Change font size in three taps
Open any book on your Kindle and tap the middle of the screen. A menu bar appears at the top and bottom. Tap the Aa icon (it looks like two letter A's, one small and one large) in the top menu. A font size slider appears — drag it left to make text smaller or right to make it larger. The change takes effect when ready on the page you're reading.
The Kindle remembers your choice for that book only. If you open a different book, it will use whatever size you last set for that title. You can adjust the size differently for each book without affecting the others.
This works the same way on all Kindle devices — the basic e-reader, Paperwhite, Oasis, and Scribe models. It also works on the free Kindle reading app if you have it installed on a phone or tablet, though the menu location is identical.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the center of the screen while reading, then tap the Aa icon to open the font size slider.
- Drag the slider right to enlarge text or left to shrink it, and the change appears when ready on your current page.
- Each book remembers its own font size setting separately, so you can read different titles at different sizes.
- Font size adjustments work on all Kindle hardware models and on the Kindle app for phones and tablets.
- Changing font size does not affect your reading progress or bookmarks in that book.
Why you might want to change font size
The default font size works for many readers, but some people find it too small for comfortable reading, especially on the smaller Kindle Paperwhite screen. Others prefer a larger size to reduce eye strain during long reading sessions. Since you can adjust it at any time, there is no penalty for experimenting.
If you are reading a book with dense text or small margins, enlarging the font can make the page feel less crowded. Conversely, if you want to see more words per page and turn pages less often, making the font smaller accomplishes that.
Other text settings that work alongside font size
While you have the Aa menu open, you will see other options below the font size slider. These include line spacing (the gap between lines of text), margins (the white space on the sides), and font choice. You can adjust any of these at the same time as font size.
The font options on most Kindles include Bookerly (the default), OpenDyslexic (designed for readers with dyslexia), and a few others depending on your device. Changing the font does not change the size — it only changes the shape of the letters. You control size with the slider.
If you make the font larger and also increase line spacing, the pages will turn more frequently because fewer words fit on each screen. This is normal and not a problem — it just means you will see fewer lines per page.
Resetting font size to default
If you want to return to the original font size for a book, open the Aa menu again and move the slider back to the middle position. There is no "reset all" button, so you will need to do this for each book individually if you have changed multiple titles.
The Kindle does not store a global default that applies to all future books you read. Each new book you open will start at whatever size you last used for that specific title, or at the factory default if you have never adjusted it.
Font size on different Kindle models
The basic Kindle has a 6-inch screen, the Paperwhite has a 6.8-inch screen, and the Oasis has a 7.3-inch screen. A larger screen means the same font size covers more physical space, so text may appear slightly larger on an Oasis than on a basic Kindle even if you use the same slider position. This is just how screens work — the text itself is the same size, but it takes up more of your field of view.
The Kindle Scribe is a larger device with a 10.2-inch screen designed for note-taking as well as reading. Font size adjustments work the same way, but because the screen is much bigger, even the smallest font size setting may appear larger than it does on a Paperwhite.
If you switch between devices, you may need to readjust the font size for comfort. A size that feels right on a Paperwhite might feel too small on a phone running the Kindle app, or too large on a Scribe.
What happens to font size when you sync across devices
If you read the same book on multiple devices — say, your Kindle and your phone — the Kindle cloud service syncs your reading progress but not your font size settings. This means you can be on page 50 of a book on both devices, but the font size you set on your Kindle will not automatically appear on your phone.
You will need to adjust the font size separately on each device. This is by design, because what feels comfortable on a 6-inch screen often does not feel comfortable on a 5-inch phone screen. The Kindle app on your phone remembers the size you set there, and your Kindle device remembers the size you set on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the font size even larger than the biggest slider setting?
No. The slider has a maximum size, and you cannot go beyond it. If the largest setting is still too small, you can try increasing line spacing and margins at the same time, which makes the text feel less cramped and easier to read. Some readers find this combination more comfortable than size alone.
Does changing font size affect how many pages the book has?
Yes. When you enlarge the font, the same text spreads across more pages because fewer words fit on each screen. The Kindle adjusts the page count automatically. This does not change your actual progress through the book — the Kindle tracks your location by percentage, not by page number.
Will my font size choice stay the same if I delete and re-read a book?
No. When you delete a book from your Kindle, all settings for that book are erased, including font size. If you read it again later, it will start at the default size. You will need to adjust it again.
Can I set a different font size for the table of contents than for the main text?
No. The font size slider controls all text in the book, including the table of contents, chapter headings, and body text. You cannot adjust them separately.
What if the font size slider is not appearing when I tap the Aa icon?
Make sure you are tapping the Aa icon in the top menu bar, not elsewhere on the screen. If the menu bar has disappeared, tap the center of the screen again to bring it back. On rare occasions, restarting your Kindle (turning it off and back on) fixes a stuck menu.