Kerning in Google Slides: What You Can Actually Do
Google Slides does not have a dedicated kerning tool the way desktop design software does. Kerning — the adjustment of space between individual letter pairs — is not available as a built-in feature. What you can do instead is adjust the overall letter spacing for selected text, which spreads or tightens space between all letters uniformly. This works for most presentation needs, though it is a blunter tool than true kerning.
If you need precise control over individual letter pairs, Google Slides is not the right tool; you would need design software like Canva, Adobe InDesign, or Figma. But if you want to tighten or loosen the spacing across a whole word or line to improve readability or appearance, Google Slides can do that in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Google Slides offers letter spacing adjustment, not true kerning — it changes space between all letters equally, not between specific pairs.
- To adjust letter spacing, select your text, open the Format menu, choose Text, then pick Letter spacing from the dropdown.
- You can choose from preset options (tight, normal, wide) or enter a custom value in points for more control.
- Letter spacing changes apply to the entire text selection, so you cannot adjust individual letter pairs the way professional designers can.
How to Access Letter Spacing in Google Slides
Start by clicking on the text box or text element you want to modify. Then highlight the specific words or letters you want to adjust — you can select a single word, a line, or the entire text box.
With your text selected, go to the Format menu at the top of the screen. Click it, then look for Text in the dropdown menu. A submenu will appear with several options; click Letter spacing. A panel will open on the right side of your screen showing spacing options.
Choosing Between Preset and Custom Spacing
Google Slides gives you two paths: preset options or a custom value. The preset options are Tight, Normal, and Wide. Tight reduces space between letters, Normal is the default, and Wide increases it. These are quick choices if you just need to make text more or less compressed without thinking about exact measurements.
If you want more precision, select Custom spacing and enter a number in points. Positive numbers increase space between letters; negative numbers decrease it. Start with small adjustments — try +2 or -2 points — and see how it looks. You can always change it again if the result is too much or too little.
When Letter Spacing Helps Your Slides
Tighter letter spacing works well when you have a long headline that does not fit on one line and you want to squeeze it without shrinking the font size. Wider spacing can make small text easier to read from a distance, which matters if you are presenting to a large room. It also adds visual breathing room to titles and can make text feel more elegant or modern depending on how much you increase it.
Be cautious with extreme adjustments. Very tight spacing makes text hard to read; very wide spacing can make a short word take up half the slide. Test your changes by stepping back or viewing the slide in presentation mode to see how it looks from a distance.
Why Google Slides Does Not Have True Kerning
Kerning requires adjusting space between specific letter pairs — for example, tightening the gap between an "A" and a "V" because their shapes create an awkward gap. This is painstaking work that professional designers do in tools built for it. Google Slides is built for speed and simplicity, not typographic precision, so it offers letter spacing instead.
If your presentation is a quick internal update or a classroom slide, letter spacing is enough. If you are designing a polished brand presentation or a detailed marketing deck where typography matters, consider building it in Canva or another design tool that gives you more control.
Undoing or Resetting Letter Spacing
If you adjust letter spacing and decide you do not like the result, select the text again, go to Format > Text > Letter spacing, and choose Normal to return to the default. Or use Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo the last change immediately.
You can also select text that already has custom spacing and apply a different preset or custom value on top of it. Google Slides will replace the old spacing with the new one, so you do not have to reset first.
Combining Letter Spacing with Other Text Formatting
Letter spacing works alongside other text tools in Google Slides. You can adjust spacing on text that is already bold, italic, or a different color. You can also combine it with font size changes — for example, making a title larger and then tightening the letter spacing to keep it on one line.
Keep in mind that letter spacing applies only to the text you have selected. If you select a whole text box with multiple lines or paragraphs, the spacing change affects all of it equally. If you want different spacing for different parts, you will need to select and adjust each section separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adjust kerning between just two letters in Google Slides?
No. Google Slides only offers letter spacing, which affects all letters in your selection equally. To adjust space between specific letter pairs, you would need design software like Canva, Figma, or Adobe InDesign.
What is the difference between kerning and letter spacing?
Kerning adjusts space between specific letter pairs based on their shapes. Letter spacing adds or removes the same amount of space between every letter. Google Slides does letter spacing; it does not do kerning.
Will letter spacing changes affect how my slide looks when I present it?
Yes. Letter spacing changes are part of your slide and will appear exactly as you set them when you present. Test your spacing in presentation mode or from a distance to make sure it looks right to your audience.
Can I save a letter spacing setting and use it on other slides?
No. Each text element requires its own adjustment. However, if you copy and paste text that already has custom spacing, the spacing comes with it to the new location.
What happens if I use negative letter spacing?
Negative values tighten the space between letters, making text more compact. Use small negative numbers (like -1 or -2) to avoid making text unreadable. Very tight spacing can make letters overlap or become hard to distinguish.