Text Magnifier
Adjust font size, line height, letter spacing, and background for comfortable reading.
About This Tool
The Text Magnifier lets you customize how text appears on screen by adjusting font size, line height, letter spacing, and background color. It is designed for individuals with low vision, macular degeneration, astigmatism, dyslexia, or anyone who experiences visual fatigue when reading standard-sized text on digital screens.
Unlike simple browser zoom — which scales everything including layout and images — this tool isolates typography settings so you can find the exact combination of size, spacing, and contrast that makes reading effortless. Once you discover your preferred settings, you can apply the same values in your own documents, emails, or website CSS.
Tool Guide
Enter your text
Paste any text into the input area. The default sample text helps you see how settings affect a typical paragraph.
Adjust font size
Use the A+ and A− buttons to increase or decrease font size in 2px steps, ranging from 12px to 72px.
Tune line height & spacing
Slide line height from 1.0 to 3.0 and letter spacing from 0 to 0.3em. Wider spacing helps readers with astigmatism or tracking difficulties.
Choose a background
Switch between White, Cream, Soft blue, or Dark backgrounds. Some readers find warm or dark backgrounds reduce eye strain significantly.
How to Use
- Find your ideal size: Start at 22px and adjust until text feels comfortable without squinting. Most low-vision readers prefer 28–36px.
- Line height matters: A line height of 1.5–1.8 prevents lines from blurring together. This is especially helpful for readers with astigmatism or cortical visual impairments.
- Letter spacing: Slightly increased letter spacing (0.04–0.08em) can reduce visual crowding effects, particularly beneficial for dyslexic readers.
- Background color: Warm cream backgrounds reduce blue-light fatigue. Dark backgrounds with light text can help users sensitive to bright screens.
- Apply elsewhere: Note your preferred values and apply them in your word processor, email client, or browser accessibility settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between this and browser zoom?
Browser zoom scales everything on the page — text, images, layout, and navigation — which can cause horizontal scrolling and broken layouts. This tool only adjusts typography properties (size, spacing, line height, background) on a clean text area, letting you isolate what works best for your eyes.
What font size should I use?
There is no universal answer, but most low-vision users find 24–36px comfortable. Start at 22px, increase until reading feels effortless, and note the value. You can apply this size in your own documents and reading apps.
Does the dark background save battery?
On OLED screens (most modern phones and some laptops), dark backgrounds do save battery because black pixels are turned off. However, the primary benefit here is reducing overall luminance for users sensitive to bright screens.
Can I save my settings?
This tool does not save settings. We recommend noting your preferred font size, line height, letter spacing, and background color values, then applying them in your document editor, email client, or web browser's accessibility preferences.
Is this tool helpful for dyslexia?
Yes. Increased letter spacing (0.04–0.08em) and generous line height (1.5+) are widely recommended for dyslexic readers. Some also benefit from cream or soft-colored backgrounds rather than pure white.
Does this tool work with screen readers?
The magnified text output area uses aria-live="polite", so screen readers will announce changes. However, this tool is primarily visual — if you are a screen reader user, the Text to Speech tool may be more useful.