  4. Calculate Lines of Text
    Lines of Text = ceil(totalChars / charsPerLine)
    2 = 2
  5. Calculate Words Per Line
    Words Per Line = charsPerLine / avgCharsPerWord
    7.6 = 7.6

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