> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/questions-and-answers/24-how-do-i-adjust-the-font-size.md). # How do I adjust the font size? ## Introduction This article reviews several methods for changing font size—use the following links to jump to the article section(s) of interest: * [Using document classes to set font sizes](#setting-document-font-sizes) * [Using LaTeX font size commands](#latex-font-size-commands) * [Using LaTeX font size environments](#latex-font-size-environments) * [Using the `\fontsize` and `\selectfont` commands](#the-fontsize-and-selectfont-commands) * [Using packages to change font size](#other-packages-for-changing-font-size-relsize-and-scalefnt) * [Using tex.stackexchange to find helpful examples](#examples-from-texstackexchange) ## Setting document font sizes LaTeX uses the document class, loaded via the `\documentclass` command, to set the default font size for various elements, such as footnotes and section headings, which form part of the document’s content. Document classes also support options for explicitly setting the font size of the main document text (and other components): ```latex \documentclass[options]{class} ``` For example, the article class supports 10pt, 11pt and 12pt for the main document text: ```latex \documentclass[11pt]{article} ``` The main text will be set to 11pt with correspondingly appropriate vales applied to other document elements. ### The extsizes classes The [extsizes classes](https://ctan.org/pkg/extsizes?lang=en) which compromise extarticle, extreport, extbook, extletter, and extproc support font sizes of 8pt, 9pt, 10pt, 11pt, 12pt, 14pt, 17pt and 20pt. #### Example: using the extarticle class The next example uses the `extarticle` class to set the document font size to 9pt. ```latex \documentclass[9pt]{extarticle} % Note the extarticle document class % Using the geometry package with a small % page size to create the article graphic \usepackage[paperheight=6in, paperwidth=5in, top=10mm, bottom=20mm, left=10mm, right=10mm]{geometry} \usepackage{lipsum} \begin{document} \section{Introduction} \lipsum[1] \subsection{More details} \lipsum[1] \end{document} ``` [Open this example in Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Demonstrating+the+extarticle+class\&snip=%5Cdocumentclass%5B9pt%5D%7Bextarticle%7D+%25+Note+the+extarticle+document+class%0A%25+Using+the+geometry+package+with+a+small%0A%25+page+size+to+create+the+article+graphic%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bpaperheight%3D6in%2C%0A+++paperwidth%3D5in%2C%0A+++top%3D10mm%2C%0A+++bottom%3D20mm%2C%0A+++left%3D10mm%2C%0A+++right%3D10mm%5D%7Bgeometry%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Blipsum%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0A%5Csection%7BIntroduction%7D%0A%5Clipsum%5B1%5D%0A%5Csubsection%7BMore+details%7D%0A%5Clipsum%5B1%5D%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D) This example produces the following output: ![extarticle class demo](/files/XCtBXZnhG4stpAAX4KSc) ## LaTeX font size commands LaTeX provides a set of 10 standard (predefined) commands to change the font size—note that document classes or LaTeX packages may redefine those commands to vary the actual point size. The following table lists those commands and their corresponding point size values for a document using 10pt for the main text font, the default setting of the article class: ```latex \documentclass{article} ``` ![Standard LaTeX font size commands](/files/SLLav5EFYHa7afuI22yU) For the corresponding point sizes generated by `\documentclass[11pt]{article}` and `\documentclass[12pt]{article}` refer to the [font sizes chart](https://tug.org/texinfohtml/latex2e.html#Font-sizes) in [LaTeX2e: An unofficial reference](https://tug.org/texinfohtml/latex2e.html#SEC_Overview). The next table lists the additional commands `\HUGE` and `\ssmall` provided by the [`moresize` package](https://ctan.org/pkg/moresize?lang=en). The corresponding font sizes are those in effect when `moresize` is used with the [`extarticle` document class](https://ctan.org/pkg/extsizes): ```latex \documentclass{extarticle} \usepackage{moresize} ``` ![extarticle class font size commands](/files/stdRyTlYv0k14VmCUKFX) ### Example: using font size commands The next example demonstrates using these commands. ```latex \documentclass{extarticle} % Note the extarticle document class % Using the geometry package with a small % page size to create the article graphic \usepackage[paperheight=6in, paperwidth=5in, top=10mm, bottom=20mm, left=10mm, right=10mm]{geometry} \usepackage{moresize} \begin{document} {The size of this text is \verb=\normalsize= but now it is \tiny tiny until we make it \small small or \ssmall ``ssmall'' via the moresize package. Let's revert to \normalsize normal size then {\ttfamily \scriptsize use monospaced \verb=\scriptsize= text in a group} then back to normal. Now, try \verb=\large= \large text then {\sffamily \Large \verb=\Large= sans serif text} and finally {\HUGE really big (\verb=\HUGE=) and {\bfseries bold} text} \end{document} ``` [Open this example in Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Demonstrating+font+size+commands\&snip=%5Cdocumentclass%7Bextarticle%7D+%25+Note+the+extarticle+document+class%0A%25+Using+the+geometry+package+with+a+small%0A%25+page+size+to+create+the+article+graphic%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bpaperheight%3D6in%2C%0A+++paperwidth%3D5in%2C%0A+++top%3D10mm%2C%0A+++bottom%3D20mm%2C%0A+++left%3D10mm%2C%0A+++right%3D10mm%5D%7Bgeometry%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Bmoresize%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0A%0A%7BThe+size+of+this+text+is+%5Cverb%3D%5Cnormalsize%3D+but+now+it+is+%5Ctiny+tiny%0Auntil+we+make+it+%5Csmall+small+or+%5Cssmall+%60%60ssmall%27%27+via+the+moresize+package.%0ALet%27s+revert+to+%5Cnormalsize+normal+size+then+%7B%5Cttfamily+%5Cscriptsize+use+monospaced%0A%5Cverb%3D%5Cscriptsize%3D+text+in+a+group%7D+then+back+to+normal.+Now%2C+try+%0A%5Cverb%3D%5Clarge%3D+%5Clarge+text+then+%7B%5Csffamily+%5CLarge+%5Cverb%3D%5CLarge%3D+sans+serif+text%7D%0A+and+finally+%7B%5CHUGE+really+big+%28%5Cverb%3D%5CHUGE%3D%29+and+%7B%5Cbfseries++bold%7D+text%7D%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D) This example produces the following output: ![Example to demonstrate standard LaTeX font size commands](/files/iooExOiYPMdzsBu9C2Xz) ## LaTeX font size environments The names of the size-changing commands listed above can be used as environments to contain text whose size you wish to change; for example: ```latex \begin{Large} Text to be typeset in the \texttt{\string\Large} font size goes here... \end{Large}% ``` The next example shows how these environments can be nested. ### Example: using font size environments ```latex \documentclass{extarticle} % Note the extarticle document class % Using the geometry package with a small % page size to create the article graphic \usepackage[paperheight=6in, paperwidth=5in, top=10mm, bottom=20mm, left=10mm, right=10mm]{geometry} \usepackage{moresize} \begin{document} \noindent We'll start with normal-sized text then add \begin{tiny} some {\ttfamily \string\tiny} text \begin{Large} mixed with {\ttfamily\string\Large} and \begin{HUGE}\ttfamily \string\HUGE{} text \end{HUGE}% \end{Large}% \end{tiny}% then back to normal-sized text. \end{document} ``` [Open this example in Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Demonstrating+font+size+environments\&snip=%5Cdocumentclass%7Bextarticle%7D+%25+Note+the+extarticle+document+class%0A%25+Using+the+geometry+package+with+a+small%0A%25+page+size+to+create+the+article+graphic%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bpaperheight%3D6in%2C%0A+++paperwidth%3D5in%2C%0A+++top%3D10mm%2C%0A+++bottom%3D20mm%2C%0A+++left%3D10mm%2C%0A+++right%3D10mm%5D%7Bgeometry%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Bmoresize%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0A%5Cnoindent+We%27ll+start+with+normal-sized+text+then+add%0A%5Cbegin%7Btiny%7D%0Asome+%7B%5Cttfamily+%5Cstring%5Ctiny%7D+text%0A%5Cbegin%7BLarge%7D%0Amixed+with+%7B%5Cttfamily%5Cstring%5CLarge%7D+and+%0A%5Cbegin%7BHUGE%7D%5Cttfamily+%5Cstring%5CHUGE%7B%7D+text%0A%5Cend%7BHUGE%7D%25%0A%5Cend%7BLarge%7D%25%0A%5Cend%7Btiny%7D%25%0Athen+back+to+normal-sized+text.%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D) This example produces the following output: ![Example to demonstrate standard LaTeX font size environments](/files/IJNccFFOhA8C2G753lkE) ## The \fontsize and \selectfont commands The font-size commands [listed in the tables above](#latex-font-size-commands) are implemented using the LaTeX commands `\fontsize` and `\selectfont` which can also be used to directly select a `font-size` and the corresponding `baseline-skip` setting: ```latex \fontsize{font-size}{baseline-skip}\selectfont ``` The `baseline-skip` value determines the distance between baselines of text in a paragraph typeset using `font-size`; it is also stored in a parameter command called `\baselineskip`—for more detail, see the Overleaf article [How to change paragraph spacing in LaTeX](/latex/formatting/04-articles-how-to-change-paragraph-spacing-in-latex.md#5cbaselineskip-28tex-primitive29). ### Example: using \fontsize and \selectfont The next example demonstrates `\fontsize` and `\selectfont` for a range of `font-size` and `baseline-skip` values: * `\fontsize{6}{8}\selectfont`: use 6pt text with baselines spaced at 8pt * `\fontsize{8}{9}\selectfont`: use 8pt text with baselines spaced at 9pt * `\fontsize{12}{13.5}\selectfont`: use 12pt text with baselines spaced at 13.5pt Aesthetically pleasing combinations of `font-size` and `baseline-skip` spacing can depend on the design of the typeface being used. ```latex \documentclass{article} % Using the geometry package with a small % page size to create the article graphic \usepackage[paperheight=6in, paperwidth=5in, top=8mm, bottom=20mm, left=10mm, right=8mm]{geometry} \usepackage{blindtext} \begin{document} \fontsize{6}{8}\selectfont\blindtext \fontsize{8}{9}\selectfont\blindtext \fontsize{12}{13.5}\selectfont\blindtext \end{document} ``` [Open this example in Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Demonstrating+fontsize+and+selectfont\&snip=%5Cdocumentclass%7Barticle%7D%0A%25+Using+the+geometry+package+with+a+small%0A%25+page+size+to+create+the+article+graphic%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bpaperheight%3D6in%2C%0A+++paperwidth%3D5in%2C%0A+++top%3D8mm%2C%0A+++bottom%3D20mm%2C%0A+++left%3D10mm%2C%0A+++right%3D8mm%5D%7Bgeometry%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Bblindtext%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0A%0A%5Cfontsize%7B6%7D%7B8%7D%5Cselectfont%5Cblindtext%0A%0A%5Cfontsize%7B8%7D%7B9%7D%5Cselectfont%5Cblindtext%0A%0A%5Cfontsize%7B12%7D%7B13.5%7D%5Cselectfont%5Cblindtext%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D) This example produces the following output: ![Demonstrating fontsize and selectfont on Overleaf](/files/dyCBfxA30J3SZ1MFDKgu) ## Other packages for changing font size: relsize and scalefnt In this section we briefly review the following LaTeX packages: * the [`relsize` package](https://ctan.org/pkg/relsize?lang=en) which provides commands to set font size relative to the *current* size; * the [`scalefnt` package](https://ctan.org/pkg/scalefnt) that lets you “rescale fonts to arbitrary sizes”. ### The relsize package The `relsize` package provides commands to set font sizes relative to the *current* font size—i.e., the font size in use at the location where you want to make a size change; for example, when typesetting footnotes the current (font) size is smaller than within the main text. For historical reasons, which we won’t explore (but see [here](https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/24600)), many TeX/LaTeX font-sizing/scaling operations involve the value $$\text{1.2}$$; for example, the [table above](#latex-font-size-commands) shows `\Large` is $$\text{14.4pt}$$ and the next-larger size, `\LARGE`, is $$\text{17.28pt}$$ because $$\text{14.4pt} \times 1.2 = \text{17.28pt}$$. We can also see that $$\texttt{(\LARGE) } \text{17.28pt} \times 1.2 = \text{20.74pt}\texttt{ (\huge)}$$ The `relsize` package refers to “steps” when moving between font sizes listed in the table above; for example, [the code shown below](#relsizeexample) demonstrates moving from 10pt text to 17.28pt involves 3 “steps”, each using a multiplier of 1.2: $$\text{10pt} \times 1.2 \times 1.2 \times 1.2 = \text{17.28pt}$$ * The command `\relsize{*n*}` will try to scale the current font using `*n*` “steps”; however, if the requested (scaled) size is too small or too large: * a warning message is issued, and * the scaled size is restricted to limits set by the commands `\RSsmallest` (usually `\tiny`) and `\RSlargest` (usually `\Huge`) * Use `\renewcommand` to set new values for `\RSlargest` and `\RSsmallest`: ```latex \renewcommand\RSlargest{75pt} \renewcommand\RSsmallest{5pt} ``` #### Other relsize package commands The `relsize` package documentation lists the following commands, which are designed for text only and not for use with mathematical content. | Command | Purpose | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | `\relsize{*n*}` | Change font size by `*n*` steps. | | `\larger[*n*]` | Increase font size by (optional) `*n*` steps (default is 1 step). | | `\smaller[*n*]` | Reduce font size by (optional) `*n*` steps (default is 1 step). | | `\relscale{*f*}` | Change font size by scale factor `*f*`. | | `\textlarger[*n*]{text}` | Text size enlarged by (optional) `*n*` steps. | | `\textsmaller[*n*]{text}` | Text size reduced by (optional) `*n*` steps. | | `\textscale[*f*]{text}` | Text size scaled by factor `*f*`. | * **Note**: The `relsize` commands `\mathsmaller` and `\mathlarger` are designed for use with mathematical content—refer to the [package documentation](http://mirrors.ctan.org/macros/latex/contrib/relsize/relsize-doc.pdf) for further details. #### Example: using the relsize package The next example demonstrates various commands provided by the `relsize` package. Note the following: * the use of groups {...} to localize the effect of font size changes; * fixing the maximum scaled font size to 75pt by writing ```latex \renewcommand\RSlargest{75pt} ``` ```latex % article class is loaded with default 10pt text size \documentclass{article} % Using the geometry package with a small % page size to create the article graphic \usepackage[paperheight=6in, paperwidth=5in, top=10mm, bottom=20mm, left=10mm, right=10mm]{geometry} \usepackage{relsize} % Define our simple macro \bgroup \catcode`@=11 \gdef\getfontsize{\f@size pt} \egroup % Set the maximum scaled font size to 75pt \renewcommand\RSlargest{75pt} \begin{document} Hello, in this paragraph the normal font size is \getfontsize. Now scale the current font using 3 ``steps'': {\verb=\relsize{3}=\relsize{3} which sets the current size to \getfontsize}. Outside the group the font size is once again \getfontsize. Another paragraph with some{\larger[2] larger text} and {\smaller[1] smaller text}---note the use of groups \{...\}. Also using \textlarger[3]{large text} and some \textscale{2}{scaled text}. \vskip12pt Using a larger number of steps: \vskip12pt \textlarger[11]{11 steps (\getfontsize)} \vskip12pt \textlarger[20]{20 steps (\getfontsize)}---size limit reached and a warning is given: \vskip12pt ``Package relsize Warning: Font size 383.35397pt is too large. Using 75pt instead...'' \end{document} ``` [Open this example in Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Demonstrating+the+relsize+package\&snip=%25+article+class+is+loaded+with+default+10pt+text+size%0A%5Cdocumentclass%7Barticle%7D%0A%25+Using+the+geometry+package+with+a+small%0A%25+page+size+to+create+the+article+graphic%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bpaperheight%3D6in%2C%0A+++paperwidth%3D5in%2C%0A+++top%3D10mm%2C%0A+++bottom%3D20mm%2C%0A+++left%3D10mm%2C%0A+++right%3D10mm%5D%7Bgeometry%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Brelsize%7D%0A%25+Define+our+simple+macro%0A%5Cbgroup%0A%5Ccatcode%60%40%3D11%0A%5Cgdef%5Cgetfontsize%7B%5Cf%40size+pt%7D%0A%5Cegroup%0A%25+Set+the+maximum+scaled+font+size+to+75pt%0A%5Crenewcommand%5CRSlargest%7B75pt%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0AHello%2C+in+this+paragraph+the+normal+font+size+is+%5Cgetfontsize.+%0ANow+scale+the+current+font+using+3+%60%60steps%27%27%3A+%7B%5Cverb%3D%5Crelsize%7B3%7D%3D%5Crelsize%7B3%7D%0Awhich+sets+the+current+size+to+%5Cgetfontsize%7D.+Outside+the+group+%0Athe+font+size+is+once+again+%5Cgetfontsize.%0A%0AAnother+paragraph+with+some%7B%5Clarger%5B2%5D+larger+text%7D+and+%0A%7B%5Csmaller%5B1%5D+smaller+text%7D---note+the+use+of+groups+%5C%7B...%5C%7D.+Also+using+%0A%5Ctextlarger%5B3%5D%7Blarge+text%7D+and+some+%5Ctextscale%7B2%7D%7Bscaled+text%7D.%0A%5Cvskip12pt%0AUsing+a+larger+number+of+steps%3A%0A%0A%5Cvskip12pt%0A%5Ctextlarger%5B11%5D%7B11+steps+%28%5Cgetfontsize%29%7D%0A%5Cvskip12pt%0A%5Ctextlarger%5B20%5D%7B20+steps+%28%5Cgetfontsize%29%7D---size+limit+reached+and+a+warning+is+given%3A%0A%5Cvskip12pt%0A%60%60Package+relsize+Warning%3A+Font+size+383.35397pt+is+too+large.+Using+75pt+instead...%27%27%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D) The LaTeX code above accesses the current font size via an internal LaTeX variable called `\f@size`, whose value can be typeset using a macro, such as `\getfontsize`, which can be defined as follows: ```latex \bgroup \catcode`@=11 \gdef\getfontsize{\f@size pt} \egroup ``` The example above produces the following output: ![Example to demonstrate various relsize package commands](/files/9RxPw3wcghbmz7QFghkP) ### The scalefnt package The `scalefnt` package defines the `\scalefont` command ```latex \scalefont{factor} ``` where `factor` will scale the size of the current font and the current value of `\baselineskip`—which is used to [calculate the spacing between lines of text in a typeset paragraph](/latex/formatting/04-articles-how-to-change-paragraph-spacing-in-latex.md#5cbaselineskip-28tex-primitive29). #### Example: using the scalefnt package The next example demonstrates the `\scalefont` command and also uses our [`\getfontsize` macro](#getfontsize). ```latex % article class is loaded with default 10pt text size \documentclass{article} % Using the geometry package with a small % page size to create the article graphic \usepackage[paperheight=6in, paperwidth=5in, top=10mm, bottom=20mm, left=10mm, right=10mm]{geometry} \usepackage{scalefnt} % Define our simple macro \getfontsize \bgroup \catcode`@=11 \gdef\getfontsize{\f@size pt} \egroup \begin{document} For this paragraph, the current font size is \getfontsize{} and the value of \verb=\baselineskip= is \the\baselineskip. If we use \verb=\scalefont{1.5}= \scalefont{1.5} the font size is now \getfontsize{} and \verb=\baselineskip= is \the\baselineskip. \end{document} ``` [Open this example in Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Demonstrating+the+scalefnt+package\&snip=%25+article+class+is+loaded+with+default+10pt+text+size%0A%5Cdocumentclass%7Barticle%7D%0A%25+Using+the+geometry+package+with+a+small%0A%25+page+size+to+create+the+article+graphic%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bpaperheight%3D6in%2C%0A+++paperwidth%3D5in%2C%0A+++top%3D10mm%2C%0A+++bottom%3D20mm%2C%0A+++left%3D10mm%2C%0A+++right%3D10mm%5D%7Bgeometry%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Bscalefnt%7D%0A%25+Define+our+simple+macro+%5Cgetfontsize%0A%5Cbgroup%0A%5Ccatcode%60%40%3D11%0A%5Cgdef%5Cgetfontsize%7B%5Cf%40size+pt%7D%0A%5Cegroup%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0AFor+this+paragraph%2C+the+current+font+size+is+%5Cgetfontsize%7B%7D+and+the+value+of+%5Cverb%3D%5Cbaselineskip%3D+is+%5Cthe%5Cbaselineskip.%0A%0AIf+we+use+%5Cverb%3D%5Cscalefont%7B1.5%7D%3D+%5Cscalefont%7B1.5%7D+the+font+size+is+now++%5Cgetfontsize%7B%7D+and+%5Cverb%3D%5Cbaselineskip%3D+is+%5Cthe%5Cbaselineskip.%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D) This example produces the following output: ![Example to demonstrate the scalefnt package](/files/ikMMnQCQkYHsIPcQHziy) ## Examples from tex.stackexchange A search on tex.stackexchange for [questions tagged `fontsize`](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/fontsize) produces a long list of results which contain explanations, code and solutions related to changing font sizes. Some questions are quite specialist whereas others are more general; here is a small selection that may be of interest: * [Changing the font size of figure captions](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/187429/change-font-size-of-labels-in-figures-to-any-font-size) * [Adjusting the font size of all captions](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/527772/adjusting-font-size-of-all-captions-with-prefered-font-size) * [Changing font size of chapter, section, subsections](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/234546/chapter-section-subsections-title-font-size) * [Change font size with the `fontspec` package](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/309712/change-font-size-with-fontspec-package) * [Changing font size for `\ttfamily`](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/158778/all-ttfamily-font-change-font-size) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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