January 12, 2017

NIH and AHRQ Font Requirements

For applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health or the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for due dates on or after January 25, 2017, text in PDF attachments must follow these minimum requirements:
  • Text Color: No restriction. Though not required, black or other high-contrast text colors are recommended since they print well and are legible to the largest audience.
  • Font size: Must be 11 points or larger. Smaller text in figures, graphs, diagrams and charts is acceptable, as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%.
  • Type density: Must be no more than 15 characters per linear inch (including characters and spaces).
  • Line spacing: Must be no more than six lines per vertical inch.
 For additional information, see the NIH Guide notice NIH & AHRQ Update Font Guidelines for Applications to Due Dates On or After January 25, 2017 (NOT-OD-17-030).