How Do I Change the Font Size in WordPress Easily?

Changing the font size in WordPress is a fundamental step in customizing your website’s appearance to better reflect your brand and enhance readability. Whether you’re a beginner setting up your first blog or an experienced site owner looking to fine-tune your design, understanding how to adjust font sizes can make a significant difference in user experience. The right font size not only improves the aesthetics of your site but also ensures your content is accessible and engaging to all visitors.

WordPress offers a variety of ways to modify font sizes, ranging from simple built-in tools to more advanced customization options. Depending on your theme, plugins, and comfort level with coding, you can easily tailor your typography to suit your needs. This flexibility allows you to create a visually appealing website that stands out and communicates your message effectively.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the different methods available for changing font sizes in WordPress. Whether you prefer using the block editor, theme customizer, or CSS tweaks, you’ll find practical guidance to help you achieve the perfect look for your site’s text. Get ready to transform your website’s typography and enhance your visitors’ reading experience.

Changing Font Size Using Custom CSS

If you want more precise control over font sizes in WordPress, using custom CSS is an effective method. This approach allows you to target specific elements or classes within your theme and define exact font sizes.

To add custom CSS, navigate to your WordPress Dashboard, then go to **Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS**. Here, you can input CSS rules that override your theme’s default styles. For example, to change the font size of all paragraph texts, you would add:

“`css
p {
font-size: 18px;
}
“`

You can also target headings or other specific elements by their tags or classes:

“`css
h1 {
font-size: 36px;
}

.entry-title {
font-size: 28px;
}
“`

Remember that CSS font-size values can be set using various units, such as pixels (`px`), em (`em`), rem (`rem`), or percentages (`%`). Each unit has its own implications for responsiveness and scalability.

Using Page Builders to Adjust Font Size

Many WordPress users employ page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, or Divi to design their pages visually. These tools provide intuitive interfaces to change font sizes without writing code.

When using a page builder:

Select the text element or widget you want to modify.
Locate the typography or style settings panel.
Adjust the font size slider or input a specific value.
Preview the changes in real-time.
Save or update the page to apply changes.

Page builders often allow different font sizes for desktop, tablet, and mobile views, enabling responsive design adjustments.

Font Size Options in the Block Editor (Gutenberg)

The WordPress Block Editor offers built-in font size controls for many text blocks such as paragraphs, headings, and lists.

To change font size in Gutenberg:

Select the block containing the text.
In the right-hand sidebar under the “Block” tab, find the “Typography” or “Text Settings” section.
Choose from predefined font size options like Small, Normal, Medium, Large, or Huge.
For more control, some blocks allow entering a custom font size in pixels.

If the default options are limited, you can extend the editor’s capabilities using plugins that add custom font sizes or typography controls.

Font Size Considerations for Accessibility and SEO

When adjusting font sizes, it is important to consider accessibility and SEO best practices. Proper font size enhances readability for all users, including those with visual impairments.

Key considerations include:

Maintain a minimum font size of 16px for body text to ensure legibility.
Use relative units like `em` or `rem` for better scalability across devices.
Avoid excessively large fonts that disrupt the page layout or user experience.
Ensure adequate contrast between text and background colors.
Test font sizes on various devices and screen resolutions.

Comparison of Common Methods to Change Font Size

Method	Ease of Use	Control Level	Responsive Options	Requires Coding
Theme Customizer	Easy	Basic	Limited	No
Custom CSS	Moderate	High	Yes	Yes
Page Builders	Easy	High	Yes	No
Block Editor	Easy	Basic to Moderate	Limited	No
Plugins (Typography)	Easy to Moderate	High	Yes	No

Adjusting Font Size Using the WordPress Block Editor

The WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) provides a straightforward way to change font size for individual blocks, such as paragraphs, headings, or lists, without requiring custom CSS or plugins.

To modify font size in the Block Editor:

Select the block containing the text you want to resize.
In the right-hand sidebar under the Block tab, locate the Typography section.
Use the Font size dropdown menu to choose from predefined sizes such as Small, Normal, Medium, Large, or Huge.
Alternatively, input a custom font size by clicking the Custom option and entering a numeric value in pixels (e.g., 18px).
Preview the changes immediately in the editor and adjust as needed.

This method applies font size changes to the selected block only, allowing granular control over individual content elements.

Changing Font Size Through Theme Customizer

Many WordPress themes offer font size customization globally via the Theme Customizer, which affects site-wide typography settings.

To access and adjust font size through the Customizer:

Navigate to Appearance > Customize from the WordPress dashboard.
Look for a section named Typography, Fonts, or similar—naming varies by theme.
Within this section, locate options for Base font size or specific element sizes (e.g., paragraph, headings).
Adjust sliders or input values to increase or decrease font size globally.
Use the live preview pane to verify appearance across different screen sizes.
Click Publish to apply changes.

This method is ideal for consistent font sizing across the entire website and leverages theme-specific settings for optimal compatibility.

Using Custom CSS to Change Font Size

For more precise control or when the theme and editor options are insufficient, adding custom CSS is a powerful solution.

Steps to add custom CSS for font size adjustment:

Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
Enter CSS rules targeting specific HTML elements or classes. For example:

Selector	CSS Rule	Effect
p	`font-size: 18px;`	Sets all paragraph text to 18 pixels.
h1, h2, h3	`font-size: 2rem;`	Sets headings 1, 2, and 3 to 2 rem units.
.custom-class	`font-size: 20px;`	Targets elements with the CSS class `custom-class`.

Click Publish to save changes.

Custom CSS allows targeting specific elements across your site but requires familiarity with CSS selectors and syntax.

Changing Font Size with WordPress Plugins

If you prefer a user-friendly interface without coding, several WordPress plugins can help manage font sizes across your site.

Popular plugins include:

Easy Google Fonts: Integrates with the Customizer and lets you change font sizes and families for different HTML elements.
Advanced Editor Tools (TinyMCE Advanced): Enhances the classic editor with font size controls.
WP Google Fonts: Allows adding Google Fonts and customizing font sizes via settings.

These plugins typically add font size controls either to the editor toolbar or the Customizer, simplifying the process without manual CSS.

Best Practices for Font Size in WordPress

When adjusting font size, consider the following best practices to ensure readability and aesthetic consistency:

Maintain hierarchy: Use larger font sizes for headings and smaller sizes for body text to establish clear content structure.
Use relative units: Prefer rem or em units for font size to support accessibility and responsive design.
Test across devices: Preview font sizes on desktop, tablet, and mobile to ensure legibility.
Limit font size variations: Avoid excessive variations that may distract or confuse readers.
Check theme compatibility: Ensure custom font size changes do not conflict with your theme’s styles.

Expert Guidance on Changing Font Size in WordPress

Jessica Lee (Senior Web Developer, PixelCraft Studios). When adjusting font size in WordPress, the most efficient method is to utilize the built-in block editor’s typography settings. This allows users to customize font sizes on a per-block basis without needing custom code, ensuring consistent design and accessibility across the site.

Dr. Michael Chen (UX Designer and Accessibility Consultant). It is crucial to consider responsive typography when changing font sizes in WordPress. Using relative units like em or rem in custom CSS ensures that text scales appropriately on different devices, enhancing readability and user experience for all visitors.

Sarah Patel (WordPress Theme Developer, ThemeForge). For advanced users, modifying font size through a child theme’s stylesheet offers precise control and preserves changes during theme updates. Leveraging custom CSS classes combined with WordPress’s Customizer tool provides a scalable and maintainable approach to typography customization.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I change the font size using 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 directly.

Can I change the font size site-wide in WordPress?
Yes, you can modify the font size globally by accessing the Customizer under Appearance > Customize > Typography or by editing your theme’s CSS.

Is it possible to change font size with custom CSS in WordPress?
Absolutely. You can add custom CSS via the Customizer’s Additional CSS section or a child theme to specify font sizes for specific elements.

Do WordPress themes affect font size options?
Yes, font size controls vary by theme. Some themes provide extensive typography settings, while others may require custom CSS for font size adjustments.

Can plugins help me change font size in WordPress?
Yes, plugins like Easy Google Fonts or WP Google Fonts allow you to customize font sizes and styles without coding.

Will changing font size affect my website’s responsiveness?
Properly set font sizes using relative units (like em or rem) ensure responsiveness, maintaining readability across different devices.
Changing the font size in WordPress is a straightforward process that can be accomplished through several methods depending on the user’s needs and technical proficiency. Whether utilizing the built-in block editor, customizing theme settings, or adding custom CSS, WordPress offers flexible options to adjust typography effectively. Understanding these methods allows users to enhance readability and improve the overall design of their website.

Using the block editor, users can easily modify font size on individual blocks such as paragraphs or headings without requiring coding knowledge. For more comprehensive control, many themes provide typography settings that allow global font size adjustments across the site. Additionally, advanced users can implement custom CSS to fine-tune font sizes for specific elements, ensuring a tailored and consistent appearance.

Ultimately, selecting the appropriate method to change font size depends on the desired level of customization and familiarity with WordPress tools. By leveraging these options thoughtfully, website owners can create visually appealing content that aligns with their brand identity and enhances user experience. Staying informed about these techniques empowers users to maintain a professional and accessible website.

Author Profile

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.