How Do You Change the Font Size in WordPress Easily?

Changing the font size in WordPress is a simple yet powerful way to enhance the readability and overall design of your website. Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or creative professional, adjusting your text size can help you better communicate your message and create a more engaging user experience. Understanding how to control typography in WordPress opens the door to customizing your site’s appearance to perfectly match your brand’s voice and style.

Font size plays a crucial role in website accessibility and aesthetics. Too small, and your content might be hard to read; too large, and it can overwhelm your layout. WordPress offers multiple ways to adjust font size, catering to users of all skill levels—from beginners using the built-in editor to advanced users who prefer custom CSS or theme settings. This flexibility ensures that everyone can find a method that suits their needs and technical comfort.

In the sections ahead, you’ll discover the various techniques available to change font size in WordPress, along with tips to maintain consistency and visual appeal across your site. Whether you want to tweak the size of headings, body text, or specific elements, mastering these options will empower you to create a polished and professional website that stands out.

Using the WordPress Block Editor to Adjust Font Size

The WordPress Block Editor, also known as Gutenberg, offers a straightforward way to change font sizes without any coding. When editing a post or page, you can customize the font size of individual blocks such as paragraphs, headings, or buttons.

To change the font size in the Block Editor:

  • Select the block containing the text you want to modify.
  • In the right-hand sidebar, locate the “Typography” section.
  • Use the “Font Size” dropdown or slider to select a predefined size or input a custom value.
  • Observe the changes in the editor immediately to ensure the font size fits your design.

The available font size options typically include presets like Small, Normal, Medium, Large, and Huge, but you can also enter a specific pixel or em value for more precise control.

Customizing Font Size with Theme Customizer

Many WordPress themes provide font size customization options through the Theme Customizer interface. This method affects font sizes site-wide, ensuring consistency across all pages and posts.

To access and adjust font sizes via the Theme Customizer:

  • Navigate to Appearance > Customize in the WordPress dashboard.
  • Look for a section labeled Typography, Fonts, or similar.
  • Within this section, you can adjust font sizes for various elements such as body text, headings, menus, and more.
  • Changes are previewed live, allowing you to tweak settings before publishing.

Note that not all themes support detailed font size customization. If your theme lacks these options, consider using a child theme or a plugin for more flexibility.

Changing Font Size Using CSS in WordPress

For advanced users comfortable with CSS, manually adding or editing CSS rules provides ultimate control over font sizes. You can modify specific elements or classes globally or on a per-page basis.

To apply custom CSS for font size changes:

  • Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
  • Insert CSS code targeting the desired elements. For example:

“`css
p {
font-size: 18px;
}

h2 {
font-size: 28px;
}
“`

  • Save and publish the changes.

When using CSS, you can specify font sizes in various units such as pixels (px), ems (em), rems (rem), percentages (%), or viewport units (vw, vh), depending on your responsive design goals.

Plugins That Facilitate Font Size Changes

If you prefer a plugin-based approach, several WordPress plugins enable easy font size adjustments without touching code or theme settings. Some popular options include:

  • Easy Google Fonts: Integrates Google Fonts and allows customization of font size, weight, and style.
  • TinyMCE Advanced: Enhances the classic editor with additional formatting tools including font size selectors.
  • Advanced Editor Tools: Offers extended formatting options within the block editor, including font size control.

Using plugins provides a user-friendly interface for managing typography but may add overhead or compatibility considerations depending on your site setup.

Comparison of Font Size Adjustment Methods

Method Control Level Ease of Use Site-wide Impact Requires Coding
Block Editor Per Block High No No
Theme Customizer Site-wide Moderate Yes No
Custom CSS Global or Specific Low Depends on CSS Yes
Plugins Varies High Varies No (Usually)

Changing Font Size Using the WordPress Block Editor

The WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) offers a straightforward way to adjust font size directly within content blocks. This method is ideal for users who want to customize text appearance without additional plugins or coding.

To change the font size in the Block Editor:

  • Select the text block (e.g., Paragraph, Heading) you want to modify.
  • On the right-hand sidebar, locate the Text Settings or Typography panel.
  • Use the Font Size dropdown or slider to choose a predefined size (Small, Normal, Medium, Large, Huge) or enter a custom value.
  • Observe the changes in the editor preview immediately.
  • Save or update the post/page to apply the changes on the live site.

Note that font size options may vary depending on the block type and your active theme’s styling support. Some themes may override default sizes or restrict custom values.

Adjusting Font Size via Theme Customizer

Many WordPress themes provide typography controls within the Theme Customizer, enabling global font size adjustments without editing individual blocks.

To access and modify font size using the Theme Customizer:

  1. Navigate to Appearance > Customize in the WordPress dashboard.
  2. Locate the Typography, Fonts, or similar section, depending on your theme.
  3. Look for options related to font size for body text, headings, or specific elements.
  4. Adjust sizes using sliders or input fields, often displayed in pixels (px), em, or rem units.
  5. Preview changes live in the customizer window before publishing.
  6. Click Publish to save the changes globally across your site.

If your theme does not support font size customization through the Customizer, consider using a child theme or custom CSS to achieve the desired effect.

Modifying Font Size with Custom CSS

For precise control over font sizes, adding custom CSS is the most flexible method. This approach allows targeting specific elements and applying exact values.

Basic CSS syntax for changing font size:

selector {  
  font-size: value;  
}

Examples of selectors and font size declarations:

Selector Purpose CSS Example
body Sets the base font size for the entire website body { font-size: 16px; }
h1, h2, h3 Adjust heading sizes h1 { font-size: 2.5rem; }
.entry-content p Targets paragraph text within posts or pages .entry-content p { font-size: 18px; }

To add custom CSS in WordPress:

  • Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
  • Enter your CSS code in the provided textarea.
  • Preview changes instantly and adjust as needed.
  • Click Publish to apply changes site-wide.

Ensure to use responsive units such as em or rem for better scalability across devices.

Using Plugins to Change Font Size in WordPress

If you prefer a plugin-based approach, several WordPress plugins specialize in typography control and font size customization. These plugins often provide user-friendly interfaces and advanced options.

Popular plugins include:

  • Easy Google Fonts: Integrates Google Fonts with live preview and font size settings.
  • WP Google Fonts: Assigns Google Fonts and manages typography site-wide.
  • YellowPencil: A visual CSS editor that allows adjusting font size by clicking and dragging.

Steps to use a typography plugin:

  1. Install and activate the chosen plugin via the Plugins menu.
  2. Navigate to the plugin’s settings panel, usually under Appearance or its own dashboard tab.
  3. Configure font sizes for body text, headings, menus, or other elements as per plugin capabilities.
  4. Save changes and verify the site reflects the new font sizes.

Plugins are especially useful when your theme lacks sufficient typography options or if you want to experiment without coding.

Expert Guidance on Changing Font Size in WordPress

Jessica Tran (Senior Web Developer, PixelCraft Studios). Changing font size in WordPress can be efficiently managed through the built-in block editor by selecting the text block and adjusting the typography settings. For more granular control, leveraging custom CSS within the theme customizer allows for consistent font sizing across the entire site without relying on inline styles.

Michael O’Connor (UX Designer and WordPress Consultant). From a user experience perspective, it’s crucial to maintain readability when adjusting font sizes. WordPress’s Gutenberg editor provides intuitive font size presets, but for accessibility compliance, I recommend using relative units like em or rem in custom CSS to ensure scalability across devices and user preferences.

Dr. Priya Singh (Digital Accessibility Specialist and WordPress Trainer). When changing font size in WordPress, it’s important to consider accessibility standards. Using the theme’s typography options is a good start, but implementing responsive font sizes through media queries and ensuring sufficient contrast will enhance usability for all visitors, including those with visual impairments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I change the font size in the WordPress block editor?
Select the text block you want to edit, then use the typography settings in the block toolbar or sidebar to adjust the font size. You can choose from preset sizes or enter a custom value.

Can I change the font size for my entire WordPress site at once?
Yes, by modifying your theme’s global typography settings via the Customizer or using a theme that supports global font controls, you can adjust the font size site-wide.

Is it possible to change font size using custom CSS in WordPress?
Absolutely. You can add custom CSS targeting specific elements or classes in the WordPress Customizer’s Additional CSS section or a child theme’s stylesheet to define precise font sizes.

Do WordPress page builders offer font size customization?
Most popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi provide intuitive controls to adjust font size for headings, paragraphs, and other text elements directly within their interfaces.

Will changing font size affect mobile responsiveness in WordPress?
Properly configured font size settings or responsive CSS ensure text scales appropriately on different devices, maintaining readability without breaking the site layout.

Are there plugins available to help change font size in WordPress?
Yes, several plugins like Easy Google Fonts or WP Google Fonts allow you to customize font sizes and styles without coding, offering greater control over typography.
Changing the font size in WordPress is a straightforward process that can be accomplished through several methods depending on the user’s level of expertise and the specific theme or page builder in use. Users can adjust font sizes directly within the WordPress block editor by selecting text blocks and modifying typography settings. Alternatively, custom CSS can be applied for more precise control over font size across the entire site or specific elements.

Utilizing plugins designed for typography customization offers another flexible option, especially for those who prefer not to work with code. Many themes also include built-in options to adjust font size globally or for particular sections, making it easier to maintain design consistency without additional tools. Understanding the available options allows users to select the most efficient approach tailored to their needs.

In summary, effectively changing font size in WordPress enhances readability and overall user experience. By leveraging the block editor, theme settings, plugins, or custom CSS, users can achieve the desired visual impact while maintaining website performance and accessibility standards. Mastery of these techniques contributes to a polished and professional website appearance.

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Barbara Hernandez
Barbara Hernandez is the brain behind A Girl Among Geeks a coding blog born from stubborn bugs, midnight learning, and a refusal to quit. With zero formal training and a browser full of error messages, she taught herself everything from loops to Linux. Her mission? Make tech less intimidating, one real answer at a time.

Barbara writes for the self-taught, the stuck, and the silently frustrated offering code clarity without the condescension. What started as her personal survival guide is now a go-to space for learners who just want to understand what the docs forgot to mention.