Have you ever wondered what the best fonts for signs are and why they’re effective? A sign that combines a great message with an eye-catching font can attract potential customers, increase brand awareness and foot traffic, or make your booth the talk of the trade show.
Because signs communicate important information, they need to be clear and have visual appeal. The perfect font is the easiest way to achieve this, but choosing the right font for signs isn’t always easy. There are thousands of options—stylish fonts, cool fonts, bold fonts—each with subtle differences and appropriate uses. In this guide, we’ll walk you through good fonts for signs, why they’re effective and how to choose the best font for signage.
- Choose bold fonts with clean lines that are clear and easy to read from a distance. Passersby should be able to understand your sign’s message at a glance.
- Avoid overly decorative or intricate typefaces that make your sign harder to read. Large, bold fonts improve visibility, helping your sign stand out and improving readability.
- For a clean and professional look, use one or two fonts that complement each other. Too many different typefaces can confuse the reader.
- Use fonts consistently across all marketing materials to strengthen brand recognition.
- Check your sign from various distances and angles for readability. Gather feedback to guarantee that your signage communicates its message effectively.
What makes the best fonts for signs?
Ideal fonts for signs are legible, eye-catching, well-balanced and full of personality.
First, understand the different types of fonts and learn basic typographic terminology.
Bold, modern fonts work well for vinyl banners
Prioritize readability
Readability is the most important thing to consider when choosing the ideal fonts for signs. But it’s so basic that it’s easy to overlook. The average passerby will likely be focused on other things, so the information printed on your sign should be effortless to scan.
Source: Sign design by Ruaran via 99designs by Vista
Generally, simple letter shapes, like sans-serif fonts, are easiest to read quickly. Narrow or thin fonts are harder to read at a distance, and decorative elements, like serifs or elaborate cursive, can also affect legibility. But these may be acceptable trade-offs to communicate your brand image and identity, as long as your sign’s message remains clear.
Use eye-catching fonts
The purpose of signs is to grab attention, so a good sign font should draw the viewer’s eye through placement and scale and using the design principles of contrast and white space. Use display fonts specifically designed for headline text as these tend to be bolder, heavier fonts with room for special effects like drop shadows, outlines and textures.
Many fonts include a ‘Display’ variation within their font family, making even common fonts impactful for business signs.
Let your brand shine
Every font has a personality, and you can explore which suit your brand best using font psychology:
- Serif fonts are associated with tradition and printed text.
- Sans-serif fonts for a sleek and modern look, commonly used for digital text.
- Script fonts are more elegant and formal.
- Decorative fonts are novel and playful, reminiscent of hand-lettering.
Beyond this, each specific typeface style will subtly stir different emotions and associations in the reader.
A-frame sign for a restaurant
Looking for the best fonts for outdoor signs? Check out our guide to outdoor advertising.
With all this in mind, choose a font with associations that match your brand personality. This means you should give some thought to your official brand fonts if you haven’t already. The font style should match the tone of your sign’s message, as well as your branding. For example, if you’re trying to excite the reader about an upcoming sale, use a bold, large, sans serif font.
Strive for harmony and balance
Signs often include a brand name or headline, a tagline and supporting information like location, date or prices. As a result, you may need a few different fonts, though it’s best to stick to around three.
Poster promoting a holiday sale with three fonts
To make it clear how important each piece of information is through visual hierarchy, vary the scale, placement, color, direction and overall shape of the lettering.
Pairing good signage fonts generally comes down to great contrast. For example, combine an angular sans serif headline with a fluid script subheadline to create a sense of interplay between the fonts. Or consider using the same font in different sizes and weights, creating contrast and harmony.
The best fonts for signs
Best professional fonts for signs
Business and advertising signs convey professionalism through straightforward fonts. A good professional sign font should also include subtle touches of personality to help connect with the target audience.
Source: Sign design by goopanic via 99designs by Vista
Glober, for example, is a straightforward sans serif font with an unexpected touch, while Verdana’s rounded letters are more approachable than geometric sans serifs. Trajan is a serif font commonly used for professional signs, but it can be overused. If you decide to use a serif font, a bold yet familiar style like Caslon is easy to read but still stands out.
Glober
Glober font
Verdana
Verdana font
Proxima Nova
Proxima Nova font
Caslon
Caslon font
Concord
Concord font
Franklin Gothic
Franklin Gothic font
Best classic fonts for signs
When it comes to classic fonts, you can’t go wrong with a traditional serif, particularly one that varies the width of its strokes. Bodoni and Didot are both great examples. Not only are they classic as a result of their association with the Vogue and Giorgio Armani logos, but the shape of the lettering is delicate yet strong.
Source: Logo design by Jess Left via 99designs by Vista
With tall letters that recall arcing Art Deco fonts, thicker sans serifs like Italico make great display fonts, great for bolder signs.
Bodoni
Bodoni font
Didot
Didot font
Italico
Italico font
Choplin
Choplin font
Grafton
Grafton font
Cassanet
Cassanet font
Ready to start designing your sign using the perfect fonts? Read the ultimate guide to signage design and check out these signage design tips.
Best modern fonts for signs
Modern fonts, like geometric sans serifs Calibri and Dejavu Sans, are generally designed for contemporary contexts and digital screens.
But modern doesn’t necessarily mean recent and trending fonts. For example, Helvetica has been the face of New York City’s public transit signage since the 1950s, yet it is still considered modern. Although modern fonts aim for sleek minimalism, weightier variations make great display fonts.
Source: NYC Subway sign via Depositphotos
Helvetica
Helvetica font
Calibri
Calibri font
Dejavu Sans
Dejavu Sans font
Futura
Futura font
ITC Bauhaus
ITC Bauhaus font
Uni Sans
Uni Sans font
Want to know more about the fonts used by some of the world’s biggest brands? Here’s what famous signs can teach your business.
Best elegant fonts for signs
Typically thin and light, elegant fonts embrace decoration so long as the effect is stylish and composed.
Source: Window signage by Viktoria Stalybka via 99designs by Vista
Cursive, script fonts like Bambusa Pro reign supreme here. But because their elaborate style can get in the way of legibility, ornate scripts generally don’t make the best headline fonts. Gentler scripts like Monotype Cursova keep their flourishes at a minimum and are an excellent choice of font for signs promoting small businesses, like coffee shops and beauty salons. For an elegant display font, consider a decorative serif like Nevrada.
Bambusa Pro
Bambusa Pro font
Monotype Curvosa
Monotype Curvosa font
Swashington
Swashington font
Unique
Unique font
Rampage Monoline
Rampage Monoline font
Nevrada
Nevrada font
La Luxes
La Luxes font
Best rustic fonts for signs
With a rural, down-to-earth aesthetic, rustic fonts are popular fonts for signage, and typically incorporate rough, hand-drawn, weathered textures and blocky letters. Vintage sign fonts are reminiscent of the Old West, especially slab or Tuscan serifs. Clarendon is the classic example of rustic fonts for signs.
Source: Rustic font logo design by Yokaona via 99designs by Vista
Stencil fonts, like Mind the Gap, can have a vintage or modern look. Rock Salt has a hand-written style, while Bant Achillers is the best of both worlds, combining an angular style with soft cursive.
Clarendon
Clarendon font
Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap font
Rock Salt
Rock Salt font
Valenciaga
Valenciaga font
Museo Slab
Museo Slab font
Cheap Pine
Cheap Pine font
Bant Achillers
Bant Achillers font
Best decorative fonts for signs
When a custom hand-lettered sign isn’t available, decorative fonts are the next best thing. Decorative fonts, like Ginchiest and Atomic Marker, mimic analog, hand-drawn effects. Others, like Brinca and Gerova, combine digital font styles with clever twists. Many are even designed for specific contexts, like the Halloween visual style of Ghost Flames.
Truck sign design by EWMDesigns via 99designs by Vista
Decorative fonts are essentially display fonts, although not all display fonts are decorative! If you’re considering a decorative font for your brand, remember that font trends come and go. So if you want a signage font that you can depend on for the long term, go for a more timeless style.
Gyst
Gyst font
Recoleta
Recoleta font
Gerova
Gerova font
Ginchiest
Ginchiest font
Venice Blvd
Venice Blvd font
Atomic Marker
Atomic Marker font
Kahuripan
Kahuripan font
Brinca
Brinca font
Find fonts for your business sign today
Given the important messages that signs display, well-chosen fonts are essential. Even in the absence of imagery and color, fonts dictate how a business sign reads and feels. An understanding of your brand image, your sign’s purpose and tone, and the way fonts communicate visually will guide you to the best choice of font for your signage needs.
Sign fonts FAQs
What font works best for outdoor signs?
The best fonts for outdoor signs include Helvetica or Arial. The clean, bold lines stay legible even when signs get worn or weathered. For outdoor signage, avoid thin strokes or ornate details that may fade or blur over time.
Can I use custom or branded fonts for my signage?
Yes, but test them for readability in various sizes and at a range of distances first. If your brand font isn’t highly legible, pair it with a second, more practical font for your key message.
Can decorative or script fonts ever be used effectively on signs?
Yes, decorative or script fonts can work well for short words or logos, but only if they’re large enough and balanced with a readable primary font. Use script fonts sparingly to ensure clarity.
How far away should my sign be readable?
As a rule of thumb, a sign’s text should be readable from at least 10 feet per inch of letter height. Choosing bold, simple fonts will help your message remain clear, even at a distance.
What’s the best number of fonts to use on one sign?
Stick to two fonts: one for the headline and one for the body text. This keeps your sign’s design clean and doesn’t overwhelm the reader. If necessary, use a third font, but any more than this could cause visual clutter.
