The fastest way to change font size

Font size lives in the toolbar at the top of almost every document program. Look for a box with a number in it — usually showing something like "12" or "11" — next to the font name. Click that box, pick a new number from the dropdown list, and the text you selected changes when ready. If you haven't selected text yet, the new size applies to whatever you type next.

The number represents points, a printing measurement where 12 points is considered standard reading size. Larger numbers make text bigger; smaller numbers make it smaller. Most programs let you type any number you want, so you aren't limited to the preset options in the dropdown.

This same toolbar button works the same way in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, LibreOffice Writer, and most other word processors. The location and appearance vary slightly, but the principle is identical.

Key Takeaways

  • The font size dropdown sits in the toolbar next to the font name and shows a number like "12" — click it and pick a new size.
  • You must select text first, or the new size applies only to text you type after making the change.
  • Keyboard shortcuts work faster if you change size often: Ctrl+] makes text larger and Ctrl+[ makes it smaller in Word and Google Docs.
  • Changing the default font size for a whole document requires you to modify the Normal or Body Text style, not just select and resize individual paragraphs.

Selecting text before you resize

Font size only changes text that is already selected. If you click the size dropdown without selecting anything first, you are just setting what size the next text you type will be — the existing text stays the same.

To select text, click at the start of what you want to change and drag to the end. You can also triple-click a paragraph to select the whole thing, or use Ctrl+A to select everything in the document. Once the text is highlighted, the toolbar shows what size it currently is. Click the size box and pick a new number.

If you are resizing multiple separate sections, select each one individually and change its size. There is no way to select non-consecutive text in most programs, so you have to do this one section at a time.

Using keyboard shortcuts for speed

If you change font size often, keyboard shortcuts are faster than the toolbar. In Microsoft Word and Google Docs, hold Ctrl and press the right bracket key (]) to make selected text one size larger, or the left bracket key ([) to make it smaller. Each press moves up or down by one size increment.

These shortcuts work on any text you have selected, and they repeat if you hold the keys down. This is much quicker than clicking the dropdown, finding the size you want, and clicking again.

Apple Pages uses a different shortcut: Cmd+Plus to enlarge and Cmd+Minus to shrink. LibreOffice Writer does not have a built-in keyboard shortcut for this, so you are back to using the toolbar.

Changing the default size for a whole document

If you want every new paragraph to start at a different size — say, 14 points instead of 12 — you need to change the default style, not just resize individual text. Selecting all text and changing the size works for what is already there, but the next document you create will go back to the original default.

In Microsoft Word, right-click the Normal style in the Styles panel on the right side of the screen and choose Modify. Change the font size in the dialog box and click OK. Word will ask whether you want to update the style in this document only or in all documents based on this template — choose based on whether you want the change to stick for future documents.

In Google Docs, select all text with Ctrl+A, change the size in the toolbar, then click Format > Paragraph Styles > Update Normal Style to Match Selection. From that point forward, new documents will use the size you just set.

In Apple Pages, go to Format > Styles and double-click the Body style, then change the font size and click Done. The change applies to all new documents you create.

Resizing text in email and web forms

Email programs and web forms sometimes do not have a visible font size toolbar. Gmail, Outlook web, and most email clients have a formatting toolbar that appears when you click in the message body — look for the same number box you would see in a word processor. Click it and pick a new size the same way.

Some web forms do not let you change font size at all, because the website controls how the text looks. If there is no formatting toolbar and no Format menu, you cannot change the size in that particular form. You can only change what you type.

If you are composing in a text box that does not show formatting options, try right-clicking inside the box — some programs show a context menu with font options. If that does not work, the form does not support font resizing.

What to do when the size dropdown is missing

If you do not see a font size box in your toolbar, the toolbar might be hidden or customized. In Microsoft Word, go to View > Toolbars and make sure the Standard toolbar is checked. In Google Docs, the formatting toolbar should always be visible, but if it is not, click the three-line menu icon and look for a formatting option.

You can also access font size through the Format menu in almost every program. Click Format at the top, look for Font or Character, and a dialog box will open with a size field. Type the number you want and click OK. This is slower than the toolbar but works when the toolbar is unavailable.

If you are using a very old version of a program, the toolbar layout might be different from what you see in current screenshots online. The Format menu approach works in nearly all versions, so that is your backup plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between font size and line spacing?

Font size controls how tall the letters are. Line spacing controls how much empty space sits between lines of text. You change them separately — font size in the toolbar or Format menu, and line spacing in Format > Paragraph or Format > Line Spacing. Increasing font size makes text bigger but does not automatically add more space between lines.

Can I make different paragraphs different sizes in the same document?

Yes. Select the first paragraph, change its size, then select the next paragraph and change its size. You can have as many different sizes as you want in one document. This is common for headings (larger) and body text (smaller).

Why does my text stay the same size even after I click a new size?

You probably did not select the text before changing the size. The toolbar only resizes text that is highlighted. Click and drag to select the text you want to change, then click the size dropdown. If the text is still not changing, make sure you are clicking the number box itself, not just the label next to it.

Is there a maximum or minimum font size I can use?

Most programs let you type any number from 1 point up to 1638 points, though anything above 72 is rarely useful. Very small sizes (below 8 points) become hard to read. Very large sizes (above 96 points) are usually only for posters or signs.

Does changing font size affect how the document prints?

Yes. The font size you see on screen is the size that prints. If you make text 24 points, it will print at 24 points. This is why changing the default size for a whole document matters — if you increase the default from 12 to 14, the printed document will be noticeably larger and may not fit on the same number of pages.