Why Font Size Matters: A Guide to Better Website Usability

Over my career as a web designer, I’ve noticed that tweaking font sizes for aesthetic purposes is a common practice for website owners. While adjusting fonts may seem like a simple way to enhance visual appeal, several critical factors must be considered to ensure it doesn’t compromise the user experience. Let’s explore the importance of font sizes and how to use changes strategically to improve readability and user engagement on your website.

Understanding the Hierarchy: H1, H2, and H3 Tags

In web design, hierarchy is king, and font sizes play a pivotal role in establishing this visual order. Using H1, H2, and H3 tags is not just a coding standard but a way to guide your visitor’s path through your website content.

H1 Tags: These are your headlines, the most prominent text on the page. Each page should have a single H1 tag to define its primary subject. This not only aids SEO but ensures that your visitors can instantly grasp the main focus of your page. This headline also matters the most for your website search results.

H2 Tags: These subheadings help break down your H1 topic into manageable chunks. In terms of size, they should be noticeably smaller than the H1 but larger than the text used for general content. They guide your readers through each section and improve the scannability of your content.

H3 Tags: These are used for sub-sections under each H2 heading, offering further division of content and clarification without overwhelming the user. They should be smaller than H2s but stand out from your paragraph text.

Lesser Used: H4 to H6 Tags

While H4 to H6 tags are less common, they are helpful for very detailed content structures, like technical documentation or complex articles. Each should be progressively smaller than the last, ensuring that the site maintains a coherent visual structure. Again, these tags should be rarely used on most websites.

The Pitfall of Non-Responsive Text Graphics

Integrating graphics into your website can make it visually appealing, but there’s a common mistake to avoid: embedding important text in graphics. Why? These text graphics, such as those created in Canva, are not responsive by nature. This means they won’t adjust well across different devices, potentially harming your user’s experience and accessibility.

Text in images often becomes pixelated or unreadable on mobile devices, defeating the purpose of your communication. Instead, use CSS to style and manipulate your text. CSS is responsive by nature, allowing text to resize smoothly across devices, thus maintaining readability and enhancing user engagement.

Why Font Size Matters

Font size affects not just the aesthetics of your site but its usability and accessibility. Smaller fonts can be challenging to read, leading to user frustration and increased bounce rates. In contrast, well-sized fonts can improve messaging and ensure visitors stay longer on your site, exploring what you offer.

Enhancing Accessibility Through Appropriate Font Sizing

Accessibility in web design ensures that your site can be used by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. Appropriate font sizing is crucial for people with visual impairments. Using scalable units like ’em’ or ‘rem’ for font sizes ensures that your text can be resized without loss of functionality or aesthetic form. This is vital for users who need larger texts to read comfortably.

Responsive Design and Mobile Usability

With a significant amount of web traffic coming from mobile devices, ensuring that your fonts are responsive is more important than ever. Mobile users often need help with small, fixed-size fonts. Responsive design allows fonts to adjust based on the screen size, enhancing readability and user experience across all devices.

Tips for Choosing the Right Font Sizes

• Context Matters: The context in which the text appears dictates the appropriate font size. Headings should always be larger to draw attention, while body text should be smaller but legible.
• Audience Consideration: Consider the typical viewing distance and device types most commonly used by your audience. This can help determine the best font size for readability.
• Test Extensively: Always test your designs on multiple devices and under various conditions to ensure your text sizes are effective across all scenarios.

Best Practices for Font Size in Web Design

1. Consistency is Key: Maintain consistent font sizes across similar elements to ensure a cohesive look.
2. Accessibility Matters: Ensure your text is legible across all devices, particularly for visually impaired users.
3. Responsive Design: Utilize responsive design techniques to adjust text sizes based on the device and screen size.

While adjusting font sizes can enhance your site’s visual appeal, it is crucial to consider the broader implications for readability, usability, and accessibility. We all want our websites to look good, but your personal preferences might not be the best practices for web design. Your website’s design aims to communicate effectively with your audience, and maintaining proper font sizes and hierarchy plays a fundamental role in achieving this.

If you ever have questions about your website and font choices, I’m here to chat!