Large Print Books: How to Format for Accessibility
A large print book is formatted specifically for readers with low vision or reading difficulty. The core spec is font size: at least 16pt (many large print books use 16–18pt, with giant print at 20pt+), set in a clear, readable typeface with generous line spacing and wide margins. Because bigger text means more pages, large print editions usually use a larger trim (like 6×9″ or 7×10″) to keep the page count and book thickness reasonable. Prioritise high contrast, avoid tight or decorative fonts, and keep layouts simple and uncluttered. It's a genuine, underserved market. Here's how to format one properly.
Large print isn't just “regular text, bigger” — it's a distinct format with real accessibility specs, serving readers with low vision, older readers, and anyone who finds standard print hard going. It's also a market many authors overlook. Here's how to produce a large print edition that's genuinely easier to read, not just enlarged.
The defining spec: font size
The single defining feature of large print is text size. General guidance:
| Edition type | Typical body size |
|---|---|
| Standard print | 10–12pt |
| Large print | 16–18pt |
| Giant print | 20pt and up |
16pt is the common floor for something to be considered large print. The exact size depends on the typeface, but the goal is text that's comfortably readable for someone with reduced vision.
Choose a clear, readable typeface
Readability matters more than style in large print. Choose a clean typeface with open letterforms and good spacing — many large print books use a straightforward serif or a highly legible sans-serif. Avoid tight, condensed, decorative or script fonts, which are harder for low-vision readers. Clarity is the whole point.
Spacing, margins and contrast
- Generous line spacing (leading) — more air between lines helps the eye track; go looser than standard print.
- Wider letter and word spacing where it aids legibility (without overdoing it).
- Ample margins and shorter line lengths — very long lines are hard to follow at large sizes.
- High contrast — crisp black text on white (or off-white) paper; avoid grey text, tints behind text, or text over images.
- Simple, uncluttered layouts — minimal decorative elements competing with the text.
Manage page count with trim size
Bigger text means each page holds fewer words, so a large print edition has many more pages than the standard edition — which increases thickness and print cost. To keep this manageable, large print books use a larger trim (commonly 6×9″ or 7×10″) so each page fits more of the big text. It's a balance: big enough type to be genuinely large print, a big enough page to keep the book from becoming enormous.
Why bother with a large print edition?
- A real, underserved audience — low-vision readers, older readers, and libraries that specifically stock large print.
- Low extra effort — it's a re-format of your existing, finished book, not new writing.
- Print-on-demand friendly — no inventory cost to offer it alongside your standard edition.
- Library demand — libraries actively buy large print titles.
Offering a large print edition widens your book's reach to readers who otherwise can't comfortably read it — a small production step for a genuine accessibility and market benefit.