At 20 pt, your default line spacing (often 1.0 or 1.15) will cause ascenders and descenders to clash. Always set line spacing to at least 1.5. For 20 pt type, 30 pt leading (line height of 150%) is ideal. In Word, that is "Exactly 30 pt" or "Multiple 1.5."
While Times New Roman is excellent, sometimes you need variation. Here are comparable serifs at 20 pt:
| Font | Difference at 20 pt | Best use case | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Georgia | Larger x-height, softer serifs. | Screen reading (web/apps). | | Cambria | Slightly thinner stroke, more upright. | Technical documents, math. | | Baskerville | Higher contrast, elegant. | Wedding programs, invitations. | | Courier New | Monospaced, typewriter feel. | Screenplays, legal transcripts. | | Garamond | Smaller apparent size (even at 20 pt), refined. | Luxury branding, poetry. | times 20new 20roman font
If you need maximum accessibility, many experts now recommend APHont (a font designed for low vision) or Atkinson Hyperlegible at 20 pt over Times New Roman.
Let’s move beyond theory. Where should you actually use this specific combination? At 20 pt, your default line spacing (often 1
In typography, point size measures the height of the typeface’s bounding box—not the height of the letters themselves. One point equals 1/72 of an inch. Therefore, 20-point Times New Roman is designed for a vertical space of approximately 0.278 inches (7.06 mm) from the top of the tallest ascender (like the letter ‘b’) to the bottom of the deepest descender (like the letter ‘g’).
At 20 points, Times New Roman reveals details that are lost at smaller sizes: Comparison to common sizes: Why does this specific
Comparison to common sizes:
Why does this specific size feel so official? Typographic psychology offers insights.
However, there is a downside. For native digital readers under age 30, Times New Roman at any size can feel “old,” “school-like,” or “boring.” If your audience is young and tech-savvy, 20 pt Times New Roman might ironically make your message feel less urgent. In that case, consider 20 pt Georgia (a more modern serif) or 20 pt Helvetica.