Serif Fonts

Serif fonts deliver classic, readable body text and elegant headlines for print and web. Explore oldstyle, transitional, Didone and slab serifs that stay legible at small sizes and shine in bold display.

Editor’s top picks

How to choose a serif (fast)

• Body text: look for modest contrast, generous x-height and open counters. Oldstyle/Transitional are safest.
• Headlines: high contrast (Didone) or Slab for impact; increase tracking slightly at large sizes.
• Web: pick a family with many weights, good hinting and italics; test 14–18px for paragraphs.
• Branding: choose distinctive terminals/alternates; keep a plain companion for small text.
• Small sizes: avoid hairlines; prefer sturdy serifs and lower contrast.

Font pairing recipes

• Didone display + geometric sans: luxe headlines with clean UI copy.
• Oldstyle text + grotesk sans: warm reading + straightforward navigation.
• Slab headlines + humanist sans: friendly product pages and signage.
• Modern serif + script accent: elegant invites and packaging labels.
• Condensed serif + wide sans: compact titles balanced by airy subheads.

Project ideas

• Wedding suites, menus, place cards, monograms.
• Editorial layouts, long-form blog posts, magazines.
• Brand wordmarks, product labels, premium packaging.
• Course PDFs, workbooks, printable planners.
• Signage and posters with Slab or high-contrast display.

Cut & engraving tips

For cutting/engraving, favor sturdy serifs and avoid many tiny counters. If strokes are thin, add a slight outline/offset. Always run a small test cut to check weeding and tiny joins before committing.

Text tools

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Try searches

• Oldstyle serif → warm book faces for long reads and heritage brands.
• Didone serif → elegant, high-contrast display for fashion/editorial.
• Slab serif → bold signage, badges and thumbnails that pop.
• Condensed serif → tight spaces—catalog pages, labels, sidebars.
• Modern serif → crisp corporate decks and landing pages.
• Vintage serif → menu boards, craft packaging, retro posters.
• Stencil serif → cut-friendly lettering with bridged counters.

FAQ

What size works best for paragraphs?
On the web, start at 16–18px with 1.5 line-height; adjust per x-height and contrast. In print, 9–11pt is typical for books.

Are high-contrast serifs readable?
Yes for headlines; for body copy prefer moderate contrast to avoid fading hairlines on low-dpi screens.

How much tracking for display?
Large titles often benefit from +2 to +20 tracking (tight type can look crowded at size). Always proof at 100% scale.

What should I pair a serif with?
Use contrast: serif for headlines + simple sans for UI, or oldstyle text + neutral sans for captions and buttons.

Licensing?
Always check each product page. Many allow commercial use; terms vary by seller and marketplace.