How to Pick the Right Font for Your Product Labels
Not sure which font to use on product labels? Learn how to choose readable, on-brand fonts that work at small sizes and across materials.
What is the best font for labels?
Quick answer: The best font for product labels is one that stays easy to read at small sizes, fits your brand personality, and prints clearly on your label material. Sans serif fonts are usually the most readable for body text, while serif or script fonts work best as accents when used sparingly.
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The fonts you choose for your product labels do more than display words—they set the tone for your brand, create a mood, and help connect with your customers. The right typography can make your product stand out, while the wrong choice can send mixed messages.
To help you make the best choice, the Avery design team put together some simple tips for picking the perfect font for your labels. Whether you’re ordering custom labels or printing them yourself, these tips will guide you in the right direction.
The difference between a typeface and a font
Short answer: A typeface is the overall design of a set of letters, while a font is a specific style or variation within that typeface, such as bold, italic, or light.
While “typeface” and “font” are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings. A typeface is the overall design of a set of characters, while a font refers to a specific variation within that typeface, such as weight, width, or style. For example, Times New Roman is a typeface, and Times New Roman Bold, Italic, or Light are fonts within it.
In the four images above, we showcase different styles of serif fonts to highlight the variety and versatility available for your labels. Understanding this difference helps you choose the right fonts for your labels.
Nine common typeface categories
The printable PDF guide below provides a visual overview of nine common typeface categories. Many of the fonts you see on product labels and in digital media today, fall into one of these typeface categories. Each category of typeface is explained in the sections that follow.
While typography can be broken into many subcategories, these nine provide a practical guide for choosing label fonts. Each has a distinct style and personality. Understanding these categories can help you make more intentional design choices and ensure your labels convey the right message.
Whether you want a sleek, modern look or something with a handcrafted, vintage feel, these categories offer a starting point for creating a cohesive brand identity.
Rounded serif fonts
Rounded serif fonts blend the classic structure of serif fonts with softer, rounded edges. This combination creates a friendly, approachable look while still feeling established and trustworthy. They’re often used by brands that want a retro, playful, or welcoming vibe and work well for packaging, signage, and creative projects where warmth and personality matter.
Serif fonts
Classic and traditional, serif fonts have small strokes (serifs) at the ends of letters, conveying trust and sophistication. They are often used for upscale or timeless brands and are popular in industries like publishing, luxury goods, and financial services.
Sans serif fonts
Clean and modern, sans serif fonts lack serifs, making them great for a sleek and minimalistic look. They’re commonly used for tech, beauty, and contemporary brands, offering a fresh and approachable feel that enhances readability, both in print and digital formats.
Slab serif fonts
Bold and sturdy, slab serif fonts have thick serifs that create a strong, confident impression. They work well for brands that want to feel dependable and durable, such as outdoor gear, industrial products, or bold packaging designs, adding a sense of strength and resilience.
Script fonts
Flowing and elegant, script fonts mimic handwriting and can range from formal to casual styles. They add a sense of luxury or creativity when used carefully, making them popular for wedding invitations, boutique packaging, and premium branding, but should be used sparingly for legibility.
Handwritten fonts
More relaxed and natural than script fonts, handwritten fonts add a personal, artisanal touch. They’re ideal for brands that want to feel friendly, organic, or handmade, commonly found in food packaging, stationery, and DIY products, conveying authenticity and warmth.
Monospace fonts
Evenly spaced letters give monospace fonts a technical or typewriter-style feel. These fonts are often associated with coding, retro aesthetics, or utilitarian designs, making them a great choice for modern tech brands and nostalgic branding, as well as easy-to-read labels in structured layouts.
Display fonts
Bold, decorative, and eye-catching, display fonts are designed for attention-grabbing headlines but not for small text. These fonts add personality and uniqueness to packaging, making them great for logos, event branding, and statement pieces, ensuring a brand stands out on shelves or online.
Blackletter fonts
Ornate and dramatic, blackletter fonts resemble old Gothic-style calligraphy, often used for vintage or traditional branding. They can add a historic or artisanal touch to your labels, commonly seen in brewery logos, formal invitations, and heritage brands, evoking craftsmanship and tradition.
Mixing fonts from different categories can create a dynamic and balanced look, but be careful not to overdo it—too many competing styles can make your label look cluttered.
Match your font to your brand’s personality
Key takeaway: The best label font reflects your brand’s personality, stays readable at small sizes, and appeals to the audience you’re trying to reach.
Your font should reflect your brand’s identity. Is your brand playful, sophisticated, or artisanal? Choose fonts that align with your brand’s tone and appeal to your target audience. Here are some quick tips:
- Know your audience – Pick fonts that resonate with your ideal customer.
- Pair wisely – Mix a decorative script or display font with a simple sans serif or serif font to keep things balanced.
- Prioritize legibility – Make sure your font is easy to read and meets any regulatory requirements for your product.
- Test different options – Try different fonts with your label design to see what works best.
Make sure the label fonts you select create the right impression for your brand. Once you get a feel for what your brand is all about, it’ll be easier to find the right font or combination of fonts. It may not pop out at you right away, so go through some options. Select a handful of fonts that might work, then narrow them down until you find what works for your products.
What font size should you use on product labels?
Quick answer: Label fonts should be large enough to read at arm’s length, with key information like product names and ingredients sized larger than decorative text.
Font size matters just as much as font style. Text that’s too small can be difficult to read, while text that’s too large can crowd your layout. Because different fonts have different proportions, there isn’t a single “correct” point size that works for every label. Instead, it’s important to test how your chosen fonts perform at common label sizes.
To help with this, the printable font size guides below show popular label fonts at multiple point sizes, colors, and background treatments.
Use these printable guides to evaluate font size and legibility before you print:
Accessibility note: The preview below is shown at a reduced size. For accurate comparison, download the printable PDF guides and view or print them at 100% scale.
Each guide displays fonts starting at smaller sizes and stepping up incrementally.
For example, in the Roboto and Pacifico guide, Roboto remains readable for body text at smaller sizes, while Pacifico becomes difficult to read much sooner due to its decorative script style.
The guides also include low-contrast examples, such as light text on a light background, to show how color and contrast affect readability.
When designing digital labels or e-commerce listings, keep in mind that fonts that look clear in print may not appear the same on screens. Font size, contrast, and resolution can all affect legibility across formats.
Consider accessibility and readability
Accessibility tip: Fonts that stay legible at small sizes, use strong contrast, and avoid overly decorative styles are the most accessible choices for product labels.
Accessible label design starts with choosing fonts that are easy to read for a wide range of users, including those with visual impairments. Keep these guidelines in mind:
- Choose sans serif fonts, like Roboto, for small text such as ingredients or instructions.
- Use high-contrast color combinations between text and background.
- Avoid thin, condensed, or highly decorative fonts for small sizes.
- Ensure adequate spacing between letters and lines to improve readability.
Testing your label design at actual size before printing in bulk can help you identify readability issues early and avoid costly reprints.
Test before you commit
Pro tip: Testing your label before printing in bulk helps you catch readability issues and avoid costly reprints.
Before finalizing your label design, do a test run. Avery offers free label templates and design tools so you can experiment with different fonts and layouts.
- Pick your label size and personalize a template.
- Play around with fonts and colors to see what works best.
- Print a test version on blank labels or regular paper to check how it looks in real life.
If you’re ordering professionally printed labels, consider printing a small batch first and getting feedback from friends, family, or customers before committing to a large order.
Make your products stand out
The right font can make all the difference in how your product is perceived. By choosing fonts that align with your brand and ensuring they’re legible and well-paired, you’ll create labels that not only look great but also help your product connect with customers. So go ahead—experiment, test, and find the perfect font combination to make your labels shine!
Ready to see how different fonts work on real labels? Start with a label design and customize the fonts, colors, and layout until it fits your brand.
