Currently accepting client work. Reach out to me today, slots are limited!

32 Best Fonts for Web Design (Real Examples)

best fonts for web design
Contents
Contents

    Struggling to pick the best font for your website? Don’t worry, I got you covered!

    After my research from Reddit, my own experience and Google, I’ve curated a list of best 32 fonts that’ll fit any website.

    As a bonus, each font comes with a real example so you can see it in action.

    Let’s find your perfect font 😉

    Different Types of Fonts

    Fonts are typically grouped into several broad categories, each with unique characteristics and ideal use cases. Here are the most common types:

    1. Serif Fonts

    Serif fonts have small decorative strokes (serifs) at the ends of the letters. These fonts are classic, elegant, and great for traditional or sophisticated brands. Examples include Playfair Display and Merriweather. Serif fonts are particularly useful for websites focused on storytelling, luxury products, or editorial content.

    Interesting fact: The oldest known serif font dates back to ancient Rome, where inscriptions on monuments used serifs to prevent chipping in stone carvings. This practical origin evolved into the elegant typefaces we use today.

    2. Sans-Serif Fonts

    Sans-serif fonts lack the decorative strokes of serif fonts, offering a clean and modern look. These fonts are versatile and work well in digital contexts, making them ideal for tech companies, startups, and minimalistic designs. Fonts like Roboto and Inter are popular sans-serif options.

    3. Display Fonts

    Display fonts are designed for headlines and large text. They are bold and often have unique shapes, making them unsuitable for body text but excellent for attention-grabbing headers. While my list focuses on practical serif and sans-serif fonts, consider display fonts for specific projects like advertising.

    4. Script and Handwritten Fonts

    These fonts mimic handwriting or calligraphy, offering a personal and artistic touch. They are better suited for branding or invitations rather than websites due to readability issues at small sizes.

    5. Monospaced Fonts

    Monospaced fonts allocate the same amount of horizontal space for each character. Often used in coding environments, fonts like JetBrains Mono are great for developer tools or technical websites.

    For practical purposes, my curated list includes only serif and sans-serif fonts and their variations. These categories are the most versatile and widely used in web design. They balance aesthetics, readability, and functionality, making them ideal for websites catering to diverse audiences.

    Full list of the best 32 fonts for your website

    Let’s dive right into it!

    Montserrat

    Inspired by the typography of Buenos Aires, Montserrat is a geometric sans-serif font designed by Julieta Ulanovsky. It’s ideal for websites that emphasize modernity and creativity, such as design portfolios, tech startups, or blogs. Its clean and balanced lines make it excellent for headlines and body text alike.

    Download Montserrat via Google Fonts

    Söhne

    Söhne is a neo-grotesque typeface created by Kris Sowersby, reminiscent of classic Swiss-style typography. Its professional and timeless design is well-suited for corporate websites, editorial layouts, or luxury branding. The clean yet distinctive style lends itself well to minimalistic designs.

    Download Söhne via Klim Type Foundry

    Studio Pro

    Studio Pro is a contemporary font known for its elegant yet approachable character. Perfect for creative agencies, media websites, or lifestyle brands, it offers excellent legibility and a unique flair that helps brands stand out.

    Download Studio Pro via The Essential Design

    Canela

    Canela, designed by Miguel Reyes, blends serif and sans-serif characteristics to create a refined, elegant font. Suitable for luxury brands, fashion blogs, and artistic portfolios, it adds sophistication to any design.

    Download Canela via Commercial Type

    Gza

    Gza is a sleek, minimalistic font that works well in contemporary and urban design settings. Its sharp angles and clean lines are perfect for technology companies, architecture firms, or modern editorial websites.

    Download Gza via Out of the dark

    Helvetica

    Helvetica, designed by Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann, is a timeless sans-serif font known for its neutrality and simplicity. Suitable for nearly any website, it excels in creating a professional and clean aesthetic for both corporate and personal projects.

    Download Helvetica via Monotype

    Roboto

    Roboto, developed by Christian Robertson, is one of the most popular sans-serif fonts for digital interfaces. It’s widely used in apps, blogs, and corporate sites due to its high legibility and modern feel.

    Download Roboto via Google Fonts

    Open Sans

    Created by Steve Matteson, Open Sans is a humanist sans-serif typeface that combines readability with a friendly, approachable tone. It’s great for blogs, business sites, and educational platforms.

    Download Open Sans via Google Fonts

    Lato

    Lato was designed by Łukasz Dziedzic. It is versatile font with a warm yet professional tone. It’s perfect for tech startups, wellness blogs, or service-oriented websites.

    Download Lato via Google Fonts

    Poppins

    Designed by the Indian Type Foundry, Poppins features geometric precision and contemporary flair. Ideal for modern and minimalist sites, such as fashion or tech brands.

    Download Poppins via Google Fonts

    Raleway

    Raleway, designed by Matt McInerney, is a stylish and elegant sans-serif typeface. It’s perfect for creative portfolios, fashion websites, and modern corporate designs, offering a sleek and airy appearance.

    Download Raleway via Google Fonts

    Nunito

    Designed by Vernon Adams, Nunito is a rounded sans-serif font that balances friendliness with professionalism. Suitable for personal blogs, tech startups, or educational websites, it works well for both headings and body text.

    Download Nunito via Google Fonts

    Work Sans

    Work Sans by Wei Huang is a versatile sans-serif font optimized for screen use. It’s great for professional blogs, startups, and e-commerce sites, offering excellent legibility and a clean aesthetic.

    Download Work Sans via Google Fonts

    Oswald

    Oswald, designed by Vernon Adams, is a reimagining of the classic gothic typefaces. With its condensed style, it’s ideal for headlines and bold statements on news websites, blogs, or e-commerce platforms.

    Download Oswald via Google Fonts

    Playfair Display

    Playfair Display, created by Claus Eggers Sørensen, is an elegant serif typeface inspired by 18th-century letterforms. Best suited for luxury brands, editorial websites, or fashion blogs.

    Download Playfair Display via Google Fonts

    Source Sans Pro

    Designed by Paul D. Hunt, Source Sans Pro is Adobe’s first open-source typeface. It’s highly legible and perfect for blogs, portfolios, and business websites, particularly for clean and professional designs.

    Download Source Sans Pro via Google Fonts

    Merriweather

    Merriweather, created by Eben Sorkin, is a serif font designed for screen readability. Ideal for blogs, editorial websites, and educational platforms, it offers a traditional yet modern appeal.

    Download Merriweather via Google Fonts

    Inter

    Designed by Rasmus Andersson, Inter is a modern sans-serif font crafted specifically for web interfaces. Its readability makes it great for apps, dashboards, and tech-focused websites.

    Download Inter via Google Fonts

    DM Sans

    DM Sans, by Colophon Foundry, is a minimalist sans-serif font ideal for startups, blogs, and personal portfolios. Its simple and clean design ensures easy readability.

    Download DM Sans via Google Fonts

    Noto Sans

    Developed by Google, Noto Sans is part of the Noto family designed to cover multiple scripts. Its versatility makes it perfect for multilingual websites, corporate sites, or personal blogs.

    Download Noto Sans via Google Fonts

    Rubik

    Rubik, designed by Philipp Hubert and Sebastian Fischer, is a sans-serif typeface with a quirky touch. Ideal for creative portfolios, tech companies, or playful brand identities.

    Download Rubik via Google Fonts

    Proxima Nova

    Created by Mark Simonson, Proxima Nova is a modern classic sans-serif font. Its clean and versatile design makes it suitable for corporate websites, portfolios, and editorial layouts.

    Download Proxima Nova via MyFonts

    Fjalla One

    Fjalla One by Sorkin Type is a display sans-serif font with condensed proportions. It’s excellent for headlines and impactful text on e-commerce and news websites.

    Download Fjalla One via Google Fonts

    Archivo

    Designed by Omnibus-Type, Archivo is a grotesque sans-serif font built for screen use. Perfect for blogs, corporate websites, and technology platforms.

    Download Archivo via Google Fonts

    Crimson Text

    Crimson Text, by Sebastian Kosch, is a serif font designed for readability and elegance. It’s perfect for book-like websites, literary blogs, or academic platforms.

    Download Crimson Text via Google Fonts

    Bitter

    Bitter, a serif font by Huerta Tipográfica, is optimized for screen readability. Suitable for blogs, editorial layouts, and academic platforms, it adds a touch of tradition.

    Download Bitter via Google Fonts

    Varela Round

    Varela Round, by Joe Prince, is a rounded sans-serif font that feels modern and friendly. Best for creative and playful websites, such as personal portfolios or small businesses.

    Download Varela Round via Google Fonts

    JetBrains Mono

    JetBrains Mono, created by JetBrains, is a monospace font tailored for developers. Perfect for coding platforms, tech blogs, or educational websites related to programming.

    Download JetBrains Mono via JetBrains

    Nexa

    Designed by Svetoslav Simov, Nexa is a geometric sans-serif font with a modern and versatile appearance. Suitable for portfolios, corporate websites, and creative platforms.

    Download Nexa via Fontfabric

    Cabin

    Cabin by Pablo Impallari is a humanist sans-serif font inspired by Edward Johnston’s designs. Perfect for educational platforms, blogs, or minimalist websites.

    Download Cabin via Google Fonts

    Muli

    Designed by Vernon Adams, Muli is a minimalist sans-serif font. It’s ideal for clean, modern designs such as tech startups, lifestyle blogs, or e-commerce sites.

    Download Muli via Google Fonts

    Gotham

    Created by Tobias Frere-Jones, Gotham is a geometric sans-serif font known for its bold and professional design. Best suited for corporate websites, editorial layouts, and modern branding.

    Download Gotham via Hoefler&Co

    How to choose the perfect font?

    Choosing the right font for your website depends on your brand identity, target audience, and the type of content you want to showcase.

    The key is to align the font’s personality with your website’s purpose. Just check out my website.

    Prioritize readability, test across devices, and ensure the typography complements your overall design aesthetic.

    Here are some actionable tips that you can take from this article:

    • Understand your brand identity – Your font should reflect your brand’s personality. If your brand is professional and modern, go for sans-serif fonts like Helvetica or Söhne. If it’s creative or luxurious, consider serif options like Playfair Display or Canela.
    • Prioritize readability – Fonts should be legible across all devices and sizes.
    • Limit your choices – Stick to two or three fonts maximum. Use a primary font for headings and a secondary font for body text.
    • Test in real contexts – Try out fonts inside of Figma or Adobe XD and put them on your designs. This will help you see how they interact with images, spacing, and other design elements.
    • Get help – Now, if you need help with your web designs and want to focus on other things. Sometimes it’s good to delegate other work to experts that do this stuff daily. I do web designs for small businesses and startups, so if you need help, reach out to me! You can see my prices here.

    Hopefully this article helped you to decide what font you should use for your website. If not, keep testing different fonts on your web designs until it all clicks.

    If you have still no success, I highly recommend you to look at other websites in your industry and see, what they’re using. You can get inspired by real-life examples.

    Picture of Tom Caklos

    Tom Caklos

    Tom Caklos is a freelance web designer helping small businesses and startups to create a website, that drives growth.

    Tom has 7 years experience as a web designer and UI & UX specialist. He also loves to write on any design topics such as website optimization.

    Bio
    Need help with website?

    I help small businesses, startups and organisations with their jaw-dropping websites that convert well online.

    Articles to read next