See exactly what different print sizes look like before you buy a "large print" book — because "large print" doesn't mean the same thing everywhere.
A 14pt large print book and an 18pt large print book are very different. This lab shows you realistic text at every common size so you can make an informed choice.
The afternoon light had changed by the time Margaret set down her cup. She had been reading since breakfast — not quickly, the way she used to, but deliberately, savouring each sentence the way you savour a meal when you know it will be a good one. The novel was three inches thick and had sat on her shelf since her daughter left it there last Christmas. Now, finally, she understood why her daughter had said: you'll love this one, Mum, it's exactly your kind of story. Outside, the maple tree was turning. She turned another page.
An 18pt physical book is one size, forever. An e-reader lets you set text to any size — and change it any time. Even a 12pt ebook can be read comfortably by someone who struggles with a 20pt printed page, because you control the size. See our e-reader guide for low vision →
What most novels, newspapers, and paperbacks use. Fine for most adults under 60. Difficult with moderate vision loss or in low light.
The minimum many publishers use to call a book "large print." Some readers find this adequate; others find it barely better than standard.
A common middle-ground size. Many large print books from major publishers land here. A noticeable improvement for mild vision difficulties.
Recommended by many optometrists as the true minimum for comfortable reading with moderate low vision. Ulverscroft and similar publishers often use this size.
Less common in physical books. When available, it is a significant help for readers with more significant vision loss. Pages are fewer words per page, so books are thick.
Rarely found in commercial books. More common in specially produced materials. An e-reader set to this size is usually more practical and far more available.
Most large print books on Amazon, Chapters Indigo, and library shelves don't display the point size in the listing. You can sometimes guess from page count: a 300-page standard book at 16pt becomes roughly 450 pages; at 18pt, closer to 500. A listing trust checker can help you decode what you're actually buying.
Library copies can be examined before committing. If you're buying online, page count compared to the standard edition is often the best signal available.
Every e-reader sold today — Kobo, Kindle, iPad — lets you set text to any size you want. 14pt, 18pt, 28pt, whatever works for you that day, in whatever lighting you're in. You're never locked into the publisher's choice.
Canadian libraries offer hundreds of thousands of ebooks through Libby and OverDrive, free with a library card. The same book you couldn't read at 14pt on paper becomes easy at 22pt on a screen. Read our low-vision e-reader guide →
If you want to check whether a specific book listing is actually large print — and at what size — use the Large Print Listing Trust Checker →