Fonts for Websites

Fonts used for web sites are limited to a small number of common fonts found on the majority of computers - fonts are not downloaded with a web pages, web pages use fonts on the visitors computer.

While a specific font is not necessarily installed on every computer, even those using the same operating system, some fonts are so common that they are safer to use than others. The most common serif typefaces are Times and Times New Roman. The most common sans serif typefaces are Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana. A variety of size parameters, letters spacing and line spacing can be adjusted and colour can be specified.

If you want to use a font that is not generally available then machines without that font will default to another font so you may not get the appearance you want so I recommend you use the commonly available fonts.

So the best approach, if you want to match up logos, print presentation and your website, is to limit the logo and print presentation to what can be done on the web.

If you really must have a certain font (perhaps to match your logo for headings on the page) the only reliable option is to have a graphic instead. This however is not to be recommended as it is detrimental to search engine rankings and creates Disability Accessibility issues.

Here are some examples of the common fonts used on web pages.