diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 12c594bc..a198c8d8 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -4108,7 +4108,7 @@ config_font_parse(const char *pattern, struct config_font *font)
         FcConfigDestroy(fc_conf);
 
         if (have_pt_size != FcResultMatch && have_px_size != FcResultMatch)
-            pt_size = 8.0;
+            pt_size = 12.0;
     }
 
     FcPatternRemove(pat, FC_SIZE, 0);
@@ -4148,7 +4148,7 @@ check_if_font_is_monospaced(const char *pattern,
                             user_notifications_t *notifications)
 {
     struct fcft_font *f = fcft_from_name(
-        1, (const char *[]){pattern}, ":size=8");
+        1, (const char *[]){pattern}, ":size=12");
 
     if (f == NULL)
         return true;
diff --git a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
index a1ee326f..1f0b1502 100644
--- a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
+++ b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ empty string to be set, but it must be quoted: *KEY=""*
 	sizes are unaffected by DPI aware rendering (see *dpi-aware*), but
 	are affected by desktop scaling.
 	
-	Default: _monospace:size=8_ (*font*), _not set_ (*font-bold*,
+	Default: _monospace:size=12_ (*font*), _not set_ (*font-bold*,
 	*font-italic*, *font-bold-italic*).
 
 *font-size-adjustment*
diff --git a/foot.ini b/foot.ini
index a9b4b83d..27304d96 100644
--- a/foot.ini
+++ b/foot.ini
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # title=foot
 # locked-title=no
 
-# font=monospace:size=8
+# font=monospace:size=12
 # font-bold=<bold variant of regular font>
 # font-italic=<italic variant of regular font>
 # font-bold-italic=<bold+italic variant of regular font>