What are the different font types and styles? What are some examples of font families? Consider this your ultimate beginner’s guide to fonts.
Whenever you’re working with text, it’s essential to think carefully about how that text will be styled. Will it be bold and modern or elegantly cursive? Heavy and high-impact or thin and delicate?
No matter what the design context, the fonts you choose have a major impact on branding, aesthetics, and readability—so it’s important to get it right.
To help you get to grips with the fantastic world of fonts, we’ve unpacked everything you need to know in this guide. We’ll cover:
- What is a font?
- What is the difference between a font and a typeface?
- What are font styles?
- What is a font family?
- The 6 main font types and their families
- Tying it all together: the key takeaways
- How to choose the best font type for any project
- Learn more about typography and fonts
Let’s start with a simple definition.
1. What is a font?
A font is a set of characters that share a consistent design style.
Fonts have an important role to play in the broader field of typography as they shape the weight, style, and size of all the text you include throughout a design project. This impacts the overall visual aesthetic and readability—so choosing the right fonts is key.
2. What is the difference between a font and a typeface?
Typefaces and fonts both determine how text is styled, and the two terms are often used interchangeably—but they’re not the same thing.
A typeface refers to a particular style of lettering. Times New Roman, Arial, and Comic Sans are all examples of typefaces. Each typeface comprises a set of design characteristics that determine how letters, numbers, or characters will be styled across a certain piece of text.
If you choose a serif typeface like Times New Roman, for example, certain letters will be styled with serifs—extra little lines or ‘flicks’. Your chosen typeface also defines the weight, balance, spacing, and height difference between different characters.
Font refers to how you apply your typeface. If you’re working with the Comic Sans typeface, you might apply it in bold, size 13, italic font.
3. What are font styles?
Font styles refer to how you apply, or style, a specific typeface. Font styles encompass the following properties or design choices:
Weight: Text can be light, regular, bold, or extra bold.
Style: You might apply your typeface in italic, which will style the characters in a slanted fashion, or oblique, which also slants the letters but without the cursive nature of italic.
Size: Font size is typically measured in points (pt), usually ranging from 8pt to 96pt.
Colour: Font colour is also an important style consideration. The colours you choose will impact visual branding, contrast, and the overall readability of the text.
A great way to get a feel for different font styles is to experiment in Google Docs. Play around with various typefaces and see what they look like with different styles applied. This will give you an idea of how font styles impact both aesthetics and readability. Alternatively, you could also take a look at a type based poster project of one of our AND learners, Bibin S.
4. What is a font family?
A font family is a collection of typefaces that share a similar design theme. Within a font family, you have a consistent visual identity with different stylistic variations (font styles). For example, within the Lexend font family, you’ll find a variety of possible styles: thin, extra light, light, normal, medium, semi bold, bold, extra bold, and black.
These variations provide designers with plenty of flexibility when working with text. You can use different font styles within the same family for different types of content. For example, you might style headlines in bold, use the regular style for body text, and style some text in italics to create emphasis.
Now that we know all about fonts, typefaces, font styles, and font families, let’s take a look at some examples of different font types.
5. The 6 main font types and their families
When we talk about font types, we’re really referring to typefaces. The ‘font’ part refers to how these different typefaces are implemented or styled. With that in mind, here are the six main font types and some examples of their families.
1. Serif font types
Serif fonts are characterised by small decorative lines or strokes (serifs) at the end of certain characters. Serif fonts can be categorised into different styles based on their design characteristics. Here are some common types of serif fonts and how to distinguish between them.
Old-style or traditional serif fonts
- Characterised by a diagonal, left-leaning stress in rounded letters
- Lower contrast between thick and thin strokes
- Examples of old-style serif font families include Garamond, Bembo, and Caslon
Modern serif fonts
- Known for higher contrast between thick and thin strokes
- Vertical stress in rounded letters
- Examples of modern serif font families include Bodoni and Didot
Transitional serif fonts
- A bridge between old-style and modern serif fonts
- Moderate contrast between thick and thin strokes
- Have a more vertical axis and sharper serifs than old-style fonts
- Examples of traditional serif font families include Times New Roman and Baskerville
Slab serif fonts
- Recognisable for their thick, slab-like serifs
- Typically bold and geometric
- Highly legible
- Examples of slab serif font families include Rockwell, Courier, and Clarendon
2. Sans-serif font types
Unlike serif fonts, sans-serif fonts don’t have the extra flicks or strokes at the end of letterforms. Sans-serif fonts are typically modern, bold, and very easy to read. There are several different types of sans-serif fonts, which we’ll explore now.
Geometric sans-serif fonts
- Made up of geometric shapes and forms
- Known for their uniform stroke widths and modern, minimalist aesthetic
- Examples of geometric sans-serif font families include Futura and Avenir
Humanist sans-serif fonts
- Inspired by roman inscription lettering
- Characterised by their varied stroke widths and more open letterforms
- Examples of humanist sans-serif font families include Tahoma, Optima, and Gill Sans
Grotesque sans-serif fonts
- One of the earliest sans-serif font styles
- Tend to be geometric in design and have a generally uniform stroke width
- Examples of grotesque sans-serif font families include Franklin Gothic and Akzidenz-Grotesk
Neo-grotesque sans-serif fonts
- A more modern variation on the grotesque font style
- Balanced proportions with a cleaner appearance
- Examples of neo-grotesque font families include Helvetica, Arial, and Roboto
3. Script font types
Script typefaces or fonts mimic cursive handwriting and calligraphy. They’re typically looped, flowing, and artistic. Here are some different types of script fonts and their families.
Formal or classic script fonts
- Typically elegant and refined, often resembling traditional calligraphy
- Ideal for formal occasions and luxury branding
- Examples of formal script font families include Edwardian Script, Bickham Script, and Snell Roundhand
Informal or casual script fonts
- A more relaxed and informal type of script font
- Offers a more natural handwritten aesthetic
- Examples of informal script font families include Brush Script, Lucida Calligraphy, and Mistral
Brush script fonts
- Emulate the look of brush or ink strokes
- Create a laid-back and dynamic aesthetic
- Examples include Brush Script MT, Pacifico, and Playlist Script
4. Handwritten font types
Handwritten fonts are those that emulate real handwriting. They range in style from vintage and retro to decorative, playful, and calligraphic. Examples of handwritten font families include Comic Sans, Dancing Script, and Quicksand.
5. Display font types
Display fonts, sometimes referred to as decorative fonts, are striking and unique. They are primarily used for headlines, titles, and logos—short bursts of text that should stand out and make an impact. Font families within this group include Bebas Neue, Lobster, and Playfair Display.
6. Monospaced font types
Monospaced fonts are known for their uniform and structured appearance. They are non-proportional, which means they have a fixed width; each character occupies the same amount of horizontal space. They are typically used in contexts that require neat, precise alignment—like coding. Examples of monospaced font families include Courier New, Consolas, and Monaco.
6. Tying it all together: the key takeaways
That’s the lowdown on all the different font types and their families. We’ve covered several type-related terms, so let’s recap on the differences—and the relationship—between them all.
A typeface is a set of characters (letters, numbers, punctuation, symbols, etc.) that share a common visual style. A font refers to how that typeface is styled. Different font styles determine the size and weight of the text, as well as whether it’s displayed in bold, italic, or bold italic.
A font family is a collection of related fonts that share a common design theme but may vary in terms of weight and style—for example, Times New Roman is a font family that includes regular, bold, italic, and bold italic variations.
It can be confusing but don’t get too hung up on the terminology. Ultimately, typefaces, fonts, and font styles all shape the appearance of text within a design project. Choosing the right typefaces and font styles is crucial for building a unique visual identity and ensuring that content is readable and accessible.
The type of fonts you choose will depend on the medium you’re designing for (think digital vs. print), the type of text you’re displaying—headlines and logos will require different font styles compared to longer blocks of body text—and the overall mood and tone you want to convey. For more tips, check out the next section.
7. How to choose the best font type for any project
Now that you know all about the different font styles, you might be wondering: How do I choose the best font for my next design project? Here are some practical steps to guide you in selecting the right font.
1. Define the context and the purpose
First, it’s important to think about the context in which your font will appear. What is the purpose of the overall project? Will you be including lots of text—for example, in a magazine—or just one word, such as for a logo? Are you designing for print, digital, or both?
If your project requires long bodies of smaller text, you’ll want to pick a font type that’s highly legible, like a modern serif font or a sans-serif font. If you’re designing for a poster, physical signage, or a logo, on the other hand, you’ll have more room to experiment with script, handwritten, and display font types.
2. Consider the brand personality and target audience
Like any other design element, different font styles convey different qualities, characteristics, and even personalities. When choosing a font, think about the brand identity, as well as the target audience you want to appeal to.
Are you trying to evoke an air of traditionalism and authenticity, or a sense of whimsy and lightheartedness? Are you choosing a font for a serious brand, a luxurious one, or a playful one? Who are your target audience and how should they feel when they perceive your font? All of these factors will inform your font choices.
3. Prioritise readability
No matter what you’re designing, font readability must take priority. Your target audience should be able to clearly read any and all text—whether it’s a logo, a heading, or a lengthy paragraph. In addition to choosing appropriate font styles, you can enhance readability by ensuring sufficient contrast between the text and background colour, and displaying your chosen fonts in an appropriate size.
4. Pair fonts thoughtfully
Sometimes, you’ll use more than one font style throughout a design project. If that’s the case, it’s important to make thoughtful choices when pairing different fonts.
If the goal is to create contrast and visual interest, experiment with pairing serif and sans-serif font styles, or even a decorative script font with a simple, modern sans-serif font. However, if you want to maintain strong visual consistency, consider using different font types within the same font family. For example, you might use ‘normal’ for body text and ‘bold’ for headlines, as well as different font sizes.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to stick with a maximum of two or three different font styles within a given project.
5. Test your chosen fonts in different contexts
Last but not least, subject your fonts to rigorous testing before you go live with a design. What looks great—and legible—in isolation may not work so well in the final design context, or across different screen sizes. Check that your chosen fonts maintain their visual appeal and readability in all possible contexts, adjusting size, weight, and colour where necessary.
8. Learn more about typography and fonts
If you’d like to learn more about typography and fonts, continue with our ultimate guide to typography design. In it, we share the fundamental rules and principles of typography and show you how to apply them in your work.
If you’re already well-versed in the art of type and just want some inspiration, we think you’ll enjoy these posts:
- 30 Outstanding Typography Examples To Inspire You
- 21 Cool Fonts to Spruce Up Your Next Design Project
- What is Graphic Design? Everything you need to know
Next Steps:
We trust that our comprehensive list of font types can serve as a source of inspiration for your next design project. Additionally, should you require further assistance, here are some supplementary resources you can consult:
- Watch this session by graphic design industry leaders Soumya Tiwari and Sakshi Jain.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of AND Academy’s courses.
- Explore our Graphic Design Course, which is taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and comes with a job guarantee.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
