it worked for me.
JLabel lab = new JLabel(); lab.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 30)); jTabbedPane1.setTabComponentAt(0, lab);
or try this change to all tab components in the same size (called in the main method)
UIManager.getLookAndFeelDefaults().put("TabbedPane:TabbedPaneTab.contentMargins", new Insets(10, 100, 0, 0));
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