To change the font size in Word, select the text, go to the Home tab, and pick a number from the Font Size box in the Font group. You can also type any size from 1 to 1638 points into that box, or press Ctrl+Shift+> and Ctrl+Shift+< (Command+Shift+> and Command+Shift+< on a Mac) to make text bigger or smaller. To change the size for every new document, set a new default in the Font dialog box.
Change font size from the Home tab
These steps work the same way in Word for Windows, Word for Mac, and Word for the web.
- Select the text you want to change. To change everything in the document, press Ctrl+A (Command+A on a Mac).
- Select the Home tab.
- In the Font group, select the arrow next to the Font Size box. It sits just to the right of the font name.
- Point at a size to preview it, then click it. The selected text resizes right away.
If you set a size with nothing selected, Word applies it to the text you type next at the cursor.
Type a custom font size
The list stops at 72, but Word accepts much more. Click inside the Font Size box, type a number, and press Enter. According to Microsoft’s font size guide, you can use any size from 1 to 1638 in steps of 0.5, such as 10.5 or 105.5.
Next to the Font Size box are two buttons with a capital A and a small arrow: Increase Font Size and Decrease Font Size. Each click moves the selected text to the next size in the list. This is handy when a selection contains several sizes, because each part grows or shrinks by one step and keeps its relative size.
When you select text with the mouse, a small Mini toolbar may also appear beside it. It has the same size box and grow/shrink buttons, so you don’t have to move up to the ribbon.
Keyboard shortcuts for font size
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Increase to the next size in the list | Ctrl+Shift+> | Command+Shift+> |
| Decrease to the next size in the list | Ctrl+Shift+< | Command+Shift+< |
| Increase by 1 point | Ctrl+] | Command+] |
| Decrease by 1 point | Ctrl+[ | Command+[ |
| Open the Font dialog box | Ctrl+D | Command+D |
Select the text first, then press the shortcut as many times as you need. These shortcuts come from Microsoft’s list of Word keyboard shortcuts.
Change the size in the Font dialog box
- Select the text.
- Press Ctrl+D, or select the small arrow in the lower-right corner of the Font group on the Home tab. On a Mac, you can also choose Format > Font.
- Choose or type a value in the Size box. The Preview area shows the result.
- Select OK.
The dialog box is useful when you also want to change the font, style, or effects in one place.
Change the default font size
New documents in current Microsoft 365 versions of Word start with Aptos at 12 points. Older versions used Calibri at 11 points. To pick a different starting size on Windows:
- Open a new blank document.
- Press Ctrl+D to open the Font dialog box.
- Choose the size you want in the Size box.
- Select Set As Default.
- Choose All documents based on the Normal template? and select OK.
On a Mac, choose Format > Font, set the size, select Default, and confirm with Yes. Existing documents keep their current size. See our guide to changing the default font in Word for more detail, including what to do if the default keeps resetting.
Resize headings, headers, and other parts consistently
For a long document, it’s often better to change a style than to resize text piece by piece. On the Home tab, right-click a style such as Normal or Heading 1, choose Modify, change the size, and select OK. Every paragraph that uses that style updates at once, and new text matches too.
To resize text in a header or footer, double-click the top or bottom of the page to open it, select the text, and use the same Font Size box. Close the header when you’re done.
Change font size in Word on a phone or tablet
In the Word app for iPhone, iPad, or Android, select the text, open the Home tab (on a phone, tap the … button to show the ribbon), and tap the font size to choose a new one.
If the size looks wrong or won’t change
- Text looks tiny or huge on screen only: That’s the zoom level, not the font size. Use the zoom slider in the bottom-right corner or View > Zoom. Zoom doesn’t affect printing.
- The Font Size box is blank: Your selection contains more than one size. Pick a size to make them all match, or use the grow/shrink buttons to keep their differences.
- Text in a text box shrinks by itself: The box may be set to shrink text on overflow. Right-click the box, choose Format Shape, and change the text box Autofit option.
- Text changes back: The paragraph style may be set to update automatically. Modify the style instead of the text.
- Nothing changes at all: The document may be protected or read-only. Check for a yellow message bar and whether you have edit rights.
Tips for choosing a size
- Use 10 to 12 points for body text in most documents, and larger sizes for headings.
- Keep sizes consistent. A few sizes used on purpose look cleaner than many small differences.
- Bigger text adds pages, so check File > Print before you print.
- Pair size changes with line and paragraph spacing so larger text doesn’t look cramped.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default font size in Word?
Current Microsoft 365 versions use 12-point Aptos. Word 2007 through Word 2021 used 11-point Calibri. You can change it at any time with the default-size steps above.
How do I change the font size of all the text at once?
Press Ctrl+A (Command+A on a Mac) to select everything, then choose a size. This makes every piece of text the same size, including headings. To keep headings larger, modify the Normal style instead.
Will changing the font size affect printing?
Yes. The printed text matches the font size, and larger text takes more pages. Zoom, by contrast, only changes what you see on screen.
How do I make text bigger than 72 points?
Click in the Font Size box, type the number, and press Enter. Word accepts sizes up to 1638.
How do I change the font as well as the size?
Use the font name box beside the size box. Our guide on changing the font in Word covers it step by step.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com