Your Introduction to Using Tailwind Font Size Better.pdf

Enhance your design and create more accessible and user-friendly experiences for your brand and users with Tailwind font size.

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September 28, 2023
Your Introduction to Using Tailwind Font Size Better
purecode.ai/blogs/tailwind-font-size/
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Tailwind
29 Sep 2023
10 min read
Tailwind CSS is a popular utility-first CSS framework known for its simplicity and speed in web development. One of its standout features is its
comprehensive and customizable font sizing system. Tailwind streamlines web development by providing predefined classes to style HTML
elements. Among its extensive range of utilities, Tailwind also offers robust font sizing options, allowing developers to control text size. In
similar fashion, you can enjoy the full code capability of Tailwind via PureCode.ai.
This article explores the various aspects of font sizing in Tailwind, from beginner usage (default settings) to responsive design and advanced
topics like line clamping and font-weight adjustment.
Check out The Best way to create responsive design through Tailwind.
Areas of Font Sizes
There are three distinct areas of font sizes in Tailwind. They include;
Default font sizes

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Custom font sizes
Responsive font sizes
Default
By default, Tailwind provides a set of text size classes that cover a wide range of font sizes, from text-xs (extra small) to text-6xl (extra large).
These classes serve as a starting point for most projects and are designed for ease of use.
<p class="text-lg">This is a default large text.</p>'
Custom
Tailwind allows you to customize font sizes according to your project’s design requirements. You can extend the default size scale in your
project’s configuration file (tailwind.config.js), making it easy to create unique typographic styles.
// In tailwind.config.js'
module.exports = {'
theme: {'
extend: {'
fontSize: {'
'7xl': '5rem', // Add a custom font size'
},
},
},
variants: {},'
plugins: [],'
}'
Now you can use your custom size in your HTML:
<p class="text-7xl">This is a custom font size.</p>'
Responsive
Tailwind excels in responsive web design. As a result, you can easily adjust font sizes for different screen sizes using responsive classes like
sm:text-lg or lg:text-xl. It ensures that your typography looks good on all devices and not only medium screen sizes.
<p class="text-lg sm:text-xl lg:text-2xl">Responsive one</p>'
How To Change the Text Size in Tailwind
You might be asking, how do I change the text size in tailwind?
Changing it in Tailwind is straightforward. Apply classes directly to your HTML elements. Tailwind provides classes from text-xs (extra small) to
text-6xl (extra large), giving you a wide range of options. Here’s an example:
<p class="text-sm">This text has a large.</p>'
The text lg font size gives a large text.
How To Make Font Size Responsive in Tailwind
Tailwind makes text size responsiveness a breeze. Adjust for different screen sizes, and add responsive variants classes to your text size
classes (You can also use media queries). For example, sm:text-lg sets the text size to large on small screens and above.
<p class="text-sm sm:text-xl">Responsive one</p>'
How To Customize Size in Tailwind: How do I change the font in tailwind?
Customizing font sizes in Tailwind is a common need for many projects. You can tailor the font sizes to your design by editing your project’s
configuration file, typically named tailwind.config.js. So, in this file, you’ll find a theme section where you can customize text sizes. Here’s an
example of how you can add a custom text size:
module.exports = {'
theme: {'
extend: {'
fontSize: {'
'7xl': '5rem', // Add a custom text size'
},
},
},
variants: {},'
plugins: [],'
}'

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After adding this customization, you can use the new text size class in your HTML:
<p class="text-7xl">Custom one</p>'
Font Size Scale

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Tailwind follows a carefully crafted font sizing scale that ensures consistency and visual harmony in your designs. The default scale is based
on a ratio of 1.125, which means each step scale is 12.5% larger than the previous one. This scalable approach simplifies font sizing decisions
and results in aesthetically pleasing typography. Here are code samples for using the default Tailwind CSS font sizing scale:

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<!-- Extra Small -->'
<p class="text-xs">Extra Small</p>'
'
<!-- Small -->'
<p class="text-sm">Small</p>'
'
<!-- Base -->'
<p class="text-base">Base</p>'
'
<!-- Large -->'
<p class="text-lg">Large</p>'
'
<!-- Extra Large -->'
<p class="text-xl">Extra Large</p>'
'
<!-- 2xl (Custom Scale) -->'
<p class="text-2xl">2xl</p>'
'
<!-- 3xl (Custom Scale) -->'
<p class="text-3xl">3xl</p>'
'
<!-- 4xl (Custom Scale) -->'
<p class="text-4xl">4xl</p>'
To illustrate, here’s a summary of what’s happening in the provided HTML code:
<p> elements are used to display text with different font sizes.
Each <p> element has a class attribute containing a Tailwind class for specifying the font size.
The classes used for font sizes are Tailwind CSS’s predefined font size scale.
They include text-xs font(Extra Small), text-sm font size (Small), text-base (Base), text-lg (Large), and text-xl font size(Extra Large) for
default font sizes.
Additionally, there are custom font sizes defined using text-2xl, text-3xl, and text-4xl based on Tailwind CSS’s custom font size scale.
Font Size Utilities

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Tailwind CSS -fontsize
Font Size Utilities with Line Height
In addition to font size classes, Tailwind provides utilities for controlling default line-height (leading-) alongside text size. It allows you to adjust
the spacing between lines of text, improving readability and aesthetics.
<p class="text-4xl leading-7">Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.</p>'
Another example;
<p class="text-xl leading-7">Proper default line height enhances readability.</p>'

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Utility Variants
Tailwind offers utility variants like hover and focus. It allows you apply font size changes when a user interacts with an element. For example:
<a href="#" class="text-lg hover:text-xl">Hover me</a>'
Font Size Hover Transition
You can add smooth transitions to font size changes using Tailwind’s transition classes. It creates a visually pleasing effect when the user
hovers over an element.
<a href="#" class="text-lg hover:text-xl transition">Hover me</a>'
Here’s another example;
<a href="#" class="text-lg hover:text-xl transition">Hover over me with style</a>'
Font Size with Line Clamping
Tailwind provides the line-clamp utility to truncate long text and prevent overflow. This feature limits the number of lines displayed while
maintaining readability.
<p class="text-lg line-clamp-3">This text gets clamped after three lines.</p>'
Another example;
<p class="text-lg line-clamp-3">Long text that gets clamped after three lines.</p>'
Font Weight Classes
Tailwind font weight
Tailwind includes font-weight classes such as font-thin, font-normal, and font-bold for easy control over text weight. Combine these with font
size classes to achieve the desired text style.
<p class="text-lg font-bold">Bold text</p>'
Another example;

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<p class="text-lg font-thin">Bold and beautiful text</p>'
Font Size in Forms
Font sizing in forms is crucial for a consistent user experience. Tailwind provides specific utilities for form elements, making it easy to style text
within input fields, buttons, and other form components.
<input type="text" class="w-full px-3 py-2 text-lg border rounded-md">'
Here’s a comprehensive code sample that demonstrates how to use Tailwind to set font sizes within a form, along with a detailed explanation:
<!DOCTYPE html>'
<html lang="en">'
<head>'
<meta charset="UTF-8">'
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">'
<title>Tailwind Font Size in Form</title>'
<!-- Include Tailwind CSS (make sure to include this in your project) -->'
<link href="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/dist/tailwind.min.css>" rel="stylesheet">'
</head>'
<body class="bg-gray-100 p-6">'
<div class="max-w-md mx-auto bg-white p-6 rounded-md shadow-md">'
<h1 class="text-2xl font-semibold mb-4">Contact Us</h1>'
<!-- Form -->'
<form action="#" method="POST">'
<!-- Name Input -->'
<div class="mb-4">'
<label for="name" class="text-base font-medium text-gray-700">Name</label>'
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" class="mt-1 p-2 w-full rounded-md border-gray-300 focus:ring focus:ring-
blue-200 focus:border-blue-300 text-lg" placeholder="Your Name">'
</div>'
<!-- Email Input -->'
<div class="mb-4">'
<label for="email" class="text-base font-medium text-gray-700">Email</label>'
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" class="mt-1 p-2 w-full rounded-md border-gray-300 focus:ring
focus:ring-blue-200 focus:border-blue-300 text-lg" placeholder="Your Email">'
</div>'
<!-- Message Textarea -->'
<div class="mb-4">'
<label for="message" class="text-base font-medium text-gray-700">Message</label>'
<textarea id="message" name="message" rows="4" class="mt-1 p-2 w-full rounded-md border-gray-300 focus:ring
focus:ring-blue-200 focus:border-blue-300 text-lg" placeholder="Your Message"></textarea>'
</div>'
<!-- Submit Button -->'
<div class="mt-4">'
<button type="submit" class="px-4 py-2 bg-blue-500 text-white rounded-md text-lg hover:bg-blue-600 focus:outline-
none focus:ring focus:ring-blue-200">Submit</button>'
</div>'
</form>'
</div>'
</body>'
</html>'
Explanation:
The code sets up a basic HTML structure for a contact form.
The classes style the form and its elements.
The form consists of input fields for “Name” and “Email” and textarea for the “Message.”
Each input field and text area has a text-lg class applied; it sets the default font size to a larger, more readable size.
Other classes used include p-2 (padding), rounded-md (rounded corners), and border-gray-300 (light gray border).
The submit button has a background color of bg-blue-500, white text, and larger font size using text-lg.
Focus variant styles are applied to form elements to improve accessibility and user experience, such as `focus:ring` and `focus:border`
classes.
The overall form centers within a white container with a drop shadow for a clean and modern appearance.
Transitioning Font Sizes

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Transitioning font sizes smoothly during state changes, such as hover or focus, can be achieved using Tailwind transition utility classes. It adds
a polished and interactive element to your web interface. Below is a comprehensive code sample with explanations that demonstrate
transitioning font sizes:
<!DOCTYPE html>'
<html lang="en">'
<head>'
<meta charset="UTF-8">'
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">'
<title>Transitioning Font Sizes</title>'
<!-- Include Tailwind CSS (make sure to include this in your project) -->'
<link href="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/dist/tailwind.min.css>" rel="stylesheet">'
<style>'
/* Custom CSS for transitioning font sizes */'
.text-lg-transition {'
font-size: 1rem; /* Initial font size */'
transition: font-size 0.3s ease; /* Transition property for font-size */'
}'
.text-lg-transition:hover,'
.text-lg-transition:focus {'
font-size: 1.2rem; /* Font size on hover or focus */'
}'
</style>'
</head>'
<body class="bg-gray-100 p-6">'
<div class="max-w-md mx-auto bg-white p-6 rounded-md shadow-md">'
<h1 class="text-2xl font-semibold mb-4">Transitioning Font Sizes</h1>'
<!-- Text with Transitioning Font Size -->'
<p class="text-lg-transition">Hover over me to see the font size change.</p>'
</div>'
</body>'
</html>'
Explanation:
The code sets up a basic HTML structure with a heading and a paragraph element for demonstrating transitioning font sizes.
Tailwind uses a CDN for the general layout and appearance of the elements.
Custom CSS is within <style> tags to handle the transitioning font sizes. The .text-lg-transition class has an initial font size of 1rem, and
a transition property controls the transition of the font-size property throughout 0.3s with an easing function.
The `.text-lg-transition:hover` and `.text-lg-transition:focus` pseudo-classes specify the font size when the element is hovered over
or focused. In this case, the font size is increased to 1.2rem on hover or focus, creating a smooth transition effect.
The paragraph element with the class `text-lg-transition` demonstrates the transitioning font size. When you hover over or focus on this
element, the font size will smoothly transition from 1rem to 1.2rem.
Accessibility and Font Sizing
When working with font sizes, it’s essential to consider accessibility. Tailwind CSS’s responsive and scalable approach ensures that your
designs adapt well to different screen sizes and devices, contributing to better overall accessibility. Tailwind provides a robust set of utility
classes for font sizing, making it easy to create accessible typography.
The Importance of Accessibility in Font Sizing
Accessibility in font sizing is about making sure your website’s text is readable and usable by everyone. Here are some key reasons why it
matters:
Readability: Proper font sizing improves text readability, especially for visually impaired users.
User Preferences: Users often have their preferred font size settings in browsers. Respect these settings to ensure content remains
accessible.
Responsive Design: Font sizes should adapt to different screen sizes and devices; it maintains readability.
Consistency: Consistent font sizes create a more predictable and user-friendly experience.
Let’s explore how to achieve accessibility in font sizing with code samples:
Using Relative Units
Tailwind CSS offers classes for relative font sizing using rem units based on the root font size (usually 16px):

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<p class="text-base">This is a base font size.</p>'
<p class="text-lg">This is a larger font size.</p>'
Here, text-base sets the font size to the root size, and the text-lg font size increases it, maintaining relative proportions.
Implementing Accessibility
Use Semantic HTML: Employ semantic elements (<h1>, <p>, <a>) to provide context for assistive technologies.
Contrast Ratios: Ensure proper contrast between text and backgrounds to aid readability. Tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker can
help.
Font Choices: Select accessible fonts. The fonts should be easy to read and available in various weights.
Responsive Design: Test your design on various screen sizes and ensure font sizes adapt gracefully.
User Preferences: Respect user preferences for font sizing set in browser settings.
Theming Font Sizes
Tailwind’s theming capabilities extend to font sizes. You can define font sizing scales in your project’s configuration file to maintain consistency
across your application and adapt to your brand’s style guidelines. Theming font sizes in Tailwind CSS can be achieved by customizing your
project’s configuration file (tailwind.config.js (config file)). Below, you’ll find a comprehensive code sample with explanations on how to theme
font sizes in Tailwind:
Step 1: Create or Customize Your Configuration
In your tailwind.config.js file, you can customize the theme to define your font sizes. Here’s how you can do it:
// tailwind.config.js'
module.exports = {'
theme: {'
extend: {'
fontSize: {'
'xs': '0.75rem', // Extra Small'
'sm': '0.875rem', // Small'
'base': '1rem', // Base'
'lg': '1.125rem', // Large'
'xl': '1.25rem', // Extra Large'
'2xl': '1.5rem', // Custom 2xl Size'
'3xl': '1.875rem', // Custom 3xl Size'
},
},
},
variants: {},'
plugins: [],'
}'
In the code above:
We’re extending the fontSize property in the Tailwind CSS theme to include custom font sizes.
The default font sizes (xs, sm, base, lg, and xl) are for reference.
Custom font sizes (2xl and 3xl) have specific rem values.
Step 2: Use Your Custom Font Sizes in HTML
Now that you’ve defined your custom font sizes, you can use them in your HTML elements:
<p class="text-xl">This is extra large text.</p>'
<p class="text-lg">This is a large font size.</p>'
<p class="text-2xl">This is a custom 2xl font size.</p>'
<p class="text-3xl">This is a custom 3xl font size.</p>'
In the code above:
The text-xs, text-lg, text-2xl, and text-3xl classes correspond to the custom font sizes defined in your configuration.
Step 3: Applying Your Theme to Your Project
To use this customized theme in your project, configure your tailwind.config.js file and compile your CSS using the Tailwind CLI or your
preferred build process.

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Explanation:
Custom Configuration: In the tailwind.config.js file, we extend the fontSize property under the theme section. It allows us to define our
font sizes and extend Tailwind’s default set.
Custom Font Sizes: Custom font sizes like 2xl and 3xl have specific rem values. Adjust to match your design preferences.
Usage in HTML: In your HTML code, you can apply the custom font size classes to elements that require these sizes. Tailwind CSS
applies the corresponding font size based on your configuration.
Create Your Dream Fonts with Tailwind Font Size
Font sizing is a critical aspect of web design, and Tailwind CSS simplifies the process with its intuitive utility-first approach. Whether you need
default font sizes, customized scales, responsiveness, or advanced features like line clamping and font weight control, Tailwind CSS has you
covered.
In conclusion, this article has provided a comprehensive overview of font sizing in Tailwind CSS, highlighting its flexibility and utility in web
development. We’ve covered various aspects, including, Default Font Sizes, Custom Font Sizes, Responsive Font Sizing, Font Size Scale,
Font Size Utilities, Utility Variants, Font Size with Line Clamping, Font Weight Classes, Font Size in Forms, Transitioning Font Sizes,
Accessibility, Theming Font Sizes.
Incorporating these font sizing techniques into your web development projects with Tailwind enhances your design and contributes to a more
accessible and user-friendly experience for your audience.
Get started with PureCode.ai today.
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