diff --git a/.changeset/green-teachers-add.md b/.changeset/green-teachers-add.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5c517de163
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/green-teachers-add.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@rhds/elements": patch
+---
+
+`<rh-tabs>`: adds default value for tab font-size
diff --git a/elements/rh-tabs/rh-tabs.css b/elements/rh-tabs/rh-tabs.css
index 56ac58cda9..657c07a94a 100644
--- a/elements/rh-tabs/rh-tabs.css
+++ b/elements/rh-tabs/rh-tabs.css
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
   bottom: 0;
   margin: 0;
   width: auto;
+  font-size: var(--rh-font-size-body-text-md, 1rem);
 }
 
 :host(:is([centered], [box="inset"])) [part="tabs"] {