How to Change Font Size in WordPress: A Comprehensive Guide

Customizing the font size on your WordPress website is crucial for enhancing readability and user experience. Whether you want to make headings stand out or improve the legibility of your body text, adjusting font sizes is a fundamental aspect of web design. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to change font sizes in WordPress, catering to different skill levels and needs.

Why Font Size Matters

  • Readability: Appropriately sized fonts make your content easier to read, reducing eye strain and encouraging visitors to stay longer on your site.
  • Accessibility: Larger fonts are essential for users with visual impairments. Providing options to increase font size contributes to a more inclusive website.
  • Visual Hierarchy: Font sizes help establish a clear hierarchy, guiding readers through your content and highlighting important information.
  • Branding: Consistent font sizes across your website reinforce your brand identity and create a professional look and feel.
  • Responsiveness: Properly sized fonts ensure your website looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.

Methods to Change Font Size in WordPress

There are several ways to change the font size in WordPress, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore the most common methods:

1. Using the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

The Block Editor (Gutenberg) provides a user-friendly interface for changing font sizes directly within your content.

Steps:

  1. Open the Post or Page: Navigate to the post or page you want to edit in your WordPress dashboard. Click on ‘Posts’ or ‘Pages,’ then select the desired content.
  2. Select the Block: Click on the text block you want to modify. This could be a paragraph, heading, or list block.
  3. Access Block Settings: In the right-hand sidebar, you’ll find the block settings. If you don’t see the sidebar, click the ‘Settings’ icon in the top-right corner (it looks like a gear).
  4. Change Font Size:
    • Paragraph Block: Look for the ‘Typography’ section. Here, you can typically choose from preset font sizes (Small, Normal, Medium, Large, Huge) or use a slider to set a custom size. Some themes allow direct pixel input here.
    • Heading Block: The ‘Typography’ section in the Heading block settings usually offers options to select a heading level (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and adjust the font size.
  5. Preview and Update: Click the ‘Preview’ button to see how the changes look on your website. If you’re satisfied, click ‘Update’ to save the changes.

Detailed Instructions with Examples

Let’s say you want to increase the font size of a paragraph in your blog post:

  1. Open the Post: Go to ‘Posts’ -> ‘All Posts’ in your WordPress dashboard and click on the title of the post you want to edit.
  2. Select the Paragraph Block: Click on the paragraph you want to change. A toolbar will appear above the block.
  3. Access Typography Settings: In the right sidebar, scroll down until you find the ‘Typography’ section. You might need to expand this section if it’s collapsed.
  4. Choose Font Size:
    • Using Preset Sizes: If your theme provides preset sizes, click on the dropdown menu and select ‘Large’ or ‘Huge’ to increase the font size. The text in the block will update to reflect your choice in real-time in the editor.
    • Using Custom Size: Some themes allow you to enter a specific pixel value for the font size. Look for a text input field or a slider within the ‘Typography’ section. Enter the desired font size (e.g., ’18px’ for 18 pixels). You’ll see the change immediately in the editor.
  5. Preview and Save: Click the ‘Preview’ button at the top of the screen to see how the change looks on your live website. If you’re happy with the result, click the ‘Update’ button to save your changes.

Similarly, to change the font size of a heading:

  1. Open the Post: Same as above.
  2. Select the Heading Block: Click on the heading whose size you want to adjust.
  3. Access Typography Settings: In the right sidebar, find the ‘Typography’ section.
  4. Choose Font Size: Often, heading blocks will have a dropdown menu to choose the heading level (H1, H2, H3, etc.). Selecting a smaller number (e.g., H1) will generally result in a larger font size. You might also see an option to adjust the size directly with a slider or pixel input, just like with paragraph blocks.
  5. Preview and Save: Preview and update as before.

2. Using the Theme Customizer

The WordPress Theme Customizer offers a centralized interface for customizing various aspects of your website’s appearance, including font sizes. The options available in the Theme Customizer depend on the theme you are using.

Steps:

  1. Access the Theme Customizer: In your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Customize.’
  2. Navigate to Typography or Fonts: Look for a section related to typography or fonts. This might be labeled as ‘Typography,’ ‘Fonts,’ ‘General Settings,’ or something similar. The exact name will vary based on your theme.
  3. Adjust Font Sizes: Within the typography settings, you should find options to change font sizes for different elements, such as body text, headings, menus, and more. These are often controlled by dropdown menus, sliders, or direct input fields.
  4. Preview Changes: As you adjust the font sizes, you’ll see a live preview of the changes on the right side of the screen.
  5. Publish Changes: Once you’re satisfied with the changes, click the ‘Publish’ button to save them.

Detailed Instructions with Examples

Let’s assume your theme has a ‘Typography’ section in the Customizer:

  1. Access the Customizer: Go to ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Customize’ in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Typography: Click on the ‘Typography’ section.
  3. Adjust Body Text Size: Look for an option labeled something like ‘Body Text Size’ or ‘Base Font Size.’ This controls the default font size for the main content of your website (paragraphs, etc.). Use the provided slider or input field to increase or decrease the font size. For example, you might increase it from 16px to 18px. Watch the preview on the right to see the effect.
  4. Adjust Heading Sizes: You should also see options to control the sizes of your headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.). These might be labeled ‘Heading 1 Size,’ ‘Heading 2 Size,’ and so on. Adjust these sizes to create a visual hierarchy. For example, you might set H1 to 32px, H2 to 24px, and H3 to 18px.
  5. Consider Font Weights and Styles: While you’re in the Typography section, you might also find options to adjust the font weight (e.g., bold, normal, light) and font style (e.g., italic, normal). These can further enhance the readability and visual appeal of your text.
  6. Publish Changes: Once you’re happy with all the changes, click the ‘Publish’ button at the top of the screen.

Important Note: The specific options available in the Theme Customizer vary greatly depending on the theme you are using. Some themes offer very detailed typography controls, while others provide only basic options. If your theme’s Customizer doesn’t offer the flexibility you need, you may need to consider using a plugin or editing CSS directly.

3. Using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS provides the most control over font sizes and other styling aspects of your website. This method requires some knowledge of CSS, but it’s a powerful way to customize your website’s appearance.

Methods for Adding CSS:

  • Theme Customizer (Additional CSS): Most themes provide an ‘Additional CSS’ section in the Theme Customizer where you can add custom CSS rules.
  • Child Theme: Creating a child theme allows you to modify your theme’s CSS without directly editing the parent theme files. This is the recommended approach for making significant CSS changes, as it prevents your customizations from being overwritten when the theme is updated.
  • Plugins: Several plugins allow you to add custom CSS to your website.

Steps (using Theme Customizer – Additional CSS):

  1. Access the Theme Customizer: In your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Customize.’
  2. Go to Additional CSS: Look for and click on the ‘Additional CSS’ section.
  3. Add CSS Rules: Add your custom CSS rules to change font sizes.
  4. Preview Changes: The changes will be reflected in the preview on the right side of the screen.
  5. Publish Changes: Click the ‘Publish’ button to save your changes.

CSS Examples

Here are some common CSS selectors and properties you can use to change font sizes:

  • Body Text:
    body {
 font-size: 16px; /* Sets the default font size for the entire body */
 }
  • Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.):
    h1 {
 font-size: 32px;
 }

h2 {
 font-size: 24px;
 }

h3 {
 font-size: 18px;
 }
  • Paragraphs:
    p {
 font-size: 16px;
 line-height: 1.5; /* Adjust line height for better readability */
 }
  • Specific Class or ID: If you want to target specific elements, you can use their class or ID.
    .my-custom-class {
 font-size: 20px;
 }

#my-unique-id {
 font-size: 22px;
 }
  • Mobile Devices (Media Queries): You can use media queries to adjust font sizes for different screen sizes.
    @media (max-width: 768px) {
 body {
 font-size: 14px; /* Smaller font size for mobile */
 }
 h1 {
 font-size: 28px;
 }
}

Detailed Instructions with Examples

Let’s say you want to change the default font size of your body text to 18 pixels and the font size of all H1 headings to 36 pixels.

  1. Access the Customizer: Go to ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Customize’ in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Go to Additional CSS: Click on the ‘Additional CSS’ section.
  3. Add the CSS Rules: Enter the following CSS code:
    body {
 font-size: 18px;
}

h1 {
 font-size: 36px;
}
  4. Preview Changes: Watch the preview on the right side of the screen. You should see the body text and H1 headings update to the new font sizes.
  5. Publish Changes: Click the ‘Publish’ button to save your changes.

Using !important: Sometimes, your theme’s CSS might override your custom CSS rules. In such cases, you can use the !important declaration to ensure your rules take precedence.

body {
 font-size: 18px !important;
}

h1 {
 font-size: 36px !important;
}

However, use !important sparingly, as it can make your CSS harder to maintain in the long run. It’s generally better to try to be more specific with your CSS selectors or adjust the theme’s CSS directly (if you’re using a child theme).

CSS Units: When specifying font sizes in CSS, you can use different units:

  • px (pixels): Absolute unit, provides a fixed size.
  • em: Relative to the font size of the parent element. 1em is equal to the parent’s font size.
  • rem: Relative to the root element (HTML element). 1rem is equal to the root element’s font size. This is generally preferred over em for consistent sizing.
  • %: Percentage, relative to the font size of the parent element.
  • pt (points): Another absolute unit, traditionally used for print.

For responsive design, rem is often preferred because it allows you to easily scale font sizes based on the root element’s font size, making it easier to adjust the overall typography for different screen sizes.

4. Using WordPress Plugins

Several WordPress plugins offer advanced typography control and make it easy to change font sizes without coding. These plugins often provide a visual interface for customizing font sizes, font families, and other typography settings.

Examples of Font Size Plugins:

  • Easy Google Fonts: Allows you to easily integrate Google Fonts into your website and customize font sizes for different elements.
  • Use Any Font: Enables you to use custom fonts and adjust font sizes without writing code.
  • Font Awesome: While primarily for icons, Font Awesome also provides options to control icon sizes, which can be useful for visual consistency.
  • Custom Fonts: This plugin allows you to upload and use custom fonts, providing additional flexibility in typography customization.

Steps (Using Easy Google Fonts):

  1. Install and Activate the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Plugins’ -> ‘Add New.’ Search for ‘Easy Google Fonts,’ install the plugin, and activate it.
  2. Access the Theme Customizer: Go to ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Customize.’
  3. Navigate to Typography: You should see a new section called ‘Typography’ added by the plugin. Click on it.
  4. Customize Font Sizes: Within the Typography section, you can select different elements (e.g., headings, body text) and choose a Google Font for each. You can also adjust the font size, font weight, and other typography settings.
  5. Preview and Publish: Preview the changes and click ‘Publish’ to save them.

Detailed Instructions with Examples

Let’s walk through using Easy Google Fonts to change the font size and font family of your headings:

  1. Install and Activate: Go to ‘Plugins’ -> ‘Add New,’ search for ‘Easy Google Fonts,’ install it, and activate it.
  2. Access the Customizer: Go to ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Customize.’
  3. Navigate to Typography: Click on the ‘Typography’ section that Easy Google Fonts has added.
  4. Select Heading Elements: You’ll likely see options for different heading levels (H1, H2, H3, etc.). Click on the dropdown menu next to ‘Headings.’
  5. Choose Font Family: Select a Google Font from the ‘Font Family’ dropdown. For example, you might choose ‘Roboto’ or ‘Open Sans.’
  6. Adjust Font Size: Use the ‘Font Size’ slider or input field to adjust the size of the headings. For example, you might set H1 to 36px, H2 to 28px, and H3 to 22px.
  7. Adjust Font Weight: You can also adjust the ‘Font Weight’ to make the headings bolder or lighter. For example, you might choose ‘700’ for a bold heading.
  8. Preview and Publish: Preview the changes and click ‘Publish’ to save them.

Plugin Considerations: While plugins offer a convenient way to change font sizes, it’s important to choose plugins carefully. Too many plugins can slow down your website. Look for plugins that are well-maintained, have good reviews, and are compatible with your version of WordPress.

Best Practices for Font Size

  • Use a Consistent Font Scale: Establish a consistent font scale (e.g., using a modular scale) to create a harmonious visual hierarchy.
  • Ensure Readability: Choose font sizes that are easy to read on different devices and screen sizes. A good starting point for body text is 16px, but you may need to adjust this based on the font family you choose.
  • Consider Line Height: Adjust the line height (the space between lines of text) to improve readability. A line height of 1.5 to 1.75 is generally recommended.
  • Use Responsive Font Sizes: Use media queries to adjust font sizes for different screen sizes, ensuring your website looks great on all devices.
  • Test on Different Devices: Test your website on different devices and browsers to ensure the font sizes are rendering correctly.
  • Accessibility: Ensure your font sizes meet accessibility guidelines. Provide options for users to increase font sizes if needed. Consider using relative units like `rem` or percentages to allow users to scale the text according to their preferences via browser settings.
  • Contrast: Always make sure your text color has sufficient contrast with the background color. Low contrast can make text difficult or impossible to read for some users. Tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker can help you ensure sufficient contrast.

Troubleshooting Font Size Issues

  • CSS Specificity: If your CSS rules are not being applied, check the CSS specificity. More specific rules will override less specific ones.
  • Caching: Clear your browser cache and WordPress cache to ensure you’re seeing the latest changes.
  • Plugin Conflicts: Deactivate plugins one by one to identify any plugin conflicts that might be affecting font sizes.
  • Theme Updates: Ensure your theme is up to date. Outdated themes can sometimes cause compatibility issues.
  • Browser Compatibility: Test your website on different browsers to ensure the font sizes are rendering correctly.

Conclusion

Changing font sizes in WordPress is essential for creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website. By using the methods described in this guide, you can easily customize font sizes to improve readability, establish visual hierarchy, and reinforce your brand identity. Remember to follow best practices and test your changes on different devices to ensure a consistent and accessible user experience. Whether you prefer the simplicity of the Block Editor, the flexibility of the Theme Customizer, the power of CSS, or the convenience of plugins, you have the tools to create a website with typography that reflects your brand and engages your audience.

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