David Cameron
Updated December 12th, 2019
We get this question a lot. In short, the difference is in the size of the letters printed on the pages of the Bible. Unfortunately, in the Bible printing business, there is no industry standard for what size text is considered small, regular, large or giant size. Even within the same publishing house, text size varies for a variety of reasons. For this reason, it is very important to question and understand exactly what size text you are buying.
Why is there a difference?
The answer to this questions simply comes down to space. The smaller the Bible, the smaller the text will have to be to fit everything into the smaller pages. Publishers can accommodate for this by adding more pages but there is a limit to what is acceptable. People who buy large or giant print Bibles don’t want to have to carry around 2000 page Bibles. Thinline and pocket Bibles generally have the smallest text size so, if you have trouble reading small print, be careful to avoid these types by selecting a larger style Bible.
Which Size is Best for me?
The larger the print, the larger the Bibles. When you consider font size, you are indirectly considering the physical size of the book itself. Other factors such as paper weight (thickness) also come into play but
the most important detail is still the size of the type face.
If you talk to Biblica, they claim that their standard print sizes are:
Small print - 6
Regular print - 8.3
Easier-to-Read - 9.75
Large Print - 10 to 12.25
Giant Print - 14 to 16.5
Small Print
This size of font is mostly used in pocket Bibles. Text is considered to be small print if it between 6 and 8 points. The text it very small so the book can be made to be very compact.
Regular Print
Regular print Bibles are usually between 8 and 10 points in size. This is the most common range of type size used to day. As you get into larger print in this category, it is often referred to as "easier to read",
Large Print
Large print Bibles have text that is between 10 and 12 points. This text is very east to read but it results in the book being physically larger and heavier,
Giant Print
If you have difficulty seeing then a giant print Bible will be a great help. The text in these books range in size from14 to 16.5 points.
Having said this, Biblica prints their Bibles in a wide range of print sizes ranging from small print to giant print. Small print Bibles are in the 6 to 8 point range. Regular sized print is in the 9 to 10 point range. Large (or larger) print fonts range from 10 to 13 point font and Giant print is a whopping big 14 to 16.5 points.
Typically, pew or worship edition Bibles fall into the regular print size range with 9.75 being the most popular.
The chart below lists the exact sizes most commonly used in Bibles printed by Biblica. (Please note that this chart is for comparison only and the text will appear differently on the printed page)
Here are four sample pages from the Biblica website. These will give you a much better idea of what each font size will look like in real life. Please remember, to get the real effect, you must print these pages. The on-screen image is enlarged and may distort the actual size of the text.
Small print sample (6.7 point)
Regular print sample (9.75 point)
Large print sample (12 point)
Giant print sample (14 point)
Fun Fact: Have you ever wondered why some font sizes are not whole numbers but instead contain decimals? This is because in modern printing, it is actually a photographic process so each page of the Bible is an image that can be enlarged or shrunk to fit onto the page. In doing so, the font size is increased or decreased in amounts that may be slightly smaller or larger than the whole number.
How Do You Choose?
Unfortunately, we can't entirely help you with choosing which print size is best for you. Reading the printed word is a very personal thing and only you will know what size type face is best for you. If you are really unsure, Biblica provides print samples for many of their publications. Simply print the samples on a good quality printer and that should give you a good idea of how the type face will appear.
Visit our selection of large and giant print Bibles.