How To Change Outlook Font Size

Struggling to read your emails or want to personalize the look of your messages? This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions on how to change the font size in Microsoft Outlook. We'll cover everything from adjusting the text size for emails you write to changing how emails appear when you read them. Whether you're using Outlook on a Windows PC, a Mac, or through your web browser, these instructions will help you customize your font settings for better readability and a more comfortable experience.

Fast Answer

For New Emails (Classic Outlook): Go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
For Viewing Emails: Use the Zoom slider in the bottom-right corner or hold Ctrl + mouse wheel.

2-5 minutes Time needed

Beginner Difficulty

Composing vs. Viewing Watch out for

Before You Start

Before you dive into the settings, it's important to understand what you want to achieve. Are you changing the font size for your own reading comfort, or do you want to change the font size in the emails you send to others? Outlook has separate settings for these two goals. Taking a moment to clarify this will ensure you adjust the right option.

An active Microsoft Outlook account and access to the application.
A clear idea of which part of Outlook you want to change (e.g., composing new emails, reading incoming mail, the message list).
Knowledge of which version of Outlook you are using, as the steps can vary slightly.

Check first: The most common point of confusion is the difference between changing the font for composing (what others see) and changing the font for viewing (what only you see). Changing the "Stationery" affects outgoing mail, while using "Zoom" or "View Settings" only affects your display.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Identify Your Version of Outlook

The instructions for changing font size differ slightly depending on your version of Outlook. Before proceeding, take a second to see which one you have. The "New" Outlook for Windows has a simplified ribbon at the top and a toggle that says "New Outlook" in the top-right corner. "Classic" Outlook has a more traditional, complex ribbon. Outlook on the web is accessed through a browser like Chrome or Edge, and Outlook for Mac has a menu bar at the very top of the screen (File, Edit, View).

Change the Default Font for New Emails (Classic Outlook for Windows)

This is the most common request. This setting changes the default font, size, and color for all new messages you compose. It ensures your emails have a consistent and professional look.

Open Outlook and click on the File tab in the top-left corner.
Select Options from the left-hand menu. This will open the Outlook Options window.
In the Outlook Options window, click on the Mail category.
Look for the "Compose messages" section and click the Stationery and Fonts... button.
A new "Signatures and Stationery" window will appear. Under the "Personal Stationery" tab, you will see options for New mail messages. Click the Font... button next to it.
Choose your desired font, font style, size, and color. Click OK to save your changes, and then OK on the remaining windows to close them.

Tip: In the same "Signatures and Stationery" window, you can set a different default font for Replying or forwarding messages. Many people use a different color (like blue) for replies to distinguish their text from the original message.

Change the Default Font in "New" Outlook for Windows and Web

The newer versions of Outlook, including the web app (OWA), have a more streamlined settings menu. The steps are identical for both.

Click the Settings gear icon located in the top-right corner of the Outlook window.
Select Mail, and then choose Compose and reply.
Scroll down to the "Message format" section. You will see a text box where you can set your default font.
Use the dropdown menus to select your preferred font family and font size. You can also set bold, italics, and underline as part of the default style.
Your changes are saved automatically. You can now close the settings panel.

Adjust the Font Size for Reading Emails

If incoming emails are hard to read, you don't need to ask the sender to use a larger font. You can easily adjust the size for your viewing comfort. This does not change the email for anyone else.

Method 1: Temporary Zoom (All Versions)

The quickest way to make an email easier to read is by using the zoom feature. Click on an email to open it in the Reading Pane. In the bottom-right corner of the Outlook window, you'll find a zoom slider. Drag it to the right to increase the text size. Alternatively, you can hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and use your mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out. This change is temporary and only applies to the message you are currently viewing.

Method 2: Set Default Zoom (Newer Versions)

In the New Outlook and Outlook on the web, you can set a default zoom level that will apply to all messages you read. Go to Settings > Mail > Layout and scroll down to "Message height and text size." You can set a default text size increase that will apply to all incoming messages.

Change the Font Size of the Message List (Classic Outlook)

You can also change the font size of the email list in your inbox, which shows the sender, subject, and preview. This is helpful if you find the general interface text too small.

Go to the View tab in the main Outlook ribbon.
Click on View Settings.
In the "Advanced View Settings" dialog box, click on Other Settings....
Here you can change the font for Column Headings (like "From," "Subject") and Row Font (the actual email list items). Click the Font... button for each to make your selection.
Click OK twice to apply the changes.

Change the Font Size in Outlook for Mac

The process on a Mac is straightforward and centralized in the application's settings.

With Outlook open, click on Outlook in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
Select Settings (or Preferences in older versions).
Click on Fonts.
You will see options to set the default font for New mail, Reply or forward, and for composing and reading plain text messages.
Click the corresponding Font... button, choose your settings, and click OK.

Change Font Size for a Single Email Message

If you only need to change the font size for the specific email you are currently writing, you don't need to change any default settings. Simply use the formatting tools available in the composition window.

Create a new email, reply, or forward.
In the message body, highlight the text you want to change.
In the ribbon at the top of the message window (usually under the Message or Format Text tab), use the font dropdown menu and font size selector to make your adjustments, just as you would in Microsoft Word.

Tip: Use the Format Painter tool (the paintbrush icon) to quickly copy the font style from one section of text and apply it to another.

Quick Reference

Situation	Use this Setting	Why
I want emails I send to always have a larger font.	Stationery and Fonts (Classic) or Compose and reply (New/Web)	This sets the default font format for all new outgoing messages so recipients see your chosen style.
The text in emails I receive is too small to read.	Zoom Slider or Ctrl + Mouse Wheel	This magnifies the content for your eyes only and doesn't alter the original email. It's a temporary fix.
The list of emails in my inbox is hard to see.	View Settings > Other Settings (Classic Outlook)	This changes the font size of the user interface itself, specifically the message list, not the content of the emails.
I need to emphasize a specific point in one email.	Format Text Toolbar in the compose window	This provides on-the-fly formatting for a single message without changing your default settings.

Common Problems When You Change Outlook Font Size

My font changes aren't saving.

If your settings revert after you close Outlook, there could be a few causes. First, ensure you are clicking OK or Save on all open dialog boxes to confirm the changes. In a corporate environment, your IT department might have policies that prevent permanent changes to Outlook's settings. Finally, some third-party Outlook add-ins can interfere with settings. Try disabling them temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.

The recipient says my font looks different on their end.

This is a common issue. If you use a special font that you downloaded, the recipient won't see it unless they have the exact same font installed on their computer. Their email client will substitute it with a default font, which may alter the size and appearance. For maximum compatibility, stick to universal, system-safe fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Georgia, or Times New Roman.

My font settings are ignored in plain text emails.

This is expected behavior. "Plain text" format, by definition, contains no formatting—no fonts, colors, or sizes. It's just raw text. If you want to control the appearance of your email, you must compose it in HTML format. You can set this as your default in the same settings area where you choose your font (e.g., File > Options > Mail > Compose messages in this format: HTML).

My signature font doesn't match my new default font.

Email signatures in Outlook are treated as separate elements. Changing your default email font will not update the font in your existing signatures. You must edit your signature manually. Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures. Select the signature you want to edit, highlight the text in the editor, and apply the new font settings to match your default.

Advanced Tips for Outlook Font Size

Once you've mastered the basics, you can use these advanced features to further customize your Outlook experience.

Use Conditional Formatting: This powerful feature in Classic Outlook allows you to automatically change the font size, style, and color of incoming messages based on rules. For example, you can make all emails from your boss appear in large, bold, red font so they never get missed. Access it via View > View Settings > Conditional Formatting.
Create and Use Stationery: Beyond just font, you can create "Stationery" that includes background colors, images, and a full theme for your emails. This is great for branding or personal flair. You can find this in the same Stationery and Fonts menu.
Change the Plain Text Font: While plain text emails can't have varied fonts, you can control the font used to display them on your screen. In the Stationery and Fonts window, there's a dedicated option for "Composing and reading plain text messages." Changing this can make reading old or system-generated emails much easier.

How To Change Outlook Font Size FAQ

How do I change the Outlook font size on my phone (iPhone or Android)?

The Outlook mobile apps do not have built-in settings to change the default composing font size. For better readability, the best approach is to change the system-wide font size on your device. On iOS, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Text. On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility > Font size and style. This will increase the font size across all apps, including Outlook.

How can I reset all my Outlook font settings to the default?

To reset your composing fonts in Classic Outlook, go back to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts. In the "Personal Stationery" tab, you can manually re-select the default fonts (usually Calibri, size 11). For view settings, you can go to the View tab and click Reset View. This will reset all customizations for the current folder, including fonts, columns, and sorting.

Can I change the font of the entire Outlook program, like the menus and folder list?

The font used for the Outlook application interface (the ribbon, navigation panes, menus) is controlled by your operating system, not by Outlook itself. To make this text larger, you need to adjust the display scaling settings in Windows or macOS. In Windows, go to Settings > System > Display and adjust the "Scale" percentage. On a Mac, go to System Settings > Displays and choose a "Larger Text" scaling option.

Final Checklist for Changing Outlook Font Size

Before you close the settings, run through this quick checklist to make sure you've covered all the bases for a more readable and personalized Outlook experience.

Confirmed Your Goal: You've decided whether you're changing the font for composing new emails or for viewing existing ones.
Set Default for New Mail: You have updated the font settings for "New mail messages" to your preferred style and size.
Set Default for Replies: You have also checked and set the font for "Replying or forwarding messages," potentially using a different color for clarity.
Adjusted Reading View: You know how to use the zoom feature for temporary adjustments to make incoming emails easier to read.
Tested Your Changes: You have sent a test email to yourself to confirm that the new font settings appear as expected for both you and a recipient.
Checked Your Signature: You have updated your email signature to match your new default font settings for a consistent look.