diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/ServiceMap/Cytoscape.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/ServiceMap/Cytoscape.tsx
index 67c6cd9978bf1..441f4f6bf46b4 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/ServiceMap/Cytoscape.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/ServiceMap/Cytoscape.tsx
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ function getLayoutOptions(
     roots: selectedRoots.length ? selectedRoots : undefined,
     fit: true,
     padding: nodeHeight,
-    spacingFactor: 0.85,
+    spacingFactor: 1.2,
     // @ts-ignore
     // Rotate nodes counter-clockwise to transform layout from top→bottom to left→right.
     // The extra 5° achieves the effect of separating overlapping taxi-styled edges.