What's clear space? How should I use it for my business branding?

Modified On: June 13th, 2025

If you're a small business owner or marketer who handles graphic design duties for your product packaging, this article is for you.

By implementing specific guidelines, you can become more efficient and productive at producing quality graphics for your company. 

Adding a definition of clear space to your logo is one standard of blank space branding. Defining the logo's clear space will save you time and help ensure that your logo is displayed correctly.

What is logo clear space?

Clear space is the term for a specific amount of space a logo must have on all sides, no matter where it is used. The reason for clear space is to ensure that a logo maximizes visibility and impact.

How do I determine the right amount of clear space?

Choosing the right amount of clear space for the logo is easy. In your logo, pick an element that is a standard or base size in your design. The standardized element in the example to the right is the "O" in "Logo".

Everything else in the design extends outwards. From the size of the "O" - e.g., the lower part of the "g" and upper part of the "L" extend from the base unit of the "O". 

The base element that you select is the X indicator. 

Once you have decided on your X indicator, measure out from its top and bottom of the X indicator. This dimension will be the basis for your clear space area. 

Set the area of clear space around your logo. Measure exactly one X indicator unit from the farthest vertical and horizontal points of your logo design. 

In our example, the furthest point on the left and at the bottom of our logo is the edge of the blue circle. 

The furthest point to the right of the logo is the edge of the "O", and the furthest point to the top of the logo is the edge of the green circle. 

We then measure exactly one X indicator unit from each point to establish our clear space area.

Clear space examples

Here are a few correct and incorrect uses of logo clear space.

We have an example where graphic elements or images surround the logo. On the left, the clear space is correct. The visual elements fall outside the clear space area. 

In the right-hand example, the circles encroach too close to the logo, violating the clear space needed for it.

In the following examples, we use clear space to determine where the text can begin after the logo. 

In the left-hand example, the text is properly outside the clear space. In the right-hand example, the text is far too close to the logo, violating the needed clear space.

Why does logo clear space matter?

Any good designer will tell you that one of the most common mistakes in design is clutter. 

Cluttered designs distract your audience from everything that the design contains. 

You want your brand identity to be recognized, especially with a logo. Your logo connects with customers and is the #1 item that they will associate with your brand. 

If your logo is cluttered and messy, your potential customers will assume your company is also cluttered and messy. 

That's why understanding logo clear space is beneficial to blank space branding.

It also makes it easy to decide on important elements, like how to place your logo across media. 

Introducing the design standard of clear space into your logo will help clean up your designs across the board. From your website to your product labels and packaging, the design element of logo clear space is often overlooked, yet it is a crucial concept to correct.

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