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What fonts can I use on my Website?
By Jamie | February 1, 2008
Twice this week I have been asked what fonts can I use on my website?
Not that many is the short answer.
You might have hundreds of fonts available on your computer, this doesn’t mean everyone else does. Depending on the operating system (Windows, Linux, Apple) , web browser (Firefox, IE, Safari) and programs installed (Office, Photoshop etc) will effect the range of fonts you have. You can certain download more, but people visiting your web site aren’t going to do that. So what fonts are general safe to use on your blog or company website?
From some digging around the general opinion seems to be around 8-10 fonts are pretty safe to use. It doesn’t mean you can’t use images for headers and sub headings etc, but for the bulk of text you are pretty much limited.
What are the Options?
So here is a quick sample of the options available to you, but make sure you have a glance over the next section, as you will see that this still varies from computer to computer, web browser to web browser.
Verdana
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Georgia
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Tahoma
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Arial
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Times New Roman
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Courier New
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Helvetica
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Lucida Console
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Palatino Linotype
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
MS Sans Serif
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Impact
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Quisque consectetuer, tortor id pharetra sollicitudin, urna metus eleifend elit, sed venenatis dui nisl et orci. Nunc orci tortor, suscipit sit amet, interdum quis, egestas ut, ipsum.
Aenean nisl lectus, interdum non, mollis sed, adipiscing in, diam. Etiam sodales neque. Aliquam tortor. Integer pellentesque, tortor ac nonummy gravida, velit sapien suscipit magna, vel adipiscing lorem arcu vel dui.
Trains, Planes and Operating Systems
And just to confuse you more, these fonts can also vary in style depending on the web browser, computer settings and version of the operating system you are running. Although, to be honest don’t worry too much about this, its impossible for any web sites to look identical on every machine out there.
Linux Operating System
Windows XP
Apple Mac
For more information on this subject check out…
Common fonts to all versions of Windows & Mac equivalents
and
What is your advice about fonts and websites, I’m no expert on the subject so I would love to hear your thoughts?
Topics: Web development & eCommerce, web design |
Article Tags>> apple | fonts | linux | mac | typeface | web browsers | web design | Windows
February 1st, 2008 at 7:08 pm
With all these new standards being developed for HTML, CSS - Web 2.0, you would think that they would do something about increasing the core font repository eh? After all Web 2.0 was making everything look chic and seamless, yet we are still restricted by the amount of typography we can use to make cool interfaces.
I’m not an expert in this field, but can’t the browsers agree to bundle a few more fonts with their installation? Create a standard for web fonts possibly…
I’m just ranting because I’ve been designing 3 different sites over the past 2 weeks, and creating cool typography is my biggest struggle.
February 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I’m no expert here, Jamie, so it’s interesting to read your font article. Thanks.
Off-topic, did you make it to BarCamp yesterday?
February 4th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Well, its probably an easy sell when someone has been reading your blog for a year or so!