Find out which fonts and sizes make eBooks easy to read on any device—and how to edit your PDF for a smooth, professional reading experience.
The font you choose for your eBook can make a big difference in how easily your audience reads your content. A well-designed typeface enhances readability, reduces eye strain, and keeps readers engaged.
This guide breaks down how you can choose the best font for eBook readability and how to edit your PDF eBook for a polished, professional look.
5 Best Fonts for eBook Readability
Choosing the right font for an eBook is crucial to creating a comfortable reading experience. The best fonts are highly legible, easy on the eyes during long reading sessions, and render well across different devices and screen sizes.
Here are some of the best fonts for eBook readability:
1. Georgia
Designed for screen reading, Georgia is a classic serif font that balances elegance with clarity. Its large height and ample spacing make it especially readable on smaller screens.
Georgia is often used in eBooks and on blogs because it maintains strong legibility even at small font sizes.
2. Palatino
Palatino is another serif font known for excellent readability. Originally designed for print, it is widely used in digital formats due to its open counters and classic letterforms.
3. Arial
Arial is a clean, sans-serif font that’s easy to read and supported by virtually every platform. While often used in technical or business documents, it’s also a solid choice for eBooks when you need a modern look.
4. Verdana
Verdana was specifically designed for screen display. Its wide letter spacing and large characters enhance readability on all types of screens, including low-resolution displays.
5. Brookerly
This font was developed by Amazon to improve the reading experience on Kindle devices. It combines a serif style with the modern smoothness of digital typography.
Additionally, it’s purpose-built for digital reading, reduces eye strain on backlit screens, and is stylish yet highly functional.
The Best Font Size for PDF eBook Reading
When designing a PDF eBook, choosing the right font size is just as important as selecting a readable font. A poorly sized font can strain the eyes, discourage readers from finishing your content, and create formatting issues.
For most PDF eBooks, the ideal font size for body text is between 11 and 13 points. This range offers a comfortable reading experience without requiring zooming or scrolling.
Additionally, to create a clear visual hierarchy for headings and subheadings, pair your body text with headings in larger sizes, such as 18 to 24 points for main headings and 14 to 18 points for subheadings.
How to Edit the Font in Your PDF eBook in 4 Steps
Now that you know what the best fonts and sizes are for eBook readability, you may want to edit your PDF eBook fonts. Here’s how to do it quickly using Smallpdf’s PDF Editor:
Step 1: Open Your PDF in PDF Editor
Navigate to our PDF Editor tool. Click “Choose File” or drag and drop your PDF eBook into the upload box. Wait a moment while the file loads into the editing workspace.
Step 2: Select Existing Text
Click the “Edit Text” button in the top toolbar and then click on the text that’s already in your PDF. A formatting toolbar will appear at the top.
Step 3: Customize the Font Style
Once the text is selected, you can use the toolbar to customize:
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Font style: Choose from clean, legible fonts to make your PDF readable.
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Font size: Adjust this using the arrows next to the font size to make your text bigger or smaller.
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Font color: Click the circle with the font color and choose one that enhances your design.
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Alignment and positioning: You can align your text left, center, or right and drag it to reposition it freely on the page.
Step 4: Download or Export
When you’re happy with your edits, click the “Download” button in the top-right corner. Your edited PDF will be downloaded to your device.
Alternatively, click “Finish”, which will take you to a screen where you can export your PDF in different formats like Microsoft Word, print it, or share it directly from the tool.
FAQs on the Best Font for eBook PDFs
What font is best for an eBook?
The best font for an eBook is one that’s highly readable across devices, such as Georgia, Palatino, or Brookerly. Serif fonts like these provide a comfortable reading experience for long-form text. For a modern look, clean sans-serif fonts like Arial or Roboto also work well.
Which font style is best for reading?
The best font style for reading is typically a serif font like Georgia or Palatino, as the small strokes help guide the eyes across lines of text. For digital screens, fonts designed specifically for readability, like Brookerly or Verdana, are good choices.
What is the best font for digital publishing?
The best font for digital publishing is one that’s optimized for screen readability, such as Brookerly, Georgia, or Roboto. These fonts are designed to be clear and legible on various devices and screen sizes. Serif fonts like Brookerly work well for long-form content, while sans-serif fonts like Roboto offer a modern, clean look.
What font do books use?
Most printed books use serif fonts like Garamond, Times New Roman, or Caslon, as these are highly readable and have a classic, professional look. These fonts help guide the reader’s eye smoothly across the page, making them ideal for long-form text.
