How to Make Font Bigger Than 72 in Word

Have you ever been working on a project in Microsoft Word and needed to make your text larger than the standard maximum size? Word generally caps font sizes at 72 points, which may not be sufficient for certain tasks like banners, posters, or special art projects. Fortunately, there are ways to go beyond this limit. This guide discusses how to make a font bigger than 72 in Word.

Why Go Beyond 72 Points?

Before diving into the techniques, let’s discuss why you might need to make fonts larger than the preset limit of 72 points. Larger fonts can be useful in many scenarios, including:

1. Presentations: Large text can grab attention and make important points stand out.
2. Posters and Banners: Big fonts ensure your message is visible from a distance.
3. Visual Arts Projects: Custom fonts and sizes can make your artwork unique and memorable.

Basic Font Size Adjustments

Microsoft Word provides simple options to adjust your text size directly via the toolbar. Here’s a quick refresher:

1. Select the text you want to resize.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Locate the font size box in the Font group.
4. Enter any number up to 72 points.

Because 72 points might not be adequate for your needs, let’s explore how to exceed this limit.

Using Larger Font Sizes via Font Dialog Box

One easy method to enlarge your text beyond 72 points is by directly entering your desired font size in the Font dialog box. Here’s how:

1. Highlight the text you want to resize.
2. Press Ctrl+D to launch the Font dialog box.
3. In the Size box, type a number larger than 72, such as 100 or 150.
4. Click OK to apply the changes.

This method should work seamlessly in most versions of Microsoft Word.

Utilizing the Increase Font Size Button

While the Increase Font Size button is usually limited to preset size increments, sometimes repeatedly clicking can push font sizes beyond their typical limit. Follow these steps:

1. Select your text.
2. Navigate to the Home tab.
3. Click on the Increase Font Size button (indicated by a larger capital A with an upward arrow).
4. Continue clicking until your desired size is reached.

This method, though time-consuming, can sometimes get you past the 72-point barrier.

Creating Super Large Text via Text Box or WordArt

Here’s another technique that’s particularly useful for creating visually impactful documents:

1. Go to the Insert tab.
2. Choose Text Box or WordArt from the options.
3. Type your text in the Text Box or WordArt.

Text Boxes and WordArt have their sizing options, which allow for more customization.

Steps to Adjust Text Box Text Size:

1. Click inside the text box.
2. Select the text.
3. Go back to the Home tab and adjust the size in the same manner as before. Here, you can go beyond the 72-point limit.

Steps to Adjust WordArt Text Size:

1. Click on the WordArt text.
2. Use the formatting options to make size adjustments.
3. Additionally, you can manually resize the WordArt box by clicking and dragging the corners.

WordArt often gives you even more creative freedom with various styles, effects, and colors.

Using Custom Scaling in Print Options

For projects like posters and banners, sometimes it’s best to use the print scaling options available in Word. Here’s how:

1. Go to File > Print.
2. Click on Printer Properties or the equivalent printing options for your printer.
3. Look for settings like “Scale to Paper Size” or “Custom Scaling.”
4. Adjust the scaling to make your text appear larger once printed.

Though this won’t directly increase the font size in your document, it allows you to print larger text by scaling it up.

Adjusting Font Size in Different Versions of Microsoft Word

Different versions of Microsoft Word offer variations in functionality. Let’s look at how to accomplish larger text sizes in a few of the more popular releases:

Microsoft Word 2010 and 2013

1. Highlight your text.
2. Right-click and select font.
3. Enter a custom font size larger than 72 points.

Microsoft Word 2016 and Later

1. Highlight the text.
2. In the Home tab, simply enter a larger number in the font size dropdown.

Even newer versions of Word usually follow a similar pattern, but they might have added features for additional customization.

Using VBA Code to Set Larger Font Sizes

For those comfortable with some coding, VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) can be another tool for creating larger fonts. Here’s a simple script to get you started:

1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
2. Insert a new module via Insert > Module.
3. Paste the following code:

   Sub SetLargeFontSize()
      Selection.Font.Size = 150  ' Change 150 to your desired size
   End Sub
   

4. Close the VBA editor and run the macro by pressing Alt + F8, selecting SetLargeFontSize, and then clicking Run.

VBA scripts can automate various tasks and offer a custom solution for setting specific font metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to How To Make Font Bigger Than 72 In Word

Q. How can I boost or make the font size bigger than 72 in Word?
A. You can make the font size bigger than 72 by manually typing the desired size into the font size box in the toolbar.

Q. Where do I find the font size box in Word?
A. The font size box is located on the Home tab in the Font group. It usually shows a number, which indicates the current font size.

Q. Is there a limit to how big I can make the font in Word?
A. Word allows you to set the font size up to 1,632 points, so there is no practical limit for most users.

Q. Can I use a keyboard shortcut to change the font size?
A. Yes! You can quickly increase the font size by selecting your text and pressing “Ctrl + Shift + >” to make it bigger.

Q. What happens if I type a font size that is too large?
A. Word will usually adjust to the largest acceptable size, 1,632 points, if you type a size that exceeds the maximum.

Q. Do all fonts support large sizes?
A. Most fonts do, but some may not look good or be legible when blown up to large sizes. It’s best to preview them often.

Q. Can I save a font size over 72 as part of a template?
A. Yes. You can create a template with your desired font size, so you don’t have to set it every time.

Q. Is there any special setting for printing fonts larger than 72?
A. No special settings are needed; just ensure your printer can handle large fonts and select the correct paper size.

Q. Can I make the text larger in a box or a different shape?
A. Of course! You can make the font bigger in text boxes or shapes, just like you do with regular text.

Q. How does font size affect the layout of my document?
A. Larger font sizes can change how text fits on a page, so you may need to adjust spacing, margins, or page layout to make it look right.

Conclusion

Microsoft Word might cap font sizes at 72 points by default, but numerous methods exist to bypass this limit for larger text. Whether using simple manual adjustments, Text Boxes, advanced printing options, or even VBA scripting, there’s a solution to match your needs. With these techniques, you can ensure that your text captures attention in any setting.

Feel free to experiment with these methods to find what works best for your project. Happy writing and formatting!