diff --git a/.changeset/fancy-papayas-battle.md b/.changeset/fancy-papayas-battle.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9211fcc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fancy-papayas-battle.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'react-native-bottom-tabs': patch
+---
+
+fix: adjust default font size on iOS
diff --git a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/PlatformAliases.swift b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/PlatformAliases.swift
index 5b508efd..dc8818d1 100644
--- a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/PlatformAliases.swift
+++ b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/PlatformAliases.swift
@@ -35,3 +35,9 @@ typealias PlatformViewRepresentable = NSViewRepresentable
 #else
 typealias PlatformViewRepresentable = UIViewRepresentable
 #endif
+
+#if os(macOS)
+typealias PlatformFont = NSFont
+#else
+typealias PlatformFont = UIFont
+#endif
diff --git a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabBarFontSize.swift b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabBarFontSize.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b8860424
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabBarFontSize.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import UIKit
+import React
+
+enum TabBarFontSize {
+  /// Returns the default font size for tab bar item labels based on the current platform
+#if os(tvOS)
+  static let defaultSize: CGFloat = 30.0
+#else
+  static let defaultSize: CGFloat = {
+    if UIDevice.current.userInterfaceIdiom == .pad {
+      return 13.0
+    }
+
+    return 10.0
+  }()
+#endif
+
+  /// Creates font attributes for tab bar items
+  /// - Parameters:
+  ///   - size: Font size in points
+  ///   - family: Optional font family name
+  ///   - weight: Optional font weight string
+  ///   - color: Optional text color
+  /// - Returns: Dictionary of NSAttributedString attributes
+  static func createFontAttributes(
+    size: CGFloat,
+    family: String? = nil,
+    weight: String? = nil,
+    color: PlatformColor? = nil
+  ) -> [NSAttributedString.Key: Any] {
+    var attributes: [NSAttributedString.Key: Any] = [:]
+
+    // Create font with React Native font handling if family or weight is specified
+    if family != nil || weight != nil {
+      attributes[.font] = RCTFont.update(
+        nil,
+        withFamily: family,
+        size: NSNumber(value: size),
+        weight: weight,
+        style: nil,
+        variant: nil,
+        scaleMultiplier: 1.0
+      )
+    } else {
+      // Fallback to system font
+      #if os(macOS)
+        attributes[.font] = NSFont.boldSystemFont(ofSize: size)
+      #else
+        attributes[.font] = UIFont.boldSystemFont(ofSize: size)
+      #endif
+    }
+
+    // Add color if provided
+    if let color = color {
+      attributes[.foregroundColor] = color
+    }
+
+    return attributes
+  }
+
+  /// Creates font attributes specifically for normal (unselected) tab state
+  /// - Parameters:
+  ///   - fontSize: Optional font size (uses default if nil)
+  ///   - fontFamily: Optional font family
+  ///   - fontWeight: Optional font weight
+  ///   - inactiveColor: Optional color for inactive state
+  /// - Returns: Font attributes dictionary
+  static func createNormalStateAttributes(
+    fontSize: Int? = nil,
+    fontFamily: String? = nil,
+    fontWeight: String? = nil,
+    inactiveColor: PlatformColor? = nil
+  ) -> [NSAttributedString.Key: Any] {
+    let size = fontSize.map(CGFloat.init) ?? defaultSize
+    return createFontAttributes(
+      size: size,
+      family: fontFamily,
+      weight: fontWeight,
+      color: inactiveColor
+    )
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabViewImpl.swift b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabViewImpl.swift
index 4fb8050f..4f57dca2 100644
--- a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabViewImpl.swift
+++ b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/TabViewImpl.swift
@@ -117,36 +117,6 @@ struct TabViewImpl: View {
   }
 #endif
 
-private func createFontAttributes(
-  size: CGFloat,
-  family: String?,
-  weight: String?,
-  inactiveTintColor: PlatformColor?
-) -> [NSAttributedString.Key: Any] {
-  var attributes: [NSAttributedString.Key: Any] = [:]
-
-  if family != nil || weight != nil {
-    attributes[.font] = RCTFont.update(
-      nil,
-      withFamily: family,
-      size: NSNumber(value: size),
-      weight: weight,
-      style: nil,
-      variant: nil,
-      scaleMultiplier: 1.0
-    )
-  } else {
-    attributes[.font] = UIFont.boldSystemFont(ofSize: size)
-  }
-
-  return attributes
-}
-
-#if os(tvOS)
-  let tabBarDefaultFontSize: CGFloat = 30.0
-#else
-  let tabBarDefaultFontSize: CGFloat = UIFont.smallSystemFontSize
-#endif
 
 #if !os(macOS)
   private func configureTransparentAppearance(tabBar: UITabBar, props: TabViewProps) {
@@ -158,12 +128,11 @@ private func createFontAttributes(
 
     guard let items = tabBar.items else { return }
 
-    let fontSize = props.fontSize != nil ? CGFloat(props.fontSize!) : tabBarDefaultFontSize
-    let attributes = createFontAttributes(
-      size: fontSize,
-      family: props.fontFamily,
-      weight: props.fontWeight,
-      inactiveTintColor: nil
+    let attributes = TabBarFontSize.createNormalStateAttributes(
+      fontSize: props.fontSize,
+      fontFamily: props.fontFamily,
+      fontWeight: props.fontWeight,
+      inactiveColor: nil
     )
 
     items.forEach { item in
@@ -192,19 +161,14 @@ private func createFontAttributes(
 
     // Configure item appearance
     let itemAppearance = UITabBarItemAppearance()
-    let fontSize = props.fontSize != nil ? CGFloat(props.fontSize!) : tabBarDefaultFontSize
 
-    var attributes = createFontAttributes(
-      size: fontSize,
-      family: props.fontFamily,
-      weight: props.fontWeight,
-      inactiveTintColor: props.inactiveTintColor
+    let attributes = TabBarFontSize.createNormalStateAttributes(
+      fontSize: props.fontSize,
+      fontFamily: props.fontFamily,
+      fontWeight: props.fontWeight,
+      inactiveColor: props.inactiveTintColor
     )
 
-    if let inactiveTintColor = props.inactiveTintColor {
-      attributes[.foregroundColor] = inactiveTintColor
-    }
-
     if let inactiveTintColor = props.inactiveTintColor {
       itemAppearance.normal.iconColor = inactiveTintColor
     }