Large Print Books: What They Are and How to Choose

Large print books generally use 16 to 18 point type, and choosing one involves the appearance of the letters, the spacing, the paper and the physical size of the book. RNIB distinguishes this from regular print, usually 10 or 12 point, and from giant print, which is larger. Large print may suit people with some vision who prefer larger letters.

This guide explains the size terms first, then the readers who may benefit from larger letters. It follows with practical checks for the page, the dimensions of the book in your hands, and the large print formats available at the Library of Alexandria.

What counts as large print?

RNIB's guide to large and giant print options was consulted on 24 October 2026. It describes large print as generally 16 to 18 point and giant print as anything larger than large print. These are useful terms when a book's format is described simply as large print or giant print. The word generally matters: RNIB presents a usual range, not one compulsory size for every large print book.

A point, abbreviated pt, is a unit of type size. The number alone is only a guide to how large the letters will look, because different typefaces can appear different in size at the same point setting. RNIB makes this qualification in its guide to large and giant print options. A point measurement and the visible appearance of the letters describe related, but not identical, aspects of the page.

Who large print helps

Large or giant print may suit people with some vision who prefer larger letters. Its description concerns the reader's experience of the text, not an age category. That makes the question practical for someone searching for large print books for seniors as well as for another reader whose usual print size is not working well.

Dyslexia Scotland's advice also addresses the presentation of printed text and says many readers benefit from larger letters. Larger type is one part of that presentation: the arrangement of lines and the surface of the paper also feature in its recommendations. The site's guide to reading with dyslexia addresses this related subject.

What to look for in a large print book

Dyslexia Scotland's "Dyslexia-friendly typed formats," dated 12 September 2025, gives the following checks for printed text.

• Check the type size: Dyslexia Scotland advises at least 12 point for print; this is a print-format recommendation, not its definition of large print.
• Check the space between lines: its recommendation is line spacing of about 1.5.
• Look for left-aligned text, which Dyslexia Scotland recommends in place of fully justified text.
• Check the paper finish: Dyslexia Scotland recommends matte paper to reduce glare.

What large print books are like to hold

The Library of Alexandria's large print books have pages measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. Its standard print books measure 6 x 9 inches. The large print format is therefore a larger book to hold, a physical difference separate from the size of the letters. The dimensions are relevant when choosing a format for the place where you usually read.

Page size and binding are separate parts of the choice. Paperback and hardcover are available print formats, while large print concerns the presentation of the text. A preference for larger letters does not by itself settle the binding choice. The practical decision involves both the page format you want and whether you want a paperback or a hardcover.

Large print at the Library of Alexandria

The large print edition on this site uses larger type and more space between the lines. Any book in the library can be ordered in large print, with paperback and hardcover formats available. Each book's page lists its editions before you order, so the format choice belongs with the particular title. The large print shelf brings these books together.

Classic fiction choices range from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a romance shaped by marriage and social rank, to Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a collection of twelve detective stories. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein combines Gothic horror and science fiction. These offer different kinds of writing within the library's large print choices, without making the physical format the deciding factor in the subject you choose.

The type sizes on this page are RNIB's, from its guide to large and giant print options, read on 24 October 2026. The page sizes are those of the Library of Alexandria's own editions.

Keep exploring

• Reading with dyslexia: what helps
• Short classics and novellas
• Printed books at cost