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The Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Fonts for Outdoor Signs

Unifab Signs • September 29, 2022

Thinking about placing new outdoor signs near your business to showcase your brand or to advertise specials/upcoming events? It’s a great way to attract attention from potential customers, but it’s also challenging (in a good way) because there are heaps of font options to pick from.


With so many different sign font options available, how can you be sure to choose the best one for your needs? You can either search online or consult with experts that offer signs services. Here are a few tips to get you started:

What’s So Important About Fonts?

Fonts are extremely important for outdoor signs because they need to be legible from a distance. You want potential customers to be able to read your sign, so choosing the right font is essential. In addition, different fonts can convey different messages. For example, a more formal font may be best for business signs, while a fun, casual font may be better for event signs.

How Do You Pick the Right Font for Your Sign?

There are several factors to consider when choosing a font for your outdoor signage:

1. Consider Your Sign’s Purpose

Before you begin considering different sign font options, it’s important to think about the purpose of your signage. What do you want it to say? How will people be viewing it? Are you trying to attract attention from a distance or up close?


Answering these questions will help you narrow down your font options and find something that works well for your sign’s purpose.

2. Think About Visibility

When people are viewing your signage from a distance, you want to make sure they can easily read it. That means choosing a font that’s large enough to be legible and avoiding anything too fancy or difficult to read. In general, sans-serif fonts are the best option for outdoor signs because they’re simple and easy to read.

3. Consider Your Sign’s Materials

The material your signage is made from will also affect the font you choose. For example, if you’re using a metal signage, you may want to choose a font with thin strokes so the letters don’t appear too heavy. On the other hand, if you’re using a wooden signage, you may want to choose a thicker font so it’s easier to read.

4. Pick a Contrasting Colour

When choosing font colour, it’s important to pick something that will contrast well with the background of your signage. For example, if your signage is white, you may want to choose a dark-coloured font so it’s easy to read. Conversely, if your signage is black, you may want to choose a light-coloured font.

5. Test It Out

Once you’ve narrowed down your font options, it’s time to test them out. Print out different versions of your signage using each font and see how they look from a distance. This will help you determine which font is best for your needs.


Choosing a great font for your outdoor signage is essential to ensure it’s legible and attracts people’s attention. By considering your sign’s purpose, visibility, and material, you can narrow down your options and find the perfect font.

What to Look for When Choosing a Font

When it comes to choosing fonts for your outdoor signs, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. First, consider the overall look you're going for with your signage. Are you looking for something that's modern and sleek? Or something more traditional? The font you choose should match the style of your signage.

Legibility

This is perhaps the most important factor to consider when choosing a font for your outdoor signage. After all, what's the point of having a sign if no one can read it? When it comes to legibility, you'll want to make sure the font you choose is large enough to be seen from a distance. And, you'll also want to make sure that the font itself is easy to read. Avoid using decorative fonts that are difficult to decipher.

Simplicity

Another important factor in choosing a font for your outdoor sign is simplicity. You want your sign to be easy to read and understand at a glance. That means avoiding overly complicated or busy fonts. Stick with simple, clean fonts that convey your message clearly.

7 Top Font Styles for Outdoor Signs

Now that you know what to look for in an outdoor sign font, it’s time to check out some of the best font choices. These fonts are all perfect for outdoor signs and will likely remain legible for years to come.

1. Arial

A classic sans-serif font, Arial is a great choice for any outdoor sign. It's clean and legible, making it easy for people to read from a distance.

2. Helvetica

Another popular sans-serif font, Helvetica is similar to Arial in terms of legibility. Helvetica is one of the most commonly used fonts for outdoor signage. It’s easy to read and has a clean, simple aesthetic. It's a great choice for any outdoor sign that needs to be readable from a distance.

3. Gill Sans

Gill Sans fonts are classic sans serif fonts that are perfect for any outdoor sign. It's easy to read, even from a distance, and has a timeless look.

4. Futura

If you want bold fonts for your outdoor sign, then Futura is an excellent choice. This is a great font choice for signs that want to appear classic.

5. Garamond

Garamond is a classic serif font that's perfect for any traditional outdoor sign. It's easy to read and has a timeless look.

6. Myriad

Myriad is a versatile sans-serif font that's perfect for any outdoor sign. It's clean and legible, making it an ideal choice for any business.

7. Baskerville

Baskerville is a classic serif font that's perfect for any outdoor sign. This vintage display font has a modern feel, but it’s also simple and easy to read. It’s perfect for signs that want to appear classy but also modern.

Additional Tips for Picking the Best Fonts for Your Sign

Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when choosing fonts for your sign:

  • Choose a font with letters that aren’t too wide or too narrow.
  • Avoid using trendy fonts or script fonts. While these display fonts are certainly trendy, they’re often difficult to read. Instead, choose a font that will be appropriate for your sign for years to come.
  • Select a font that complements your brand.
  • Consider the overall message you want your sign to convey. The font you choose should match the tone of your message.
  • If you want people to be able to read your sign from a distance, make sure the font is perfect for large format signs.
  • If you're unsure which font to choose, go with a classic sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica.

Design the Perfect Sign For Your Business With Unifab

Now that you know everything about choosing the best fonts for signs, it's time to get started on your sign design! Unifab Signs is here to help. We're a leading signage company with over 25 years of experience in the industry. We specialise in creating high-quality, custom signs for businesses of all types.


Contact us today to get started on your custom sign design. We'll work with you to create a sign that's perfect for your business, and we'll make sure it's readable, attractive, and within your budget.

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    If you need high-quality signage for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch!


    CONTACT US

We hope you find this blog post useful.

If you need high-quality signage for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

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