You can change font size on any Kindle device or app in under a minute
Font size on Kindle is adjustable through a menu that appears while you're reading. On physical Kindle devices, you tap the center of the screen to open the toolbar, then select the font icon. On Kindle apps (phone, tablet, computer), you access the same controls through a settings or text icon. The change applies instantly to your current book and stays set for future reading unless you change it again.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using a physical device or reading on a phone, tablet, or computer. All methods take less than a minute, and you can experiment with sizes without saving anything or restarting the app.
Key Takeaways
- On Kindle e-readers, tap the center of the screen while reading, then tap the font icon (usually marked with an "A") to access size options.
- On Kindle apps for phones and tablets, swipe down from the top of the screen or tap a menu icon to find text settings.
- Font size changes take effect immediately and apply to all future books you read on that device or app.
- Kindle devices and apps offer between five and eight size options, ranging from very small to very large text.
Changing font size on a physical Kindle device
On Kindle e-readers (Paperwhite, Voyage, Oasis, or basic Kindle), the process is the same across all models. While you have a book open, tap the center of the screen. A toolbar will appear at the top and bottom of the page with several icons.
Look for the font icon, which shows the letter "A" with up and down arrows, or sometimes just a larger and smaller "A". Tap this icon. A menu will open showing font size options, usually displayed as a series of circles or bars increasing in size. Tap the size you want. The text on your page will resize immediately, and the book will adjust the page breaks to fit the new size.
Your selection stays in place for that book and all future books you read on that device. If you later want to change it again, repeat the same steps.
Changing font size on Kindle apps for phones and tablets
On the Kindle app for iPhone, iPad, or Android phones and tablets, the method depends on which version of the app you have, but the location is consistent. While reading, look for a menu icon—usually three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) or three dots in the upper right corner of the screen. Tap it.
Select "Text" or "Display Settings" from the menu that appears. A panel will open showing font size as a slider or as a row of size options. Adjust the slider or tap your preferred size. The text will resize on the page immediately. Close the menu by tapping outside it or pressing the back button, and your setting is saved.
Some older versions of the Kindle app show a different layout. If you don't see a menu icon, try swiping down from the top of the screen while reading—this sometimes reveals a toolbar with a text or settings icon.
Changing font size on Kindle for Mac and Windows
On Kindle for Mac or Kindle for Windows (the desktop applications), open a book and look for a menu bar at the top of the window. Click "View" or look for a settings icon. Select "Text Size" or "Font Size" from the dropdown menu.
A submenu will show size options, usually numbered or labeled small to large. Click your choice. The book will resize immediately. Your setting applies to all books you read in that application going forward.
If you're using the web version of Kindle (reading through Amazon.com in your browser), the controls are similar. Look for a text icon or settings gear in the reading toolbar, usually at the top right of the book area.
What font size options are available
Kindle devices and apps typically offer between five and eight font size options. Physical Kindle e-readers usually show six or seven sizes, displayed as circles or bars of increasing height. The smallest size is roughly equivalent to 10-point type in a printed book, and the largest is around 28-point type.
Kindle apps on phones and tablets often use a slider rather than discrete sizes, which means you can fine-tune the size more precisely. The range is similar—from quite small to very large—but you're not limited to preset options.
If the largest Kindle font size is still too small for your needs, some devices and apps offer additional features. Kindle devices support bold fonts, which you can enable through the same menu where you change size. Some apps also allow you to change the font family itself (for example, from the default serif font to a sans-serif option), which can make text easier to read even without changing size.
Font size changes don't affect your reading progress or bookmarks
Changing font size does not delete your bookmarks, highlights, or notes. It also does not reset your position in the book. When you change the size, Kindle recalculates where you are in the text and keeps you at the same spot—the page numbers shown in the progress bar may shift because more or fewer words fit on each page, but your actual location in the book stays the same.
This means you can safely experiment with different sizes to find what works best for you. If you change your mind, go back to the font menu and select a different size. Your reading history and any annotations you've made remain untouched.
Why you might want to adjust font size
The default font size on Kindle is designed to be readable for most people in normal lighting, but your needs may differ. You might want a larger size if you read for long periods and experience eye strain, or if you have vision changes that make small text harder to focus on. You might prefer a smaller size if you want to see more text on the screen at once, or if you're reading on a small phone screen and want to fit more words per page.
Some readers change size depending on the time of day or their environment. You might use a larger size when reading before bed, for example, or a smaller size when reading on a crowded commute. Since the change takes seconds, there's no penalty for adjusting it frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing font size on one device affect my other Kindles?
No. Font size is stored separately on each device or app. If you change the size on your Kindle Paperwhite, it won't change on your phone's Kindle app or your Kindle for Mac. You can set a different size on each device based on your preference for that screen.
Can I set different font sizes for different books?
No. Font size is a device-wide or app-wide setting. When you change it, the new size applies to all books you read on that device or app going forward. However, you can change it back whenever you want, so you could use a larger size for one book and a smaller size for another by adjusting it each time you switch books.
What if the font size menu doesn't appear when I tap the screen?
On physical Kindle devices, make sure you're tapping near the center of the page, not the edges. On apps, check that you're tapping in the reading area itself, not on a button or link. If the toolbar still doesn't appear, try tapping again or restarting the app. On some devices, you may need to tap and hold briefly rather than a quick tap.
Does larger font size drain the battery faster on my Kindle e-reader?
No. Battery life on e-ink Kindle devices is not affected by font size. The e-ink display uses power only when the page refreshes, not based on what's displayed. Larger text may cause more page refreshes if you're reading quickly, but the difference is negligible.
Can I make the font even larger than the largest Kindle option?
On Kindle devices and most apps, the largest preset size is the maximum. However, on some Kindle apps, you can enable bold fonts in addition to choosing a large size, which makes text appear thicker and slightly more prominent. On a computer, you might also be able to zoom the entire browser window if you're using Kindle for Web, though this is not an official feature and may cause layout issues.