Methods and systems provide for automatic adjustment of electronic highlighter cursor height in response to a determined height of images or typed or handwritten text to be highlighted. The highlighter thickness or cursor height of an electronic highlighter, such as an electronic pen or mousing device, automatically adjusts based on the text or images the user is highlighting. When the user focuses the electronic highlighter on text or images to be highlighted, the height of the text or images is determined, and the height or thickness of the highlighter cursor is automatically adjusted.