# tabular-nums should be the default for any updating number

Soren makes the case for `font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums` as the default for timers, counters, prices, percentages, scores, and any live data — equal-width digits stop the layout from twitching when numbers change.

**Type:** tweet
**Added:** 2026-05-15
**Source date:** 2026-03-02
**Author:** [Soren (@sorenblank)](https://x.com/sorenblank)
**Link:** https://x.com/sorenblank/status/2028520200417706017?s=20
**Topics:** Frontend
**Tags:** ui

---

> `tabular-nums` should be the default for any number that updates (timers, counters, prices, percentages, scores, live data etc).
>
> You can enable this `tnum` OpenType feature using the CSS property `font-variant-numeric`.

```css
.tabular-nums {
  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
}
```

The tweet includes a video showing the difference — proportional digits cause horizontal jitter every time a value changes; tabular figures hold the column width steady.

---

## Links

- Directory entry: https://andrey-markin.com/directory/tabular-nums
- All directory entries: https://andrey-markin.com/directory
- Contact: https://andrey-markin.com/#contact