Reglet (typesetting)

In typesetting, a reglet is a thin strip of wood or metal, typically less than a pica in thickness, used to create white space between lines of type or between blocks of text. Its primary function is to add vertical spacing, similar to leading, but with a different material and often used for more precise or smaller increments. Reglets are typically made of wood, though metal (such as brass or copper) reglets also exist, offering durability and resistance to moisture.

Reglets are thinner than furniture, which is used for larger areas of white space within a form. They are particularly useful when fine adjustments to line spacing are needed, or when working with complex layouts requiring specific and subtle spacing increments. The term is most commonly associated with letterpress printing and other forms of traditional typesetting. Although digital typesetting offers greater flexibility in spacing, the term "reglet" remains relevant in historical contexts and in discussions of the principles of typographic design.