When you create a document with Google Docs, it defaults to a 1.15-spaced, 11pt Calibri to try to appeal to the widest range of people. The first thing many people do is change this manually each time, but today we're going to show you how to change the Google Docs default font, font size, and line spacing so you don't have to.
Google Docs formatting standard: How to change the default font
The Google Docs default font is called the “default style”, and though it isn't especially intuitive, you can change it. If you tend to double space in Google Docs, you can make sure new documents start with that setting. If you want your Google Docs default font to be a serif one, you can change that too.
Here's how you can modify its default text formatting in under a minute:
How to Change Default Font, Font Size, and Line Spacing in Google Docs
Before you can modify the default font and formatting in Google Docs, you need to change some existing text to your liking. Create a new document and type anything, then follow the steps below:
- How to change default font style in Google Doc
Select your text and click on “Calibri” in the font style dropdown menu. Then, pick a font from the list that you like the look of.
- How to change font size in Google Docs
With the text still collected, press the “11” next to your font name and choose a different size from the dropdown menu.
- How to double space or change default line spacing in Google Docs
Quite often, students or writers will find that the person they're sending their document to has specific line spacing requirements. The most common is double spacing, which is used in teaching and editing to give the marker space to write comments between lines.
To change this in Google Docs, click the icon of a double-sided arrow with three lines next to it. Then, select Single, 1.15, 1.5, Double, or Custom from the list.
- Update your “Normal text” to match your selection
Now you need to update your “Normal”, or body text, to match your selection. This will ensure all of the regular text across your document matches this style.
You modify how your headings and subtitles look by adding them to your document, modifying them, and doing the same.
- Save your default styles for later use
To change the default font in Google Docs, you then have to press “Options > Save my default styles”. This will ensure the styles you created for your body, title, subtitle, and header text will apply to new documents.
You now know how to change the default font in Google Docs, but there's plenty more you might be missing in Google's text editor. If you don't already know, feel free to follow our guides on how to add a table of contents to your documents or insert a text box.
