Can you change the font size of all dimensions at once in SolidWorks?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in SolidWorks, you can change the font size of all dimensions at once by editing the document’s dimension font settings through Options. The most common professional method is updating the document’s detailing settings so all dimensions using the document font update together. This will not affect dimensions that were manually overridden.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If some dimensions were formatted individually, they may ignore the global font size change and stay mismatched. Also, part, assembly, and drawing files each store their own document properties, so changing one file does not automatically update all other files.

How to Change the Font Size of All Dimensions at Once in SolidWorks

  • Command: Options

  • Shortcut: None

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Open the part, assembly, or drawing, then go to Tools > Options or click Options on the Standard toolbar.
    2. In the dialog box, open Document Properties > Dimensions > Font.
    3. Clear Use document font only if needed for custom control, or keep the linked setting and set the new font height/size, then click OK.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Use document font

  • Expert Setting: When dimensions are set to follow the document font, changing the document-level font updates all compliant dimensions at once. If individual dimensions have custom font settings, they can override this behavior and will need manual correction.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Imported model items or annotations brought in from other sources may carry formatting that does not fully follow current document dimension font settings.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): In drawings, dimensions on locked layers or controlled by standards/templates can appear unchanged until layer or template restrictions are reviewed.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The global change only affects dimensions using document defaults; manually formatted dimensions keep their local override instead of updating.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Go to Tools > Options > Document Properties > Dimensions > Font and make sure dimensions are using the document-controlled font instead of custom overrides.

  • Manager’s Verdict: Use document properties for company-standard dimension text sizing, especially in templates. Avoid manual per-dimension formatting unless a special case truly requires it.

FAQ

Can you change dimension text size in a solidworks drawing only?
Yes, drawing document properties let you control dimension font size independently.

Why did only some dimensions change font size in SolidWorks?
Some dimensions likely have manual formatting overrides.

Can a SolidWorks template save the dimension font size?
Yes, saving the file as a template preserves those document property settings.

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