how to change font size wordpress

Daniel Parker

3 min read

·

15-01-2025

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Meta Description: Learn how to effortlessly adjust font sizes across your WordPress website. This guide covers methods for beginners and advanced users, from using plugins to customizing CSS. Master font size control and enhance your site's readability and user experience today!

WordPress offers incredible flexibility, but sometimes the default font sizes aren't quite right. This comprehensive guide will walk you through several ways to change font sizes in WordPress, catering to all skill levels. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned coder, you'll find a solution here to perfectly tailor your website's typography.

Method 1: Using a WordPress Theme Customizer (Easiest Method)

Many modern WordPress themes provide options to adjust font sizes directly within the Customizer. This is the easiest method, requiring no coding skills.

Steps:

1. Access the Customizer: Log into your WordPress dashboard. Go to Appearance > Customize.
2. Find Typography Settings: Look for a section labeled "Typography," "Fonts," or something similar. The location varies depending on your theme.
3. Adjust Font Sizes: Your theme might offer individual settings for headings (H1, H2, etc.), body text, and other elements. Modify the sizes to your preference. Preview changes live before saving.
4. Save Changes: Click the "Publish" or "Save & Publish" button to implement your adjustments.

Note: Not all themes offer this level of customization. If you can't find these settings, proceed to the next methods.

Method 2: Using a Plugin (Beginner-Friendly)

WordPress plugins simplify many tasks, including font size adjustments. Several plugins offer sophisticated typography controls.

Popular Plugins:

• Easy Google Fonts: Lets you easily import Google Fonts and control their sizes.
• WP Typography: Provides extensive font customization options, including font size control.
• Elementor (Page Builder): While primarily a page builder, Elementor provides granular control over font sizes within its interface.

Steps (using a plugin as an example):

1. Install a Plugin: Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New. Search for your chosen plugin and click "Install Now" followed by "Activate."
2. Configure Settings: The plugin will add a new section to your WordPress dashboard or Customizer. Follow the plugin's instructions to adjust font sizes. Some plugins offer visual controls, while others require entering numerical values (e.g., in pixels or ems).
3. Save Changes: Save the plugin's settings to apply your adjustments.

Remember to always back up your website before installing any plugins.

Method 3: Customizing CSS (Advanced Method)

For advanced users comfortable with CSS, directly editing your theme's CSS offers the greatest control. This method requires more technical knowledge. Incorrect changes can break your website, so proceed cautiously and back up your files beforehand.

Steps:

1. Locate your style.css file: You can usually find this file by using an FTP client or via your hosting provider's file manager. It's located within your theme's folder.

2. Add CSS rules: Add custom CSS rules to adjust the font sizes. For example:

   body {
       font-size: 16px;
   }
   
   h1 {
       font-size: 36px;
   }
   
   h2 {
       font-size: 24px;
   }
   

3. Save Changes: Save the modified style.css file.

4. Test thoroughly: Check your website to ensure the changes have been applied correctly.

Important Considerations:

• Units: Use appropriate units like px (pixels), em (relative to parent element), or rem (relative to root element) for specifying font sizes. em and rem provide better responsiveness across different screen sizes.
• Specificity: CSS rules with higher specificity override others. If your changes aren't working, you may need to adjust selectors or add !important (use this sparingly).
• Child Themes: Modifying the style.css file directly might be overwritten during theme updates. Create a child theme to avoid losing your changes.

How to Choose the Right Font Size

The ideal font size depends on several factors, including:

• Readability: Prioritize readability. Larger fonts are generally easier to read, especially on smaller screens.
• Visual Hierarchy: Use different font sizes to create a clear visual hierarchy, guiding the reader's eye through your content. Larger sizes for headings, smaller for body text.
• Target Audience: Consider your target audience. Older readers might need larger fonts.
• Content Type: Short, punchy content might use smaller font sizes, while lengthy articles benefit from larger ones.

Troubleshooting Font Size Issues

• Caching: Clear your browser's cache and cookies. Caching can prevent changes from appearing.
• Plugin Conflicts: If using multiple plugins, disable plugins one by one to identify potential conflicts.
• Theme Conflicts: If using a custom theme, ensure your code is correct and doesn't conflict with the theme's stylesheet.

By following these methods, you can easily and effectively adjust font sizes on your WordPress site to improve readability and user experience. Remember to choose the method that best suits your technical skill level and always back up your website before making significant changes.