Are tiny font sizes driving away your visitors? I know it seems like such a small detail (pun intended), but the size of your text can be the difference between a visitor who feels welcomed and one who clicks away frustrated.
The Great Font Size Wake-Up Call
I was thinking about this recently while out and about. I was sitting in a coffee shop watching a woman try to read a website on her phone. She kept zooming in, scrolling around, zooming out, then giving up entirely. That website lost a potential customer not because of poor content or bad design, but because the text was simply too small to read comfortably.
When our font sizes require visitors to strain their eyes or hunt for their reading glasses, we’re not exactly rolling out the red carpet.
Most of us are guilty of designing for our own eyes, on our own devices, in our own perfect lighting conditions. But our visitors might be reading on phones while walking, tablets in dim lighting, or laptops with tired eyes at the end of a long day.
Why Font Size Matters More Than Ever
The Mobile Revolution Changed Everything
Over 60% of web browsing now happens on mobile devices. That gorgeous 12-point font that looks perfect on your desktop computer becomes practically microscopic on a phone screen. Your message might be life-changing, but if people can’t read it without squinting, they’ll never know.
Our Eyes Are Working Harder
Between increased screen time, aging populations, and the general busyness of life, our eyes are under more strain than ever. Making your text larger isn’t just nice – it’s necessary for serving your audience well.
Search Engines Care About User Experience
Google actually considers readability as part of its ranking factors for where your website shows up in the search results. Yep. Font size may be keeping you from being found.
Websites that provide better user experiences (including readable text) tend to rank higher in search results. When you choose readable font sizes, you’re serving both your visitors and your SEO goals.
What Counts as “Large Enough”?
The Magic Numbers
For body text, aim for at least 16 pixels (16px) on desktop and even larger on mobile. I know this might feel huge if you’re used to 12px or 14px text, but trust me – your visitors will thank you.
Here’s a practical breakdown:
- Body text: 16px minimum, 18-20px is even better
- Headings: At least 24px, often much larger
- Mobile text: Always test to ensure it’s readable without zooming
The Arm’s Length Test
Hold your phone at arm’s length. Can you still read your website text clearly? If you’re squinting or struggling, it’s too small. This simple test has saved me from countless font size mistakes.
Common Font Size Mistakes That Hurt Your Mission
The “Elegant Minimalism” Trap
Tiny, light gray text might look sophisticated and minimal, but it’s also exclusive. True elegance makes things more accessible, not less.
The “Fitting More Content” Fallacy
Making text smaller to fit more content on the page is like whispering your message to fit more words into the presentation. Your message deserves to be heard clearly, even if that means some people need to scroll.
The “Desktop-Only” Design Disaster
Designing only for desktop and hoping it works on mobile is like planning a dinner party for tall people and hoping short people can reach the table. It’s not inclusive, and it’s not loving.
The “One Size Fits All” Assumption
Using the same font size for everything creates a visual hierarchy problem and readability issues. Different types of content need different sizes to serve their purpose effectively.
Practical Steps to Right-Size Your Text
Start with Your Body Text
This is where most of your content lives, so getting this right will have the biggest impact. Bump your body text up to at least 16px and see how it feels. I promise you’ll adjust quickly, and your visitors will immediately notice the difference.
Create Clear Visual Hierarchy
Your headings should be significantly larger than your body text. This isn’t just about looks – it’s about helping readers navigate your content easily. Think of it as providing a clear roadmap through your message.
Test on Real Devices
Don’t just resize your browser window – actually test on real phones and tablets. The difference between simulated mobile and actual mobile can be significant.
Consider Your Audience
If you’re primarily serving an older demographic, err on the side of larger text. If your audience includes people who might be reading in challenging conditions (like parents multitasking), bigger is better.
The Business Benefits of Bigger Text
Longer Time on Site
When people can read comfortably, they stay longer. Longer visits signal to search engines that your content is valuable, which can improve your rankings.
Better Conversion Rates
People who can easily read your call-to-actions are more likely to respond to them. It’s that simple.
Reduced Bounce Rate
Visitors who don’t have to strain to read your content are less likely to leave immediately.
Improved Accessibility
Larger text serves people with visual impairments, reading difficulties, and age-related vision changes. This expands your potential audience significantly.
Your Gentle Next Step
Remember, we’re embracing rhythms, not overwhelming ourselves with massive changes. Here’s your simple next action:
Open your website and look at one page. Choose your homepage or your most popular blog post. Take a screenshot, then ask yourself: “Would I want to read this on my phone while tired?”
If the answer is no, try increasing your body text size by just 2 pixels. That’s it. See how it feels, live with it for a day, then decide if you want to go bigger.
Questions for Reflection
- Am I designing for my own eyes or for the eyes of the people I’m called to serve?
- How can I make my website more hospitable through better readability?
- What would it look like to approach font sizes as an act of love for my visitors?
- Am I creating barriers or bridges through my typography choices?
When Bigger Feels Scary
I get it. Larger text can feel overwhelming when you’re used to tiny fonts. It might feel like your carefully designed layout is falling apart. But good design adapts to serve people better, not the other way around.
Your message is too important to get lost because someone couldn’t read it comfortably. Your calling deserves typography that serves it, not undermines it.
Remember, accessibility isn’t about lowering standards – it’s about raising love. When you choose readable font sizes, you’re saying “I want everyone to be able to receive what I have to offer.”
Take a moment today to really look at your website text sizes. Then ask yourself: “Am I making it easy or hard for people to connect with my message?” Sometimes the most impactful changes are the simplest ones.
