diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/FrosGui.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/FrosGui.java
index 3157ff0..7b328cc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/FrosGui.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/FrosGui.java
@@ -146,10 +146,6 @@ public class FrosGui extends Screen {
         return this.widgets;
     }
 
-    public int getTextOffset() {
-        return -6;
-    }
-
     public static Color getColorClipboard() {
         return colorClipboard;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/Widget.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/Widget.java
index 601ddd7..96acc6a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/Widget.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/Widget.java
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ public class Widget
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, headerTop, this.x + this.width, panelBottom, 0x99000000, 1.0f);
         context.fill(this.x, headerBottom - 1, this.x + this.width, headerBottom, accent);
 
-        drawString(this.getName(), (float) this.x + 3.0f, (float) this.y - 4.0f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), -1);
+        drawString(this.getName(), (float) this.x + 3.0f,
+                (headerTop + headerBottom) / 2f - FrosFont.visualCenter(), -1);
         ScissorUtil.enable(context, x, 0, x + width, mc.getWindow().getGuiScaledHeight());
 
         if (this.open) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/Item.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/Item.java
index 52d1832..aed719c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/Item.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/Item.java
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ public class Item
         FrosFont.draw(context, text, (int) x, (int) y, color);
     }
 
+    /** y coordinate that visually centers text inside this item */
+    protected float textY() {
+        return this.y + this.height / 2f - FrosFont.visualCenter();
+    }
+
     public boolean isHovering(int mouseX, int mouseY) {
         return false;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BindButton.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BindButton.java
index be8b565..b50c4c2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BindButton.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BindButton.java
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package cc.fros.features.gui.items.buttons;
 
 import cc.fros.Fros;
-import cc.fros.features.gui.FrosGui;
 import cc.fros.features.modules.client.ClickGuiModule;
 import cc.fros.features.settings.Bind;
 import cc.fros.features.settings.Setting;
@@ -29,10 +28,10 @@ public class BindButton
         int color = ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getRGB();
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, this.x + (float) this.width + 7.4f, this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, this.getState() ? (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? 0x11555555 : -2007673515) : (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getAlpha()) : Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha())));
         if (this.isListening) {
-            drawString(context, "Press a Key...", this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), -1);
+            drawString(context, "Press a Key...", this.x + 2.3f, textY(), -1);
         } else {
             String str = KeyboardUtil.getKeyName(setting.getValue());
-            drawString(context, this.setting.getName() + " " + ChatFormatting.GRAY + str, this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
+            drawString(context, this.setting.getName() + " " + ChatFormatting.GRAY + str, this.x + 2.3f, textY(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BooleanButton.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BooleanButton.java
index 2bd00f5..b426c01 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BooleanButton.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/BooleanButton.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package cc.fros.features.gui.items.buttons;
 
 
 import cc.fros.Fros;
-import cc.fros.features.gui.FrosGui;
 import cc.fros.features.modules.client.ClickGuiModule;
 import cc.fros.features.settings.Setting;
 import cc.fros.util.render.RenderUtil;
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ public class BooleanButton
     @Override
     public void drawScreen(GuiGraphics context, int mouseX, int mouseY, float partialTicks) {
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, this.x + (float) this.width + 7.4f, this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, this.getState() ? (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getAlpha()) : Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha())) : (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? 0x11555555 : -2007673515));
-        drawString(context, this.getName(), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
+        drawString(context, this.getName(), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Button.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Button.java
index 589c096..d114e68 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Button.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Button.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public class Button
     @Override
     public void drawScreen(GuiGraphics context, int mouseX, int mouseY, float partialTicks) {
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, this.x + (float) this.width, this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, this.getState() ? (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getAlpha()) : Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha())) : (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? 0x11555555 : -2007673515));
-        drawString(context, this.getName(), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 2.0f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
+        drawString(context, this.getName(), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/ColorButton.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/ColorButton.java
index 2bddd56..f6b2475 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/ColorButton.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/ColorButton.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class ColorButton extends Button {
                 this.x + (float) this.width + 5.0f, this.y + (float) this.height - 2.5f,
                 new Color(currentColor.getRGB(), false).getRGB());
 
-        drawString(context, this.getName(), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), -1);
+        drawString(context, this.getName(), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), -1);
 
         if (open) {
             float yOffset = this.height + 1;
@@ -121,12 +121,12 @@ public class ColorButton extends Button {
             int buttonWidth = availableWidth / 2;
             RenderUtil.rect(context, pickerX, this.y + yOffset, pickerX + buttonWidth, this.y + yOffset + 14,
                     hoveringCopy ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha()) : 0x11555555);
-            drawString(context, "Copy", pickerX + buttonWidth / 2.0 - FrosFont.width("Copy") / 2.0, this.y + yOffset + 3, -1);
+            drawString(context, "Copy", pickerX + buttonWidth / 2.0 - FrosFont.width("Copy") / 2.0, this.y + yOffset + 7f - FrosFont.visualCenter(), -1);
             hoveringCopy = isHoveringArea(mouseX, mouseY, pickerX, this.y + yOffset, pickerX + buttonWidth, this.y + yOffset + 14);
 
             RenderUtil.rect(context, pickerX + buttonWidth + 1, this.y + yOffset, pickerX + buttonWidth * 2 + 1, this.y + yOffset + 14,
                     hoveringPaste ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha()) : 0x11555555);
-            drawString(context, "Paste", pickerX + buttonWidth + buttonWidth / 2.0 - FrosFont.width("Paste") / 2.0 + 1, this.y + yOffset + 3, -1);
+            drawString(context, "Paste", pickerX + buttonWidth + buttonWidth / 2.0 - FrosFont.width("Paste") / 2.0 + 1, this.y + yOffset + 7f - FrosFont.visualCenter(), -1);
             hoveringPaste = isHoveringArea(mouseX, mouseY, pickerX + buttonWidth + 1, this.y + yOffset, pickerX + buttonWidth * 2 + 1, this.y + yOffset + 14);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/EnumButton.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/EnumButton.java
index dbfeef5..5f07930 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/EnumButton.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/EnumButton.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package cc.fros.features.gui.items.buttons;
 
 
 import cc.fros.Fros;
-import cc.fros.features.gui.FrosGui;
 import cc.fros.features.modules.client.ClickGuiModule;
 import cc.fros.features.settings.Setting;
 import cc.fros.util.render.RenderUtil;
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ public class EnumButton
     @Override
     public void drawScreen(GuiGraphics context, int mouseX, int mouseY, float partialTicks) {
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, this.x + (float) this.width + 7.4f, this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, this.getState() ? (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getAlpha()) : Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha())) : (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? 0x11555555 : -2007673515));
-        drawString(context, this.setting.getName() + " " + ChatFormatting.GRAY + (this.setting.currentEnumName().equalsIgnoreCase("ABC") ? "ABC" : this.setting.currentEnumName()), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
+        drawString(context, this.setting.getName() + " " + ChatFormatting.GRAY + (this.setting.currentEnumName().equalsIgnoreCase("ABC") ? "ABC" : this.setting.currentEnumName()), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Slider.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Slider.java
index 233e0df..6477fad 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Slider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/Slider.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public class Slider
         this.dragSetting(mouseX, mouseY);
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, this.x + (float) this.width + 7.4f, this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, !(this.dragging || this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY)) ? 0x11555555 : -2007673515);
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, (this.setting.getValue()).floatValue() <= this.min.floatValue() ? this.x : this.x + ((float) this.width + 7.4f) * this.partialMultiplier(), this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, !(this.dragging || this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY)) ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getAlpha()) : Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha()));
-        drawString(context, this.getName() + " " + ChatFormatting.GRAY + (this.setting.getValue() instanceof Float ? this.setting.getValue() : Double.valueOf((this.setting.getValue()).doubleValue())), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), -1);
+        drawString(context, this.getName() + " " + ChatFormatting.GRAY + (this.setting.getValue() instanceof Float ? this.setting.getValue() : Double.valueOf((this.setting.getValue()).doubleValue())), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), -1);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/StringButton.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/StringButton.java
index b01f94d..59b7d33 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/StringButton.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/features/gui/items/buttons/StringButton.java
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package cc.fros.features.gui.items.buttons;
 
 import cc.fros.Fros;
-import cc.fros.features.gui.FrosGui;
 import cc.fros.features.modules.client.ClickGuiModule;
 import cc.fros.features.settings.Setting;
 import cc.fros.util.models.Timer;
@@ -38,9 +37,9 @@ public class StringButton
     public void drawScreen(GuiGraphics context, int mouseX, int mouseY, float partialTicks) {
         RenderUtil.rect(context, this.x, this.y, this.x + (float) this.width + 7.4f, this.y + (float) this.height - 0.5f, this.getState() ? (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().color.getValue().getAlpha()) : Fros.colorManager.getColorWithAlpha(y, ClickGuiModule.getInstance().topColor.getValue().getAlpha())) : (!this.isHovering(mouseX, mouseY) ? 0x11555555 : -2007673515));
         if (this.isListening) {
-            drawString(context, this.currentString.string() + getIdleSign(), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
+            drawString(context, this.currentString.string() + getIdleSign(), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
         } else {
-            drawString(context, (this.setting.getName().equals("Buttons") ? "Buttons " : (this.setting.getName().equals("Prefix") ? "Prefix  " + ChatFormatting.GRAY : "")) + this.setting.getValue(), this.x + 2.3f, this.y - 1.7f - (float) FrosGui.getClickGui().getTextOffset(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
+            drawString(context, (this.setting.getName().equals("Buttons") ? "Buttons " : (this.setting.getName().equals("Prefix") ? "Prefix  " + ChatFormatting.GRAY : "")) + this.setting.getValue(), this.x + 2.3f, textY(), this.getState() ? -1 : -5592406);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/fros/util/render/FrosFont.java b/src/main/java/cc/fros/util/render/FrosFont.java
index 85fb454..2a0433e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/fros/util/render/FrosFont.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/fros/util/render/FrosFont.java
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ public final class FrosFont {
     private static String loadedName;
     private static float loadedSize = Float.NaN;
     private static float loadedScale = 1;
+    /** raster pixels from the top of a line box to the middle of the cap band */
+    private static float visualCenterRaster = 4f;
     private static long lastAttempt;
     private static int glyphCounter;
 
@@ -218,10 +220,33 @@ public final class FrosFont {
         Graphics2D graphics = probe.createGraphics();
         graphics.setFont(awtFont);
         metrics = graphics.getFontMetrics();
+        // distance from the top of the line box to the middle of the cap band:
+        // drawString puts the baseline at metrics.getAscent(), and "A" spans
+        // from the baseline up to the cap line
+        java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D capBounds = awtFont
+                .createGlyphVector(graphics.getFontRenderContext(), "A")
+                .getVisualBounds();
+        float capHeight = (float) capBounds.getHeight();
+        if (capHeight <= 0f || capHeight > metrics.getAscent()) {
+            capHeight = metrics.getAscent();
+        }
+        visualCenterRaster = metrics.getAscent() - capHeight / 2f;
         graphics.dispose();
         if (verbose) LOGGER.info("{} ({}pt)", source, size);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Distance from the top of a line box down to the visual center of its
+     * text (middle of the cap band), in gui units. lets callers center labels
+     * by what the eye sees instead of the line box, and behaves the same for
+     * the custom font and the vanilla fallback.
+     */
+    public static float visualCenter() {
+        sync();
+        if (awtFont == null) return mc.font.lineHeight / 2f - 1f;
+        return visualCenterRaster / loadedScale;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Resolves java's logical fonts (guaranteed on every os) and any font
      * family already installed on the system, without needing a file.