How To Change Outlook Font Size

Struggling to read small text in your emails or want to make your own messages easier on the eyes? Changing the font size in Microsoft Outlook can make a huge difference to your daily workflow. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions for adjusting the font size for emails you write, messages you read, and even the main Outlook interface itself. We cover the classic desktop app, the new Outlook, and the web version, so you can find the exact solution you need.

Fast Answer

For New Emails: Go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
For Reading Emails: Use the Zoom control at the bottom-right of the Reading Pane.

5–10 minutes Time needed

Easy Difficulty

Sending vs. Reading Watch out for

Before You Start

Access to your Microsoft Outlook account (Desktop application or Outlook on the web).
Familiarity with which version of Outlook you are using (e.g., classic desktop app with a "File" menu, or the "New Outlook" / web version with a settings cog icon).
Understanding that font changes for outgoing emails may not appear identically for your recipient, as their email client controls how fonts are displayed.

Check first: Be aware of the difference between changing the font for sending messages (a permanent setting) and changing the font for reading them (a temporary view adjustment). This guide covers both to avoid confusion.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Change the Default Font for New Emails

This is the most common change users want to make. It sets the default font style and size for all new messages you compose. This method applies to the classic Outlook desktop application.

First, open Outlook and click on the File tab in the top-left corner. From the blue navigation pane that appears on the left, select Options at the bottom. The Outlook Options window will pop up.

In the Options window, select the Mail category from the left-hand menu. Look for a button labelled Stationery and Fonts... and click it. This opens a new "Signatures and Stationery" window. Here, under the "New mail messages" section, click the Font... button. You can now choose your preferred font, font style (like Bold or Italic), and size. A common, readable size is 11pt or 12pt. Click OK on each window to save your changes.

Tip: The most web-safe fonts that will likely appear correctly for your recipients are Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Verdana.

Adjust the Font for Replies and Forwards

You might notice that when you reply to an email, your font reverts to something else. This is because Outlook has a separate setting for replies and forwards. You can change this in the same place as the default font for new messages.

Follow the same path: File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.... In the "Signatures and Stationery" window, look for the section labelled "Replying or forwarding messages". Click the Font... button in this section. Set your desired font and size, ideally matching what you chose for new messages for consistency. Click OK to confirm and close the windows.

Increase Font Size for Reading Emails (Using Zoom)

If you receive an email with tiny text, you don't need to change any permanent settings. The easiest way to make it readable is by using the Zoom feature. This only affects how you see the email, not how the sender or other recipients see it.

Open the email you want to read in the Reading Pane or in its own window. Look to the bottom-right corner of the Outlook window. You will see a zoom slider with a percentage next to it (e.g., 100%). Click and drag the slider to the right to increase the font size, or click the + button to zoom in incrementally. If the email is open in its own window, you can also click the Zoom button in the "Message" tab of the ribbon at the top to set a precise percentage.

Tip: If you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can often hold down the Ctrl key and scroll the wheel up or down to quickly zoom in and out of the message body.

Change the Font Size of Your Inbox Message List

Is the list of your emails in your inbox too small to read? You can change the font size here as well, without affecting the content of the emails themselves. This customises the main view of your inbox.

Go to the View tab at the top of Outlook. Click on View Settings. In the "Advanced View Settings" dialog box that appears, click on Other Settings.... Here, you can change the font for the "Column Headings" (like "From", "Subject") and the "Row Font" (the actual email list). Click the Font... button for each one you want to change, select your desired size, and click OK to apply the changes.

For even more control, you can use Conditional Formatting. In the same "Advanced View Settings" window, click Conditional Formatting.... This allows you to set rules, such as making all unread messages appear in a larger or bolder font. Click "Add" to create a new rule, give it a name, click "Font..." to set the appearance, and then "Condition..." to define when the rule applies (e.g., Read status is "no").

Change the Font in Outlook on the Web

If you use Outlook through a web browser (like at Outlook.com), the settings are in a different location. The process is simpler and focuses on composing messages.

Log in to your Outlook account on the web. Click the settings cog icon in the top-right corner of the page. This will open a settings panel. Click on Mail, and then navigate to the Compose and reply section. Here you will find "Message format" options. You can select your default font and size from the dropdown menus. Once you've made your selection, simply click the Save button at the bottom.

Change the Font for the Entire Outlook Application

If the menus, folder list, and other interface elements of the Outlook desktop app are too small, the solution isn't within Outlook itself. Instead, you need to adjust the text scaling settings in Windows. This will affect most applications on your computer, not just Outlook.

Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings. In the settings window that opens, look for the "Scale and layout" section. You'll see a dropdown menu under "Change the size of text, apps, and other items". The default is usually 100%. Try increasing this to 125% or 150%. The change will apply immediately or may require you to sign out and sign back in. This will make the entire Outlook interface, along with other apps, larger and easier to read.

Quick Reference

Situation	Use this	Why
Writing all new emails	Stationery and Fonts (in Options)	Sets a permanent default for all your outgoing messages.
Reading one small email	Zoom Slider (bottom-right)	Temporarily enlarges the view without changing the email itself.
Your inbox list is hard to read	View Settings (in the View tab)	Customises the font size of the message list, not the email content.
Using Outlook in a browser	Settings Cog > Compose and reply	The web version has its own dedicated settings for composing emails.
The entire Outlook app is too small	Windows Display Scaling	Enlarges all application menus and text, not just email content.

Common Problems When You Change Outlook Font Size

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to fix them.

My font changes back after I set it. This can happen if you are using a specific "Theme" in Outlook's Stationery settings. A theme can override individual font choices. Go back to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts... and in the "Theme" tab, make sure "(No Theme)" is selected if you want your manual font settings to stick.
The recipient says my font looks different. This is very common. You can't control what font is installed on your recipient's computer or how their email program displays messages. To minimise this, stick to universal fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Times New Roman. Avoid decorative or custom fonts.
I changed the font size, but it only works for some emails. Remember that there are separate settings for new emails and for replies/forwards. You must set the font in both sections of the "Stationery and Fonts" window. Also, this setting only applies to HTML format emails. If you are sending a Plain Text email, no font formatting is saved. You can set your default compose format in File > Options > Mail under the "Compose messages" section.
I can't find the "File" menu. If you don't see a "File" tab, you are likely using the "New Outlook" application or the web version. In this case, look for the settings cog icon, usually located in the top-right corner, to find your font settings.

Advanced Tips for Outlook Font Size

Once you're comfortable with the basics, you can use these advanced techniques for even better control over your Outlook experience.

Use Conditional Formatting for Accessibility: Beyond just highlighting unread messages, you can use Conditional Formatting (under View Settings) to make emails from specific people (like your manager) or with specific words in the subject line (like "Urgent") appear in a much larger, bolder font. This can help you visually prioritise your inbox at a glance.
Create and Use Quick Styles: If you frequently switch between different font styles for different purposes (e.g., a formal font for clients and a casual one for colleagues), you can save them as Quick Styles. While composing an email, click the Format Text tab. Set up your desired font and size, then click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the "Styles" group. Click "Create a Style" and give it a name. Now you can apply this complete style with a single click from the Styles gallery.
Set a "Zoom" Level for All Messages: While the standard zoom slider resets for each message, some versions of Outlook have a feature to remember your preferred zoom level. Look for a "Remember my preference" checkbox when you open the main Zoom dialog box from the ribbon. If available, this can save you from having to adjust the zoom on every email you read.

How To Change Outlook Font Size FAQ

How do I change the font size on the Outlook mobile app?

The Outlook mobile app (for iOS and Android) generally does not have its own internal font size settings for email content. Instead, it respects the system-wide accessibility settings of your phone. To change the font size in the app, you need to go to your phone's main settings menu (Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size on iPhone, or Settings > Display > Font size and style on Android) and adjust the text size there.

Can I make the font size permanently larger for reading all emails?

Yes, but it's done through the view settings, not the email content itself. The two best methods are adjusting the Message List font via View > View Settings and using the Zoom feature. Some versions of Outlook allow you to set a default zoom level that is remembered across all messages you read.

Why does my font look different when I reply to an email?

Outlook has two separate default font settings: one for brand new messages and another for replies and forwards. You must change both if you want them to be consistent. You can find both options in the same window at File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts....

What is the best font size for professional emails?

For maximum readability across most devices, a font size of 11pt or 12pt is considered a professional standard. Paired with a clean, sans-serif font like Arial or Calibri, this ensures your message is clear and easy to read for the majority of recipients.

Final Checklist for Changing Outlook Font Size

You have set the default font and size for new mail messages.
You have also set the default font and size for replies and forwards.
You know how to use the Zoom slider to temporarily increase the reading size of an incoming email.
You have adjusted the font size of your main inbox message list via View Settings, if required.
You have checked your settings in the correct place, depending on whether you use the classic desktop app or Outlook on the web.
You understand that your chosen font may look different to the recipient and have chosen a web-safe font for important communications.