Text Size Controls

In our experience, few users know how to change the size of text in a web page using browser controls. It's more discoverable to put text controls right on the page.

This example from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shows an effective implementation. The page provides two levels of increase: medium and large. Note how the whole page scales up (click on images below to see full-size).

Default text size

Medium text

Large text

Compare this to text controls on Epicurious. There is only one level of increase and there is almost no difference  between the medium and large text. Additionally, only the text in the center of the page increases:

Medium text

Large Text