How important is it to choose the right font for your website? With a legible font, your business’ message comes through loud and clear. The font you select is a key component of your website design, and conveys your brand identity immediately to every visitor. What could be more important than that?
With so many fonts to choose from, though, the selection process can be overwhelming. So, start here and discover 12 easy to read font choices to use on your small business website—and beyond:
- Georgia
- Helvetica
- PT Sans & PT Serif
- Open Sans
- Open Sans
- Quicksand
- Verdana
- Rooney
- Karla
- Roboto
- Ubuntu
- Lato
- Futura
- Easy to read fonts are vital for effective branding and design because they ensure your message is clear, accessible and engaging for all audiences.
- Key features of easy to read fonts include clear letterforms, balanced spacing, distinct characters and simple designs that work across digital and print formats.
- The easiest to read fonts include Georgia, Helvetica, Roboto, Verdana and others, each offering excellent readability and versatility for business use.
Why are legible, easy fonts important for businesses?
Ever struggled to read a website or flyer because of the font? Frustrating, right? For businesses, the right font isn’t just a design choice—it’s a key part of getting your message across. Here’s why using easy to read fonts is non-negotiable…
Improved communication
Easy fonts ensure your message is understood instantly. Confusing or overly fancy fonts? They can muddy your message, increase misinterpretations or even send people away.
Research by Thomas Bohm from User Design, Illustration and Typesetting highlights common mix-ups among similar-looking letters and symbols. For example:
- clear / dear
- CS5 / CSS
- 105 / IOS
- Z2 / 22
If you want to maintain credibility and deliver a clear message every time, opt for easy-to-read fonts.
Better accessibility and inclusivity
Not everyone views your website or marketing materials the same way. The same research by Thomas Bohm found that as people age or face vision challenges, confusing fonts can lead to mix-ups like…
- i / j
- B / 8
- 0 / O / o
For individuals with dyslexia, visual impairments, or even those quickly skimming, easy to read fonts ensure your content is clear, inclusive and engaging.
Enhanced branding
Your brand fonts are among the first things people notice about your brand. A legible font conveys professionalism and trustworthiness. On the flip side, a confusing font might make your branding seem outdated and your brand—difficult to work with.
Source: Easy to read fonts on branded business cards via VistaPrint
Stronger user experience (UX)
The easier your content is to read, the more likely users are to stay on your page, absorb your message and take action. In web design, readability equals usability—legible fonts enhance navigation, reduce eye strain and improve retention rates.
Top 12 easy to read fonts for your business design
Georgia
Here’s the main thing you need to know about Georgia: it’s a serif font. That means each letter includes an embellishment in the form of a small line—the alternative, called sans-serif, is simpler and more streamlined. Even though serif fonts have that extra detail, they can still be a good choice for websites. Designed for Microsoft, Georgia was actually created with low-resolution screens in mind, so it’s one of the easiest fonts to read on desktops and mobile sites.
Helvetica
Along with Georgia, Helvetica is considered to be one of the most easy to read fonts according to The Next Web. This is a sans-serif font and one of the world’s most popular typefaces—a modern classic.
PT Sans & PT Serif
Can’t decide whether serif or sans-serif is for you? ParaType comes in both, so you can experiment to see the difference or use a combination of the two. PT Sans and PT Serif work together beautifully.
Open Sans
What makes this popular font read so well? In part, it’s the amount of space—called “kerning”—between characters. According to Google, Open Sans is “optimized for print, web, and mobile interfaces, and has excellent legibility characteristics in its letterforms.”
Quicksand
With so many customers using smartphones and tablets to access online content, your font of choice needs to work on small screens. Quicksand, a sans-serif font from Google, does well on mobile devices. It was built on a foundation of geometric shapes to give the impression of friendliness.
Verdana
Verdana sans-serif is another go-to font for web design because of its readability. Like Georgia, it was created specifically for computer screens. It’s a solid choice if you have large blocks of text, as experts generally agree that sans-serif fonts are easier to read on the web.
Rooney
Part of your brand identity is its personality, and that personality should also be reflected in your font. If your brand is lighthearted and you appreciate an unconventional approach, a custom font like Rooney could be a perfect fit. The font’s designer, Jan Fromm, writes that “rounded shapes and soft curves” leave the reader with an “overall impression of warmth and smoothness.”
Karla
There’s nothing fussy about this sans-serif typeface: Karla is tidy and simple. Google describes it as “popular and quirky,” making it another good pick for distinctive, fun-loving brands.
Roboto
Created by Google for use with its Android mobile operating system — and now used for Chrome as well — Roboto comes off as a little bolder than some typefaces. Google calls it “modern, yet approachable.” If that sounds like your brand, give it a go.
Ubuntu
If you’re looking for something distinctly modern, try Ubuntu, which comes from a South African word meaning “humanity.” This is a humanist-style typeface, meaning that it references calligraphy and the way humans actually write by hand.
Lato
Naming Lato one of the 10 best Google Fonts for websites, art and design resource Creative Bloq writes, “The semi-rounded details of the letters give Lato a feeling of warmth, while the strong structure provides stability and seriousness.” Doesn’t that sound perfect for a business site?
Futura
If there’s one more factor you should consider when choosing your font, it’s whether the tone of your site content is formal or casual. Futura is one of those fonts that can be used for both. It’s always sharp and clean—and when your goal is readability, that counts for a lot.
Key characteristics of easy to read fonts
The twelve fonts we’ve covered are some of the best, but they’re not the only options. You can find plenty of easy fonts that suit your brand perfectly—just look for these characteristics:
- Clear letterforms: Avoid fonts with overly decorative or intricate designs that can blur characters.
- Good spacing: Fonts with balanced spacing between letters (kerning) prevent text from looking cramped.
- Distinct characters: Choose fonts where letters like O and 0 or i and j are easy to tell apart.
- Appropriate weight: Opt for medium-weight fonts—too thin or too bold can strain the eyes.
- Simple design: Sans-serif fonts often work best for screens, while serif fonts can add elegance to print without sacrificing legibility.
By keeping these traits in mind, you’ll find the easiest font to read that complements your business’s style.
Ready to put these fonts to use?
The right font does more than look good—it makes your message clear and your brand unforgettable. The easiest fonts to read are all about simplicity, clear letterforms and balanced spacing, ensuring your audience stays engaged.
But why stop there? Use these easy fonts to create custom business cards, signage, branded stationery, promotional products and more. With VistaPrint supporting all 12 of these easy-to-read fonts, you can print everything your business needs to shine.
FAQ about easy to read fonts
Why are fonts important for branding?
Fonts show off your brand’s personality. The right font can make your business memorable and professional. Easy to read fonts ensure your message stands out, whether on a website, business card or merch.
Why is font readability important for design?
If people can’t read your text easily, they’ll tune out. Readable fonts keep your audience engaged and make your message crystal clear — simple as that.
What makes a font “easy to read”?
Clear letterforms, good spacing and clean designs are key to easy to read fonts. Easy fonts avoid confusing characters like 0/O or i/j and look great on any screen or printed material.
Are serif or sans-serif fonts easier to read?
It depends! Sans-serif fonts like Roboto are great for screens, while serif fonts like Georgia shine in print. Pick what fits your style and where you’ll use it.
