Bend any text into a rainbow arc, a smile or a full circle, and add a second line that reads upright along the bottom, perfect for round logos, badges, stickers and labels. Adjust the radius, letter spacing, font, outline and color, then save a transparent PNG or an SVG.
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Transparent background unless you pick a color below.
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How to use the Curved Text Generator
Type your text. Add a bottom text if you want a second line that reads upright, like on a badge.
Pick the shape: an arc over the top, an arc under the bottom, or a full circle.
Adjust the curve: a smaller radius bends the text more; letter spacing and rotation fine-tune the layout.
Style it with a font, size, color, outline and an optional circle border or background color.
Download a transparent PNG (2x is sharp on most screens) or an SVG, or copy the image.
How curved text is laid out
Each character is measured in the chosen font and placed one by one along a circle. The distance a letter covers along the curve (its arc length) equals its width plus the letter spacing, and the angle it takes up is that arc length divided by the radius: angle (radians) = width ÷ radius. The letters are centered on the top or bottom of the circle and rotated so each one stands at a right angle to the curve.
Clockwise text (arc over the top) stands on the outside of the circle, with the baseline on the radius.
Counter-clockwise text (arc under the bottom) hangs on the inside, so it still reads upright from left to right.
Two-line badges place the bottom text slightly further out so both lines sit in the same ring between the two borders.
The circumference of the baseline is 2 × π × radius. A 170 px radius gives about 1068 px of room for a full circle, or about 534 px for a half-circle arc. If your text is longer than that, it is scaled down to fit.
Radius and font size guide
Use
Radius
Font size
Shape
Round logo or badge
150 to 220 px
36 to 50 px
Arc over the top + bottom text, circle border on
Sticker or label edge
120 to 180 px
28 to 40 px
Full circle, spread evenly
Rainbow heading for a poster
300 to 500 px
60 to 120 px
Arc over the top
Smile under a picture
200 to 350 px
30 to 60 px
Arc under the bottom
Coffee cup or jar lid print
radius of the printable circle minus the font size
24 to 36 px
Full circle
Design tips
Uppercase letters and bold fonts look most even on a curve; thin script fonts can look uneven at small radii.
Add a separator such as • or ★ at both ends of a full-circle text to hide the seam where the text starts and ends.
Use an outline in a contrasting color when the text will sit on a photo.
For print, download at 4x and check the size: a 4x export of a 500 px design is 2000 px, about 6.7 in (17 cm) at 300 DPI.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put text in a circle?
Choose Full circle as the shape, type your text and set the radius. Keep Spread the letters evenly switched on so the letters fill the whole ring with equal gaps. For a badge with text on top and bottom, choose Arc over the top instead and fill in the bottom text.
How do I make text curve upward or downward?
Arc over the top curves the text like a rainbow, with the letters standing on the outside of the curve. Arc under the bottom makes a smile shape where the letters stand inside the curve and still read left to right. A smaller radius gives a stronger curve.
Why did my text get smaller?
When the text is longer than the arc can hold, the tool shrinks the font so the letters do not overlap or wrap past the starting point. Increase the radius or shorten the text to keep a larger font size.
Can I use the curved text in Canva, Word or Cricut?
Yes. Download the transparent PNG and upload it like any image. For cutting machines and vector editors, use the SVG; if the program does not have the same font installed, convert the text to outlines there, or trace the 4x PNG.
What is the best radius for a round logo?
For a logo about 500 px wide, a radius of 150 to 200 px with a 36 to 48 px font leaves room in the middle for an icon. As a rule of thumb, the radius should be at least three to four times the font size so the letters do not crowd at the inside of the curve.
Are my designs stored or uploaded?
No. The text is drawn on a canvas in your browser and the files are created on your device. Only the web fonts are loaded from Google Fonts.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.