diff --git a/alacritty.yml b/alacritty.yml
index b6ad6a3d..c064dbcf 100644
--- a/alacritty.yml
+++ b/alacritty.yml
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ font:
   # Offset is the extra space around each character. offset.y can be thought of
   # as modifying the linespacing, and offset.x as modifying the letter spacing.
   offset:
-    x: 2.0
-    y: -7.0
+    x: 0.0
+    y: 0.0
 
   # OS X only: use thin stroke font rendering. Thin strokes are suitable
   # for retina displays, but for non-retina you probably want this set to
diff --git a/font/src/ft/mod.rs b/font/src/ft/mod.rs
index 82f06776..24ef5c77 100644
--- a/font/src/ft/mod.rs
+++ b/font/src/ft/mod.rs
@@ -59,18 +59,15 @@ impl ::Rasterize for FreeTypeRasterizer {
             .get(&key)
             .ok_or(Error::FontNotLoaded)?;
 
-        let scale_size = self.dpr as f64 * size.as_f32_pts() as f64;
+        let size_metrics = face.size_metrics()
+            .ok_or(Error::MissingSizeMetrics)?;
 
-        let em_size = face.em_size() as f64;
-        let w = face.max_advance_width() as f64;
-        let h = (face.ascender() - face.descender() + face.height()) as f64;
-
-        let w_scale = w * scale_size / em_size;
-        let h_scale = h * scale_size / em_size;
+        let width = (size_metrics.max_advance / 64) as f64;
+        let height = (size_metrics.height / 64) as f64;
 
         Ok(Metrics {
-            average_advance: w_scale,
-            line_height: h_scale,
+            average_advance: width,
+            line_height: height,
         })
     }
 
@@ -278,6 +275,9 @@ pub enum Error {
     /// Couldn't find font matching description
     MissingFont(FontDesc),
 
+    /// Tried to get size metrics from a Face that didn't have a size
+    MissingSizeMetrics,
+
     /// Requested an operation with a FontKey that isn't known to the rasterizer
     FontNotLoaded,
 }
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ impl ::std::error::Error for Error {
             Error::FreeType(ref err) => err.description(),
             Error::MissingFont(ref _desc) => "couldn't find the requested font",
             Error::FontNotLoaded => "tried to operate on font that hasn't been loaded",
+            Error::MissingSizeMetrics => "tried to get size metrics from a face without a size",
         }
     }
 }
@@ -311,6 +312,9 @@ impl ::std::fmt::Display for Error {
             },
             Error::FontNotLoaded => {
                 f.write_str("Tried to use a font that hasn't been loaded")
+            },
+            Error::MissingSizeMetrics => {
+                f.write_str("Tried to get size metrics from a face without a size")
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index ba1ae5f8..61bdb256 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -1189,6 +1189,12 @@ impl FontOffset {
     }
 }
 
+impl Default for FontOffset {
+    fn default() -> FontOffset {
+        FontOffset { x: 0.0, y: 0.0 }
+    }
+}
+
 trait DeserializeFromF32 : Sized {
     fn deserialize_from_f32<D>(D) -> ::std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
         where D: serde::de::Deserializer;
@@ -1301,10 +1307,7 @@ impl Default for Font {
             italic: FontDescription::new_with_family("Menlo"),
             size: Size::new(11.0),
             use_thin_strokes: true,
-            offset: FontOffset {
-                x: 0.0,
-                y: 0.0
-            }
+            offset: Default::default()
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1318,12 +1321,7 @@ impl Default for Font {
             italic: FontDescription::new_with_family("monospace"),
             size: Size::new(11.0),
             use_thin_strokes: false,
-            offset: FontOffset {
-                // TODO should improve freetype metrics... shouldn't need such
-                // drastic offsets for the default!
-                x: 2.0,
-                y: -7.0
-            }
+            offset: Default::default()
         }
     }
 }