How to Make eBooks Easier to Read with Dyslexia
Reading eBooks with dyslexia can feel frustrating. The small text, standard fonts, and bright white backgrounds all work against you. But there are practical steps you can take to transform your eBook experience and actually enjoy reading again.
Whether you're a student tackling course materials, a parent helping your child, or a teacher adapting resources, this guide shows you exactly how to make eBooks easier to read with dyslexia.
Choose the Right eBook Format
Not all eBooks are created equal. Some formats give you far more control over how text appears.
EPUB files are your best friend. They're reflowable, which means you can adjust font size, spacing, and colours without losing your place. Most tablets and dedicated eBook readers support EPUB.
PDF files are trickier. They lock the layout in place, making it harder to enlarge text or change backgrounds. If you must read PDFs, use a tool that lets you crop sections and reformat them, or convert to EPUB first.
Web-based readers (like Google Play Books or Kindle Cloud Reader) often let you customise text appearance directly. Check what options each platform offers before you commit to reading there.
When buying eBooks, search for EPUB versions first. Libraries and Open Library often have EPUB copies of books that paid platforms only offer as PDFs.
Use Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts
Standard fonts like Times New Roman or Arial weren't designed with dyslexic readers in mind. The letters b, d, p, and q look too similar. The tail on a lowercase 'y' can confuse you. These small details add up to cognitive overload.
Dyslexia-friendly fonts have exaggerated letter shapes that make each character distinct. OpenDyslexic is free and specifically designed for people with dyslexia. Other good options include:
- Dyslexie (paid, but highly respected)
- Lexie Readable (free alternative)
- Comic Sans (surprisingly effective, though unpopular in design circles)
Many eBook readers let you change the font. On Kindle, go to the three dots menu and select font options. On most EPUB readers, look for preferences or settings. If your eReader doesn't support custom fonts, Dyslexly is a free Chrome extension that automatically applies OpenDyslexic font to text you're reading online, including some eBook platforms.
Increase Letter Spacing and Line Height
Cramped text makes dyslexic reading harder. Your eyes skip lines or lose track of where they are. Increasing spacing solves this.
Letter spacing (the space between individual letters) should be 1.5 times normal at minimum. This prevents letters from looking crowded and confusing.
Line height (space between lines of text) should be at least 1.5 to 2 times the font size. So if your font is 16pt, aim for 24-32pt of space between lines. This gives your eyes room to move down to the next line without accidentally reading the same line twice.
Most eBook readers have these options built in. On Kindle, adjust font size and you'll notice line spacing changes too. On EPUB readers, look for "display settings" or "text formatting."
If your eReader doesn't offer these controls, this is another area where Dyslexly helps. The extension lets you adjust spacing on web-based reading platforms so text becomes much less overwhelming.
Apply a Colour Overlay or Change Background Colour
Bright white backgrounds cause visual stress for many dyslexic readers. Your eyes get tired faster, letters seem to move or blur, and concentration drops after just a few minutes.
A subtle colour overlay or tinted background dramatically reduces this strain. The best colours depend on the individual, but cream, light yellow, and pale blue are popular starting points.
Try different colours for a week each. What works for someone else might not work for you. You're looking for the colour that makes text feel stable and lets you read longer without fatigue.
Most eBook platforms let you change the background colour. On Kindle, tap the brightness icon and select a sepia or dark theme. On EPUB readers, adjust background and text colours in settings.
Beyond eBooks, if you read online articles or web content, Dyslexly offers customisable colour overlays that work across any website. You can choose from preset colours or create your own, and apply them instantly.
Enable Text-to-Speech
Reading and listening at the same time helps your brain process text better. This isn't cheating, it's using a different pathway to access information.
Many modern eBooks have built in text-to-speech. Kindle books often include this feature (check the product description). Apple Books supports it on iPad and iPhone. Most EPUB readers have read-aloud functions too.
Listen at a slower speed than normal speech. Start at 0.75x or 0.8x speed. This gives your brain time to match what you're hearing to what you're reading.
When you use text-to-speech with a dyslexia-friendly font and colour overlay together, the combination is powerful. Your eyes see clear, spaced-out letters on a comfortable background while your ears process the same words. This multi-sensory approach sticks much better.
Reduce Distractions and Use Focus Tools
When you have dyslexia, your brain is working harder to decode text. This leaves less mental energy for handling distractions. A notification, a video playing in another tab, or visual clutter around your reading area will drain your focus fast.
Create a dedicated reading space. Put your phone in another room. Close unnecessary browser tabs. Dim the lights slightly so your screen isn't the brightest thing in your vision.
For eBook readers, use fullscreen mode if available. On tablets, use a dedicated eBook app rather than a web browser. The fewer visual elements competing for attention, the longer you can concentrate.
Some readers benefit from line focus tools that highlight only a few lines at a time, hiding the rest of the page. This prevents your eyes from jumping around or getting lost. Dyslexly includes a line focus feature that works on websites and web-based reading platforms, making it easier to follow text one line at a time.
Break Reading into Shorter Sessions
Dyslexic reading requires more cognitive effort than traditional reading. You can't expect to read for two hours straight without significant fatigue.
Instead, aim for 15 to 20 minute reading sessions with 5 minute breaks in between. Use your breaks to look away from the screen, rest your eyes, and let your brain process what you've read.
This approach often means you read the same amount of material, but spread over more time. You also retain more because you're not trying to push through fatigue and frustration.
If you're reading academic texts or dense material, try breaking it by concept rather than by time. Read one section, summarise it out loud, take a break, then move on. This forces active processing and helps information stick.
Final Thoughts
Making eBooks easier to read with dyslexia is about removing barriers one step at a time. Start with the changes that feel most urgent to you: maybe it's font size, maybe it's background colour. Experiment and pay attention to what helps. There's no single perfect setup because dyslexia affects everyone differently.
Small adjustments compound. A dyslexia-friendly font is helpful. Adding a colour overlay helps more. Combining that with better spacing and text-to-speech helps even more. You don't have to implement everything at once. Add features as you find what works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best eBook format for dyslexic readers? EPUB is the best choice because it's reflowable, meaning you can adjust text size, fonts, spacing, and colours without losing your place. EPUB files work on most tablets, eBook readers, and phones, giving you flexibility and control.
Can I change fonts on Kindle if I have dyslexia? Yes. Open any Kindle book and tap the three-line menu icon, then select font. You'll see several font options available. For best results with dyslexia, choose the largest font size available and pair it with a sepia or dark background to reduce strain.
Is using text-to-speech while reading cheating? No. Text-to-speech is an accessibility tool that helps your brain process information through multiple pathways at once. Dyslexic readers often understand and remember information better when they hear it and read it simultaneously.
How do I know which colour overlay will work best for me? There's no universal best colour. Start with cream or pale yellow for a week, then try light blue, then pale green. Notice which colour lets you read longest before your eyes get tired and text stays stable. That's the colour working for you.
Will these changes help me read faster? Probably not immediately. These changes reduce strain and fatigue, which helps you read longer and concentrate better. Over time, reading may feel less exhausting, but speed improvement is secondary to comprehension and enjoyment.