With countless fonts available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. The fonts below range from timeless classics to modern staples, each offering exceptional readability and versatility. Turn to these fonts when you want a sure thing. They will look good in any situation: small or large—on screen or printed.
frutiger
A friendly, highly legible font that works excellently in print and on screen—what’s not to love? Initially crafted for airport signage, the font had to be readable from afar, yet still look beautiful up close. This results in text that works equally well for tiny body copy and large headings. Frutiger has been described as “the best general typeface ever” and “the best choice for legibility in pretty much any situation” by renowned typographers Erik Speikermann and Steve Matteson.
Find it in: Tullamarine Airport and Euro bank notes.
Buy Frutiger here. If you are unable to access Frutiger, Myriad is a slightly softer, high-quality alternative that is included with Adobe products.
din
Another font originally designed for signage, DIN combines clarity with a slightly more serious tone. Being narrower than your average font, DIN works excellently in applications where space is a premium. Its bold, structured shapes are sure to make an impact in any situation.
Buy DIN here.
helvetica
Arguably the most iconic font of all time, Helvetica is known for its neutrality and versatility. Its slightly tighter letter spacing makes it perfect for larger body text and headings. Whether in print or digital, Helvetica remains a staple for its clean and timeless design.
Find it in: the BMW, Jeep and Toyota logos.
Buy Helvetica here. Arial, Microsoft’s widely-used replica, is also a solid substitute.
open sans
Commissioned by Google, Open Sans offers a modern, approachable sans-serif. Its shapes are reminiscent of Frutiger but with a softer finish, making it particularly well-suited for digital environments.
Open Sans is available for free here.
baskerville
Crafted over 200 years ago, Baskerville remains the epitome of elegance. Planning on reading for a long time?—turn to Baskerville for style, sophistication and effortlessly legibility.
Being over a couple of centuries old, there are a few versions floating around. Google offers a free high-quality version here.
futura
Minimal yet highly legible, Futura is the quintessential geometric font. Its clean, modern forms create a distinct aesthetic without sacrificing warmth or readability, making it a popular choice for a wide range of projects. Many geometric fonts have tried before and since, but few have been as successful as Futura.
Find it in: the Calvin Klein, Red Bull and Nike logos.
Buy Futura here. Alternatively, listen to Frank Ocean’s song ‘Futura Free’ here.
meta
Designed to perform well at small sizes and in low-quality printing, Meta is the ultimate workhorse font. The font’s economical shapes transform into distinctive quirks as it is displayed at larger sizes. Meta works particularly well when displaying technical data and tables of information.
Buy Meta here.
