House numbers have one job: to be read from the street, in daylight and at night, by someone who has never been to the address. Form, finish and material come after that. This guide takes the three decisions in order, size, placement, finish, and closes with how AWAYFROMOBJECT ceramic numerals are ordered.
How large should house numbers be?
Most US jurisdictions, following the International Fire Code, require house numbers at least 4 inches (10 cm) high with a stroke width of at least 0.5 inch (13 mm), in a color that contrasts with the background. That is a minimum, not a target. A rule of thumb for legibility is about 1 inch of numeral height for every 10 feet of viewing distance, so a house set 60 feet (18 m) back from the curb reads better with numerals around 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Check the requirement with your local fire authority before ordering.
Count the digits too. A four-digit address needs a clear run of wall, or a monument wide enough to hold all four with even spacing.
Where should house numbers go?
Mount house numbers where a driver's eye lands first: beside the front door, on the entry wall facing the street, or on a post or wall at the driveway. Keep them between 48 and 60 inches (122 and 152 cm) from the ground so they sit near eye level on foot and stay readable from a car. Avoid recessed entries, screen doors and anything that grows. A hedge that clears the numbers in January will hide them in July.
Light them. A number under a porch light or a small downlight is readable at 2 a.m., which is when it matters. On a corner lot, or where the house sits well back, add a second set at the street. Numbers on a mailbox alone may not satisfy local code.
Contrast and finish
Choose a finish that contrasts with the surface behind it: a light glaze on dark stucco or stained wood, a deep patina on pale plaster or block. Contrast does more for legibility than size. If the wall is mid-toned, choose the finish furthest from it in value, light or dark, rather than a close match.
AWAYFROMOBJECT numerals are kiln-fired, glazed ceramic. Desert Modern House Numbers come in five clay finishes. Canyon House Numbers come in six patina finishes.
Desert Modern or Canyon?
Both designs are inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the difference between them is in surface and form. Desert Modern is the clay-finish design. Canyon is the patina-finish design.
The reference is Taliesin West, Wright's winter home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, begun in 1937 in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its walls are desert masonry, local stone set in concrete, with low horizontal lines and geometry drawn from the landscape. AWAYFROMOBJECT is designed in Phoenix, in the same desert, and these numerals take that vocabulary of material and line as a starting point. AWAYFROMOBJECT is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
How ordering per digit works
Each numeral is ordered as a single digit, at $100 per digit, in the finish you choose. A three-digit address is three items in the cart; a five-digit address is five. Order every digit in the same design and finish so the set matches. Each numeral is handcrafted and glazed to order, so slight variation between digits is part of the material.
Lead time and shipping
House numbers are made to order and ship in 3 to 4 weeks. Standard shipping is free within the contiguous US. Rates for Alaska, Hawaii and international destinations are calculated at checkout, and international buyers are responsible for duties, taxes and brokerage. Inspect the package on arrival. If anything is damaged, write to studio@awayfromobject.com within 48 hours with your order number and photos of the item and the packaging.
Browse the full house numbers collection, or contact the studio with a photo of your entry if you would like a placement suggestion.
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