Fonts by use

Free poster fonts with real impact

A poster is read in two seconds from across a room, so the headline face carries the message. This collection favours heavy weights, condensed widths that fit long titles on one line, and display styles with enough character to set a mood: retro for gigs and festivals, geometric for tech and exhibitions, brush faces for anything with energy.

All fonts are free to download for Windows and Mac. Check each ZIP for the license before using a font on a poster you sell or print at volume.

hand-picked fonts
24
download, no signup
Free
Windows & Mac
TTF / OTF
Free fonts for t-shirts, hoodies and merchFree fonts for book covers and titlesFree tattoo fonts and letteringAll uses

24 fonts for posters

Ranked by fit for this use, then by popularity. Every font has a preview page and a free download.

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Poster typography that works at a distance

Set the headline at a size that fills the width, then limit the rest to one supporting face. Condensed fonts let you go bigger without wrapping; tracking out a bold uppercase headline by 2–5% improves legibility at scale. Keep at least three sizes of contrast: headline, subhead, details. Print a letter-size proof and view it from four metres; if the title is not instantly readable, go heavier.

Questions about fonts for posters

What is the best font size for a poster headline?
For an A3 or 11×17 poster, headlines start around 72 pt and often run to 150 pt or more. The rule is simple: the title should read at three to four metres.
Should I use more than one font on a poster?
Two is plenty: a display face for the headline and a neutral sans or serif for dates, venue and small print. A third font only adds noise.
Are these fonts free for printed event posters?
Downloading is free; printing posters for your own event is personal use for most licenses. Commercial print runs or client work need the commercial terms in the ZIP.
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