How to fix avoid inline spacing on Squarespace

Steps for Squarespace

1. In the Squarespace editor, go to Design → Custom CSS (available on Business plan and above).
2. Identify which block or section is outputting the inline spacing — use browser DevTools to find the element and its selector.
3. Write a CSS rule in the Custom CSS panel that targets that element using its class or selector, setting the spacing properties you need (e.g. `.product-description p { line-height: 1.6; }`). This creates a stylesheet-level rule users can override.
4. In the page editor, avoid using the 'Design' panel sliders for line-height/letter-spacing if they output as `style=` attributes — prefer Custom CSS for fine-grained spacing.
5. If a third-party block or Code Block is injecting inline styles, edit the Code Block's HTML directly and move the spacing into a `<style>` tag or your Custom CSS.
6. Save and verify with the axe browser extension.

What is avoid inline spacing?

When spacing properties like `line-height`, `letter-spacing`, `word-spacing`, or `margin-top`/`padding-top` are written directly onto an HTML element using a `style="..."` attribute, they become "locked in" — they cannot be overridden by a user's custom browser stylesheet or accessibility tool. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.4.12 (Text Spacing) requires that users can adjust these four specific spacing properties without losing content or functionality. Inline styles break that guarantee because they have the highest CSS specificity, overriding even `!important` rules in many situations. The fix is to move those spacing values into an external or internal stylesheet (a CSS class), where they can be adjusted by assistive tools and user stylesheets.

People with dyslexia, low vision, or cognitive disabilities often rely on browser extensions or operating-system settings that increase line height, letter spacing, or word spacing to make text readable. When your store hard-codes these values as inline styles, those overrides are silently blocked — text can become unreadable or overlap other content, directly causing a visitor to abandon your store. This is a WCAG 2.1 Level AA failure, meaning it exposes you to legal risk under regulations like the ADA (US), EN 301 549 (EU), and the UK Equality Act. It also affects the growing number of accessibility-overlay tools that customers use. Fixing it broadens your potential customer base, reduces legal exposure, and signals to search engines and auditors that your site meets modern quality standards.

See the complete Avoid inline spacing guide for every platform and the full background.