*Updated – 5 April 2012
There is no ‘best font size’. Just don’t ‘fix’ your font size absolutely.
You may be aware that the same font, at the same point size on a Macintosh “looks smaller” than on most Windows machines. In a nutshell, this is because the “logical resolution” of a Macintosh is 72dpi, while the Windows default is 96dpi. The implications of this are significant. Firstly, it guarantees that it is essentially impossible to have text look identical on Macintoshes and Windows based systems. But if you embrace the adaptability philosophy it doesn’t matter.
What? If you are concerned about exactly how a web page appears this is a sign that you are still aren’t thinking about adaptive pages. One of the most significant accessibility issues is font size. Small fonts are more difficult to read. For those of us with good eyesight, it can come as a shock that a significant percentage of the population has trouble reading anything below 14 point times on paper. Screens are less readable than paper, because of their lower resolution.
Does that mean the minimum point size we should use is 14 pts? That doesn’t help those whose sight is even less strong. So what is the minimum point size we should use? None. Don’t use points. This allows readers to choose the font size which suits them. The same goes even for pixels. Because of logical resolution differences, a pixel on one platform is not a pixel on another. You can still suggest larger font sizes for headings and other elements. CSS provides several ways of suggesting the size of text in such a way as to aid adaptability. A LIST APART
What are the most common fonts on PCs and macs and linux machines?
The table below shows font survey results for all platforms, the cumulative total of all valid font survey submissions (from codestyle). Figures are calculated per platform and ranked alongside each other for comparison. The Apple, Windows and Linux penguin icons show which computer the font figures are for.
Most common fonts on all systems to 5 April 2012
| Platform and font name |
Installed (%) |
 |
Helvetica |
100.00% |
 |
|
Lucida Grande |
100.00% |
|
 |
Lucida Sans |
100.00% |
|
|
Tahoma |
100.00% |
|
|
Arial |
99.90% |
|
|
Verdana |
99.90% |
|
|
Geneva |
99.88% |
|
|
Monaco |
99.88% |
|
|
Microsoft Sans Serif |
99.85% |
|
|
Times New Roman |
99.81% |
|
|
Trebuchet MS |
99.81% |
|
|
Courier New |
99.76% |
|
|
Courier |
99.75% |
|
|
Lucida Bright |
99.75% |
|
|
Lucida Sans |
99.75% |
|
|
Lucida Sans Typewriter |
99.75% |
|
|
Comic Sans MS |
99.56% |
|
|
Georgia |
99.51% |
|
|
Lucida Sans Unicode |
99.51% |
|
|
Palatino Linotype |
99.51% |
|
|
Times |
99.51% |
|
|
Lucida Console |
99.42% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic Medium |
99.37% |
|
|
Helvetica Neue |
99.26% |
|
|
Verdana |
99.26% |
|
|
Impact |
99.22% |
|
 |
URW Chancery L |
99.01% |
|
|
Arial |
98.89% |
|
|
Century Schoolbook L |
98.82% |
|
|
URW Gothic L |
98.82% |
|
|
Georgia |
98.64% |
|
|
Nimbus Sans L |
98.42% |
|
|
URW Bookman L |
98.42% |
|
|
URW Palladio L |
98.42% |
|
|
Times New Roman |
98.39% |
|
|
Nimbus Mono L |
98.22% |
|
|
Nimbus Roman No9 L |
98.22% |
|
|
Sylfaen |
98.20% |
|
|
MV Boli |
98.15% |
|
|
Trebuchet MS |
97.90% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans |
97.83% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans Mono |
97.83% |
|
|
DejaVu Serif |
97.83% |
|
|
Tunga |
97.61% |
|
|
Estrangelo Edessa |
97.57% |
|
|
Gautami |
97.52% |
|
|
Arial Black |
97.47% |
|
|
Mangal |
97.47% |
|
|
Raavi |
97.42% |
|
|
Latha |
97.37% |
|
|
Shruti |
97.32% |
|
|
Gill Sans |
97.28% |
|
|
Arial Narrow |
97.03% |
|
|
Impact |
96.91% |
|
|
Arial Black |
96.79% |
|
|
Courier New |
96.79% |
|
|
Arial Rounded MT Bold |
96.42% |
|
|
Andale Mono |
96.29% |
|
|
Futura |
96.29% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans Light |
96.10% |
|
|
Marker Felt |
96.04% |
|
|
Tahoma |
95.92% |
|
|
Baskerville |
95.80% |
|
|
Skia |
95.80% |
|
|
Comic Sans MS |
95.67% |
|
|
American Typewriter |
95.55% |
|
|
Apple Chancery |
95.43% |
|
|
Optima |
95.43% |
|
|
Didot |
95.30% |
|
|
Hoefler Text |
95.30% |
|
|
Zapfino |
95.30% |
|
|
Papyrus |
94.93% |
|
|
Big Caslon |
94.68% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans Condensed |
94.48% |
|
|
DejaVu Serif Condensed |
94.48% |
|
|
Copperplate |
94.44% |
|
|
Kartika |
94.26% |
|
|
Vrinda |
94.06% |
|
|
Brush Script MT |
93.82% |
|
|
Herculanum |
93.82% |
|
|
Hiragino Kaku Gothic ProN |
93.04% |
|
|
Hiragino Mincho ProN |
93.04% |
|
|
Bitstream Charter |
91.52% |
|
|
Liberation Serif |
89.35% |
|
|
Liberation Mono |
89.15% |
|
|
Calibri |
89.09% |
|
|
Cambria |
88.95% |
|
|
Liberation Sans |
88.95% |
|
|
Candara |
88.70% |
|
|
Cambria Math |
88.66% |
|
|
Corbel |
88.61% |
|
|
Consolas |
88.56% |
|
|
Constantia |
88.46% |
|
|
Hiragino Maru Gothic ProN |
88.35% |
|
|
Hiragino Kaku Gothic StdN |
88.20% |
|
|
Arial Narrow |
87.59% |
|
|
Palatino |
87.52% |
|
|
Century Gothic |
86.95% |
|
|
FreeSans |
86.00% |
|
|
Garamond |
85.49% |
|
|
Book Antiqua |
85.44% |
|
|
Bookman Old Style |
85.35% |
|
|
FreeMono |
85.21% |
|
|
FreeSerif |
85.21% |
|
|
Courier 10 Pitch |
85.03% |
|
|
Segoe UI |
83.69% |
|
|
Kokonor |
83.51% |
|
|
Kailasa |
83.06% |
|
|
Monotype Corsiva |
83.06% |
|
|
MS Mincho |
82.13% |
|
|
Lucida Bright |
82.04% |
|
|
MS Reference Sans Serif |
79.02% |
|
|
Lucida Sans Typewriter |
78.72% |
|
|
Hiragino Sans GB |
78.53% |
|
|
PCMyungjo |
77.82% |
|
|
PilGi |
77.64% |
|
|
Heiti SC |
77.31% |
|
|
Heiti TC |
77.31% |
|
|
HeadLineA |
77.28% |
|
|
Menlo |
77.16% |
|
|
Meiryo UI |
75.60% |
|
|
Arial Unicode MS |
75.17% |
|
|
Tempus Sans ITC |
74.34% |
|
|
Kristen ITC |
74.05% |
|
|
Chalkduster |
73.98% |
|
|
Mistral |
73.90% |
|
|
Juice ITC |
73.71% |
|
|
Malgun Gothic |
72.32% |
|
|
Microsoft Himalaya |
72.10% |
|
|
Microsoft JhengHei |
72.10% |
|
|
Microsoft YaHei |
72.10% |
|
|
MingLiU-ExtB |
71.77% |
|
|
MingLiU_HKSCS |
71.77% |
|
|
MingLiU_HKSCS-ExtB |
71.77% |
|
|
PMingLiU-ExtB |
71.77% |
|
|
SimSun-ExtB |
71.66% |
|
|
GungSeo |
71.56% |
|
|
Freestyle Script |
71.37% |
|
|
Papyrus |
71.28% |
|
|
Microsoft Uighur |
71.23% |
|
|
MoolBoran |
71.23% |
|
|
Gisha |
71.12% |
|
|
Leelawadee |
71.12% |
|
|
DFKai-SB |
71.01% |
|
|
Jokerman |
70.89% |
|
|
French Script MT |
70.74% |
|
|
Bradley Hand ITC |
70.69% |
|
|
KaiTi |
70.68% |
|
|
FangSong |
70.57% |
|
|
Verdana |
70.02% |
|
|
Vivaldi |
69.86% |
|
|
UnDotum |
69.64% |
|
|
Georgia |
69.63% |
|
|
Arial |
69.43% |
|
|
Times New Roman |
69.43% |
|
|
Courier New |
69.03% |
|
|
Impact |
68.84% |
|
|
Trebuchet MS |
68.84% |
|
|
Batang |
68.65% |
|
|
Lohit Bengali |
68.65% |
|
|
Lohit Tamil |
68.65% |
|
|
Comic Sans MS |
68.44% |
|
|
Lucida Handwriting |
68.35% |
|
|
Lohit Gujarati |
68.32% |
|
|
Waree |
68.32% |
|
|
Haettenschweiler |
68.26% |
|
|
Arial Black |
68.24% |
|
|
SimSun |
68.06% |
|
|
Lohit Punjabi |
67.99% |
|
|
Pristina |
67.77% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic Book |
67.53% |
|
|
Copperplate Gothic Light |
67.23% |
|
|
Copperplate Gothic Bold |
67.19% |
|
|
Maiandra GD |
67.19% |
|
|
Eras Demi ITC |
67.14% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic Demi |
67.09% |
|
|
OCR A Extended |
67.04% |
|
|
Perpetua |
67.04% |
|
|
Eras Light ITC |
66.99% |
|
|
Felix Titling |
66.85% |
|
|
Rockwell |
66.85% |
|
|
Edwardian Script ITC |
66.75% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic Medium Cond |
66.75% |
|
|
MS PGothic |
66.75% |
|
|
Rockwell Extra Bold |
66.70% |
|
|
Engravers MT |
66.65% |
|
|
MS Gothic |
66.51% |
|
|
MS Mincho |
66.51% |
|
|
Andale Mono |
66.47% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic Heavy |
66.46% |
|
|
Curlz MT |
66.41% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic Demi Cond |
66.36% |
|
|
Blackadder ITC |
66.31% |
|
|
MS PMincho |
66.27% |
|
|
Segoe Script |
65.66% |
|
|
Casual |
65.61% |
|
|
Segoe UI Light |
65.54% |
|
|
PMingLiU |
65.53% |
|
|
Segoe Print |
65.46% |
|
|
MS Gothic |
65.43% |
|
|
Segoe UI Semibold |
65.32% |
|
|
Lucida Calligraphy |
65.04% |
|
|
Harrington |
64.75% |
|
|
Iskoola Pota |
64.66% |
|
|
MS UI Gothic |
64.65% |
|
|
Viner Hand ITC |
64.65% |
|
|
Cooper Black |
64.61% |
|
|
Onyx |
64.61% |
|
|
Mongolian Baiti |
64.59% |
|
|
GulimChe |
64.56% |
|
|
Old English Text MT |
64.56% |
|
|
Kalinga |
64.52% |
|
|
Baskerville Old Face |
64.51% |
|
|
Bauhaus 93 |
64.51% |
|
|
Britannic Bold |
64.51% |
|
|
MS PGothic |
64.51% |
|
|
Wide Latin |
64.51% |
|
|
Euphemia |
64.46% |
|
|
Gulim |
64.46% |
|
|
Microsoft Yi Baiti |
64.46% |
|
|
Nyala |
64.46% |
|
|
Playbill |
64.46% |
|
|
Algerian |
64.41% |
|
|
BatangChe |
64.41% |
|
|
Gungsuh |
64.41% |
|
|
GungsuhChe |
64.41% |
|
|
Snap ITC |
64.41% |
|
|
DaunPenh |
64.39% |
|
|
Broadway |
64.36% |
|
|
Dotum |
64.36% |
|
|
DotumChe |
64.36% |
|
|
Footlight MT Light |
64.36% |
|
|
Matura MT Script Capitals |
64.36% |
|
|
UnBatang |
64.36% |
|
|
DokChampa |
64.32% |
|
|
Kunstler Script |
64.31% |
|
|
MS PMincho |
64.31% |
|
|
MingLiU |
64.31% |
|
|
Vladimir Script |
64.31% |
|
|
Arabic Typesetting |
64.26% |
|
|
Bernard MT Condensed |
64.22% |
|
|
Harlow Solid Italic |
64.22% |
|
|
Chiller |
64.12% |
|
|
NSimSun |
64.12% |
|
|
Informal Roman |
64.07% |
|
|
Stencil |
64.07% |
|
|
Bell MT |
64.02% |
|
|
Colonna MT |
63.92% |
|
|
Ravie |
63.92% |
|
|
Gabriola |
63.89% |
|
|
Berlin Sans FB |
63.88% |
|
|
Centaur |
63.83% |
|
|
High Tower Text |
63.83% |
|
|
Ubuntu |
63.74% |
|
|
Californian FB |
63.73% |
|
|
Mukti Narrow |
63.70% |
|
|
Purisa |
63.70% |
|
|
Niagara Engraved |
63.68% |
|
|
Niagara Solid |
63.68% |
|
|
Showcard Gothic |
63.58% |
|
|
Lohit Hindi |
63.37% |
|
|
Sawasdee |
63.37% |
|
|
SimHei |
63.24% |
|
|
Garuda |
63.04% |
|
|
Loma |
63.04% |
|
|
Norasi |
63.04% |
|
|
Tlwg Typist |
63.04% |
|
|
TlwgTypewriter |
63.04% |
|
|
Brush Script MT |
63.00% |
|
|
Kinnari |
62.71% |
|
|
TlwgMono |
62.71% |
|
|
Umpush |
62.71% |
|
|
utkal |
62.71% |
|
|
Bodoni MT Poster Compressed |
62.66% |
|
|
Century Gothic |
62.55% |
|
|
Mallige |
62.38% |
|
|
Vemana2000 |
62.38% |
|
|
KacstOne |
62.21% |
|
|
Berlin Sans FB Demi |
62.07% |
|
|
Phetsarath OT |
62.05% |
|
|
Tlwg Typo |
62.05% |
|
|
Magneto |
62.03% |
|
|
Aparajita |
61.38% |
|
|
Garamond |
61.19% |
|
|
Rachana |
61.07% |
|
|
Lucida Fax |
61.00% |
|
|
Book Antiqua |
60.32% |
|
|
Arial Rounded MT Bold |
60.22% |
|
|
Bookman Old Style |
60.07% |
|
|
Lucida Handwriting |
60.07% |
|
|
Gill Sans MT |
59.98% |
|
|
Century Schoolbook |
59.95% |
|
|
Monotype Corsiva |
59.58% |
|
|
Century Schoolbook |
59.54% |
|
|
Calisto MT |
59.44% |
|
|
Copperplate Gothic Bold |
59.33% |
|
|
Haettenschweiler |
59.33% |
|
|
Goudy Old Style |
59.25% |
|
|
Script MT Bold |
59.25% |
|
|
Gill Sans MT Condensed |
59.20% |
|
|
Gill Sans Ultra Bold |
59.10% |
|
|
Goudy Old Style |
59.09% |
|
|
Imprint MT Shadow |
59.01% |
|
|
Braggadocio |
58.96% |
|
|
Gill Sans MT Ext Condensed Bold |
58.91% |
|
|
Palace Script MT |
58.86% |
|
|
Eras Bold ITC |
58.81% |
|
|
Eras Medium ITC |
58.81% |
|
|
Goudy Stout |
58.76% |
|
|
News Gothic MT |
58.71% |
|
|
Playbill |
58.71% |
|
|
Rockwell Condensed |
58.71% |
|
|
Castellar |
58.67% |
|
|
Forte |
58.67% |
|
|
Agency FB |
58.62% |
|
|
Rage Italic |
58.57% |
|
|
Gill Sans Ultra Bold Condensed |
58.52% |
|
|
Tw Cen MT |
58.52% |
|
|
Colonna MT |
58.47% |
|
|
Tw Cen MT Condensed |
58.47% |
|
|
Britannic Bold |
58.34% |
|
|
Calisto MT |
58.34% |
|
|
Desdemona |
58.34% |
|
|
Wide Latin |
58.34% |
|
|
Gigi |
58.28% |
|
|
Gloucester MT Extra Condensed |
58.23% |
|
|
Tw Cen MT Condensed Extra Bold |
58.23% |
|
|
Footlight MT Light |
58.22% |
|
|
Matura MT Script Capitals |
58.22% |
|
|
Perpetua Titling MT |
58.13% |
|
|
Abadi MT Condensed Light |
58.10% |
|
|
Adobe Ming Std |
57.94% |
|
|
Adobe Myungjo Std |
57.94% |
|
|
Kino MT |
57.85% |
|
|
Adobe Song Std |
57.79% |
|
|
Bodoni MT |
57.59% |
|
|
Bodoni MT Black |
57.45% |
|
|
Bodoni MT Condensed |
57.40% |
|
|
Adobe Fangsong Std |
57.03% |
|
|
Adobe Heiti Std |
57.03% |
|
|
Adobe Kaiti Std |
57.03% |
|
|
MS Reference Sans Serif |
57.01% |
|
|
Calibri |
52.41% |
|
|
Ubuntu Light |
51.53% |
|
|
Lucida Sans |
50.89% |
|
|
Lucida Bright |
50.30% |
|
|
Lucida Sans Typewriter |
50.10% |
|
|
Cambria |
49.07% |
|
|
Consolas |
48.58% |
|
|
Corbel |
48.08% |
|
|
Candara |
47.96% |
|
|
Capitals |
47.96% |
|
|
Constantia |
47.96% |
|
|
Adobe Fan Heiti Std |
46.41% |
|
|
Adobe Gothic Std |
46.41% |
|
|
Adobe Arabic |
46.33% |
|
|
Adobe Hebrew |
46.15% |
|
|
Kozuka Gothic Pr6N |
46.15% |
|
|
Kozuka Mincho Pr6N |
46.15% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Sans |
37.08% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Sans Mono |
37.08% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans |
35.57% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Serif |
35.50% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans Mono |
35.20% |
|
|
DejaVu Sans Condensed |
35.07% |
|
|
DejaVu Serif |
34.95% |
|
|
DejaVu Serif Condensed |
34.83% |
|
|
Gabriola |
33.77% |
|
|
Gentium |
31.25% |
|
|
Utopia |
23.87% |
|
|
Eurostile |
20.01% |
|
|
Metal |
19.74% |
|
|
Luxi Sans |
19.72% |
|
|
Luxi Mono |
19.53% |
|
|
Luxi Serif |
19.53% |
|
|
Matisse ITC |
19.18% |
|
|
Electron |
18.44% |
|
|
Nice |
18.44% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Sans Mono |
17.53% |
|
|
Courier |
14.20% |
|
|
Domestic Manners |
12.80% |
|
|
Dustismo |
12.15% |
|
|
MgOpen Modata |
12.03% |
|
|
MgOpen Moderna |
12.03% |
|
|
MgOpen Canonica |
11.83% |
|
|
MgOpen Cosmetica |
11.83% |
|
|
AR PL UMing CN |
11.22% |
|
|
AR PL UMing HK |
11.22% |
|
|
AR PL UMing TW |
11.22% |
|
|
AR PL UMing TW MBE |
11.22% |
|
|
Staccato222 BT |
10.52% |
|
|
Penguin Attack |
10.41% |
|
|
Balker |
9.98% |
|
|
Marked Fool |
9.98% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Sans |
9.88% |
|
|
Univers |
9.64% |
|
|
Junkyard |
9.54% |
|
|
Linux Libertine O |
9.17% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Serif |
9.10% |
|
|
Linux Biolinum O |
8.75% |
|
|
Broadway BT |
8.52% |
|
|
Square721 BT |
8.42% |
|
|
ParkAvenue BT |
8.23% |
|
|
MisterEarl BT |
8.08% |
|
|
Calligraph421 BT |
7.94% |
|
|
DejaVu LGC Sans Mono |
7.81% |
|
|
Cataneo BT |
7.69% |
|
|
Rage Italic LET |
7.69% |
|
|
La Bamba LET |
7.64% |
|
|
Blackletter686 BT |
7.59% |
|
|
Ruach LET |
7.59% |
|
|
John Handy LET |
7.55% |
|
|
DejaVu LGC Sans |
7.38% |
|
|
DejaVu LGC Sans Condensed |
7.38% |
|
|
DejaVu LGC Sans Light |
7.38% |
|
|
DejaVu LGC Serif |
7.38% |
|
|
DejaVu LGC Serif Condensed |
7.38% |
|
|
Isabella |
7.38% |
|
|
Linux Libertine |
7.38% |
|
|
Scruff LET |
7.35% |
|
|
Westwood LET |
7.35% |
|
|
AlArabiya |
7.26% |
|
|
Milano LET |
7.11% |
|
|
Tiranti Solid LET |
6.96% |
|
|
One Stroke Script LET |
6.91% |
|
|
Orange LET |
6.91% |
|
|
Smudger LET |
6.86% |
|
|
Victorian LET |
6.86% |
|
|
Academy Engraved LET |
6.82% |
|
|
Mekanik LET |
6.82% |
|
|
Odessa LET |
6.82% |
|
|
Pump Demi Bold LET |
6.82% |
|
|
Quixley LET |
6.82% |
|
|
Inconsolata |
6.80% |
|
|
Jokerman LET |
6.77% |
|
|
OldDreadfulNo7 BT |
6.77% |
|
|
University Roman LET |
6.77% |
|
|
Highlight LET |
6.72% |
|
|
Nimbus Sans L Condensed |
6.71% |
|
|
Gotham |
6.62% |
|
|
Helvetica |
6.43% |
|
|
News Gothic Std |
6.26% |
|
|
AlBattar |
6.11% |
|
|
AlHor |
6.11% |
|
|
AlManzomah |
6.11% |
|
|
Arab |
6.11% |
|
|
Cortoba |
6.11% |
|
|
Dimnah |
6.11% |
|
|
Furat |
6.11% |
|
|
Granada |
6.11% |
|
|
Graph |
6.11% |
|
|
Hani |
6.11% |
|
|
Hor |
6.11% |
|
|
Interstate |
6.11% |
|
|
Japan |
6.11% |
|
|
Jet |
6.11% |
|
|
Khalid |
6.11% |
|
|
Mashq |
6.11% |
|
|
Mashq-Bold |
6.11% |
|
|
Nada |
6.11% |
|
|
Nagham |
6.11% |
|
|
Ostorah |
6.11% |
|
|
Ouhod-Bold |
6.11% |
|
|
Petra |
6.11% |
|
|
Rasheeq-Bold |
6.11% |
|
|
Rehan |
6.11% |
|
|
Salem |
6.11% |
|
|
Shado |
6.11% |
|
|
Sharjah |
6.11% |
|
|
Tarablus |
6.11% |
|
|
Tholoth |
6.11% |
|
|
Chicago |
5.93% |
|
|
Textile |
5.93% |
|
|
Linux Libertine C |
5.86% |
|
|
TradeGothic |
5.73% |
|
|
Hypatia Sans Pro |
5.55% |
|
|
Frutiger LT Std |
5.37% |
|
|
Myriad Std |
5.37% |
|
|
Garamond |
5.33% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Sans Mono |
5.32% |
|
|
Charcoal |
5.32% |
|
|
Gadget |
5.32% |
|
|
Avenir |
5.22% |
|
|
Techno |
5.19% |
|
|
Delicious |
5.01% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Serif |
4.94% |
|
|
Bitstream Vera Sans |
4.82% |
|
|
Baby Kruffy |
4.72% |
|
|
Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk BE |
4.71% |
|
|
New York |
4.70% |
|
|
DINSchrift |
4.65% |
|
|
Sand |
4.57% |
|
|
ITC Franklin Gothic |
4.46% |
|
|
Abadi MT Condensed Light |
4.43% |
|
|
Verdana Ref |
4.38% |
|
|
Univers |
4.33% |
|
|
Helvetica Narrow |
4.24% |
|
|
Caflisch Script Pro |
4.20% |
|
|
Ubuntu |
4.14% |
|
|
Alba Super |
3.94% |
|
|
Caslon |
3.94% |
|
|
Andale Mono |
3.89% |
|
|
Kabel Ult BT |
3.89% |
|
|
Alba |
3.85% |
|
|
AlMateen-Bold |
3.82% |
|
|
AlMohanad |
3.82% |
|
|
AlMothnna-Bold |
3.82% |
|
|
Andy |
3.80% |
|
|
Alba Matter |
3.75% |
|
|
Palatino |
3.65% |
|
|
Times |
3.60% |
|
|
Bembo |
3.57% |
|
|
News Gothic MT |
3.55% |
|
|
Chick |
3.51% |
|
|
Adobe Garamond |
3.44% |
|
|
Bernhard Modern Std |
3.44% |
|
|
Beesknees ITC |
3.41% |
|
|
New Century Schoolbook |
3.31% |
|
|
HelveticaNeue |
3.18% |
|
|
Minion Std |
3.18% |
|
|
Frosty |
3.16% |
|
|
Braggadocio |
3.07% |
|
|
Kino MT |
3.07% |
|
|
Formata |
3.04% |
|
|
ITC Franklin Gothic Std |
3.04% |
|
|
Pussycat |
3.02% |
|
|
GENUINE |
2.97% |
|
|
OCRB |
2.97% |
|
|
Freshbot |
2.92% |
|
|
Jenkins v2.0 |
2.92% |
|
|
Placard Condensed |
2.87% |
|
|
Gentium |
2.85% |
|
|
Croobie |
2.82% |
|
|
GlooGun |
2.82% |
|
|
Weltron Urban |
2.82% |
|
|
Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold |
2.78% |
|
|
Jokewood |
2.78% |
|
|
Pepita MT |
2.78% |
|
|
Arial Narrow |
2.76% |
|
|
Georgia Ref |
2.68% |
|
|
Poornut |
2.68% |
|
|
Fat |
2.63% |
|
|
Ubuntu |
2.63% |
|
|
Gentium |
2.61% |
|
|
Andale Mono IPA |
2.58% |
|
|
RotisSemiSans |
2.55% |
|
|
Sabon |
2.50% |
|
|
MS Reference Serif |
2.43% |
|
|
Abadi MT Condensed |
2.39% |
|
|
Ubuntu Light |
2.30% |
|
|
Ubuntu-Title |
2.29% |
|
|
Monaco |
2.24% |
|
|
Runic MT Condensed |
2.19% |
|
|
Shelley |
2.17% |
|
|
Courier Std |
2.15% |
|
|
Gill Sans |
2.09% |
|
|
Optima |
2.09% |
|
|
Desdemona |
2.04% |
|
|
Bickley Script |
2.00% |
|
|
New Century Schoolbook |
1.98% |
|
|
Archer |
1.97% |
|
|
BauerBodoni |
1.97% |
|
|
Monaco |
1.97% |
|
|
Base 02 |
1.95% |
|
|
ITC Century |
1.91% |
|
|
Porcelain |
1.91% |
|
|
Geneva |
1.80% |
|
|
AkzidenzGrotesk |
1.79% |
|
|
Cronos Pro |
1.79% |
|
|
Times CY |
1.79% |
|
|
CAMPBELL |
1.75% |
|
|
DomBold BT |
1.75% |
|
|
Fine Hand |
1.75% |
|
|
Mercurius Script MT Bold |
1.75% |
|
|
Chicago |
1.70% |
|
|
MARKETPRO |
1.70% |
|
|
Kaufmann |
1.66% |
|
|
Berkeley |
1.61% |
|
|
Bookman |
1.61% |
|
|
Franklin Gothic |
1.61% |
|
|
Ryo Display Std |
1.61% |
|
|
Utopia |
1.61% |
|
|
Aachen |
1.43% |
|
|
Adobe Sans MM |
1.43% |
|
|
Helvetica Neue |
1.41% |
|
|
A Charming Font |
1.31% |
|
|
Champignon |
1.31% |
|
|
Apple Casual |
1.27% |
|
|
Futura |
1.22% |
|
|
Apple Chancery |
1.17% |
|
|
Belwe |
1.15% |
|
|
FreeSans |
1.12% |
|
|
Minion Web |
1.11% |
|
|
New York |
1.07% |
|
|
Algerian |
0.99% |
|
|
Mead Bold |
0.97% |
|
|
Avant Garde |
0.87% |
|
|
FIRSTHOME |
0.83% |
|
|
Hoefler Text |
0.83% |
|
|
Helvetica |
0.79% |
|
|
Monotype.com |
0.78% |
|
|
FreeSerif |
0.75% |
|
|
Zapf Chancery |
0.74% |
|
|
DecoType Naskh |
0.73% |
|
|
The Sans- |
0.72% |
|
|
Ubuntu-Title |
0.65% |
|
|
Caslon |
0.62% |
|
|
FreeMono |
0.62% |
|
|
Imprint MT Shadow |
0.59% |
|
|
04b_21 |
0.54% |
|
|
BudHand |
0.54% |
|
|
Minion Web |
0.49% |
|
|
Palatino |
0.39% |
|
|
Linux Libertine O |
0.37% |
|
|
Monotype.com |
0.37% |
|
|
URW Antiqua T |
0.37% |
|
|
URW Grotesk T |
0.37% |
|
|
Ubuntu-Title |
0.33% |
|
|
Helvetica Narrow |
0.25% |
|
|
Linux Biolinum O |
0.25% |
|
|
MgOpen Canonica |
0.25% |
|
|
Bookman |
0.20% |
|
|
Fixed |
0.20% |
|
|
Helvetica Narrow |
0.20% |
|
|
Times |
0.20% |
|
|
Gadget |
0.10% |
|
|
Terminal |
0.10% |
|
|
Textile |
0.10% |
|
Info sourced at Internet Archive.
Several of the lowest rank fonts have been removed from the current survey of best fonts, but their reported frequency is recorded here for reference.
UK Government recommendations on best fonts to use:
Use only clear, commonly used fonts. Avoid the use of small text. Users should have the ability to scale fonts.
Guidelines for UK Government websites
Illustrated handbook for Web management teams
Jakob Nielsen’s Readability Guidelines for Website Font Size
- Do not use absolute font sizes in your style sheets. Code font sizes in relative terms, typically using percentages such as 120% for big text and 90% for small text.
- Make your default font size reasonably big (at least 10 point) so that very few users have to resort to manual overrides.
- If your site targets senior citizens, use bigger default font sizes (at least 12 point).
- If possible, avoid text that’s embedded within a graphic, since style sheets and font size buttons don’t have any effect on graphics. If you must use pictures of text, make sure the font size is especially large (at least 12 point) and that you use high-contrast colors.
- Consider adding a button that loads an alternate style sheet with really big font sizes if most of your site’s visitors are senior citizens or low-vision users. Few users know how to find or use the built-in font size feature in current browsers, and adding such a button within your pages will help users easily increase text size. However, because every extra feature takes away from the rest of the page, I don’t recommend such a button for mainstream websites.
- Maximize the color contrast between the text and the background (and do not use busy or watermarked background patterns). Despite the fact that low-contrast text further reduces readability, the Web is plagued by gray text these days.’
Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox, August 19, 2002
Jakob Nielsen’s Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2005
- #1 – Legibility Problems
Bad fonts won the vote by a landslide, getting almost twice as many votes as the #2 mistake. About two-thirds of the voters complained about small font sizes or frozen font sizes; about one-third complained about low contrast between text and background.
Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox, October 3, 2005:
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