How to Increase the Printed Font Size of a PDF in Acrobat
Question details
The user needs to increase the font size of a PDF document because the text is too small to read when printed.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Preparing a PDF document for printing where the default font size is illegible on physical paper.
- Observed behavior
- The printed text is too small, and the user is unsure if upgrading to a paid version of Acrobat is necessary to enlarge the font.
Determine if your PDF contains scanned images or editable text, as this will dictate whether you can directly edit the font size or if you must rely on print scaling.
Enlarge the Document Using Print Scaling
This is the easiest method and works for all PDFs, including scanned documents, without needing to edit the actual text.
Instead of modifying the document's contents, you can tell your printer to scale the entire page up. This is the safest way to preserve the original layout while making the text larger on paper.
Open the PDF in Acrobat and go to 'File' > 'Print'.
In the Print dialog box, look for the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section.
Select the 'Custom Scale' option and enter a percentage greater than 100% to enlarge the document.
Check the preview pane to ensure the enlarged text still fits on the paper, then click 'Print'.
Edit the Font Size Directly in Acrobat Pro
If you have a paid version of Acrobat and the PDF contains editable text, you can manually select and change the font size.
Easily Increase PDF Font Sizes and Print with WPS Office
WPS Office provides powerful PDF editing and printing tools. You can effortlessly adjust print scaling or directly edit text size without needing an expensive Acrobat Pro subscription.
- 1. Open Document: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Adjust Print Scale: To scale for printing, click 'Menu' > 'Print' and adjust the 'Custom Scale' under the Page Handling section.
- 3. Access Edit Mode: To edit the font directly, navigate to the 'Edit' tab and click on the 'Edit Text' button.
- 4. Modify Text Size: Highlight your text, select a larger font size from the floating toolbar, and proceed to print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF text not reflow when I increase the font size?
Unlike Word documents, PDFs use fixed, absolute layouts. Increasing the font size of a specific text block might cause it to overlap with other elements or run off the page because the document does not automatically push surrounding content out of the way.
Can I increase the font size of a scanned PDF?
No, scanned PDFs are essentially flat images. You cannot highlight or change the font size directly. To make it larger, you must use print scaling to enlarge the entire image, or use an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool to convert the image into editable text first.
How do I make a PDF easier to read on screen without editing it?
You can simply zoom in using the magnification tools (usually represented by a plus icon or a percentage dropdown) in your PDF reader. This enlarges the text for comfortable reading on your monitor without altering the document's actual print settings or layout.
Is there a free way to edit PDF text size?
Yes, free PDF editors like WPS Office offer basic text editing capabilities. They allow you to select text and increase the font size natively without needing to purchase a premium subscription like Acrobat Pro.
