What are the ADA requirements for signs?
Answered by NameBadge.com · Updated August 2026
The ADA 2010 Standards §703 require tactile signs to have raised sans-serif characters 5/8", 2" tall, Grade 2 Braille below the text, a non-glare finish, light-dark contrast, and mounting 48", 60" to the character baselines on the latch side of the door.
The ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, §703 set the specifications for compliant tactile signage. The core requirements are:
- Raised characters (§703.2): raised at least 1/32", uppercase, sans-serif, no italic/script/highly decorative fonts.
- Character height (§703.2.5): 5/8" minimum to 2" maximum, measured by the uppercase letter "I".
- Grade 2 Braille (§703.3): contracted Braille, positioned below the corresponding text, with domed/rounded dots.
- Finish & contrast (§703.5): non-glare finish; characters must contrast with their background, light-on-dark or dark-on-light. (The widely used 70% contrast target comes from the earlier ADAAG guidance and remains the industry benchmark.)
- Pictograms (§703.6): when used, each sits in a 6" minimum high field, with text and Braille below the field.
How high should an ADA sign be mounted?
Per §703.4, tactile characters must sit 48" minimum above the floor (measured to the baseline of the lowest tactile character) and 60" maximum (to the baseline of the highest tactile character). Signs mount on the latch side of the door, or on the nearest adjacent wall for double doors.
Order compliant plates from our ADA sign line. NameBadge.com builds each one to §703 in-house in the USA; confirm any added state or local code for your site.
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