diff --git a/docs/example.Xresources b/docs/example.Xresources
index 0a71a73..94adfc2 100644
--- a/docs/example.Xresources
+++ b/docs/example.Xresources
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
 !!
 !! Height of the bar in pixels. If you want, you may make the bar taller. If set to 0, the bar will just be as tall as the fonts drawn on it.
 !!
-  - speedwm.barheight:            5
+  - speedwm.barheight:            8
 !!
 !! Show systray by default or not (1/0)
 !!
diff --git a/options.h b/options.h
index 3a3fe9a..4bac953 100644
--- a/options.h
+++ b/options.h
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ static int iconspacing                        = 5; /* spacing between the title
 
 /* Bar options */
 static int barposition                        = 1; /* Bar position. Top: 1, Bottom: 0 */
-static int barheight                          = 5; /* Bar height in px, 0 = calculate automatically */
+static int barheight                          = 8; /* Bar height in px, 0 = calculate automatically */
 static int barpaddingv                        = 10; /* Vertical bar padding in px. */
 static int barpaddingh                        = 10; /* Horizontal bar padding in px. */