Below is Our List of the Best Fonts for Books!
When it comes to book formatting, one of the biggest decisions we have to make is about the fonts for books we choose.
There is a lot to consider, and each formatter will have their preferences for what they like to use. There are classic fonts that almost all formatters will use consistently, but when it comes to the main chapter headings and body text, we need to look at various things.
For example, the genre of the book, target audience (younger vs. older generations), etc.
We are going to give you our top 5 fonts for headings and body text. We are also going to throw in a few of our most popular fonts.
Heading Fonts
The fonts we chose for this category range from serif to sans serif to script. There is always a time and place for these fonts. Genres play a huge part in this process. Some fonts can be used in any genre, while other fonts would look off or out of place. We also play with the font sizes, as an increase or decrease can dramatically change the look and feel of the book.
- Trajan Pro (serif)
- Bebas Neue (sans serif)
- Oranienbaum (serif)
- Source Sans Pro (sans serif)
- Lucida Calligraphy (script)
Body Fonts
When choosing body text, you have to think like a reader. Is it hard to read? Too small? Too large? Picking the wrong font can make a book impossible to read for some readers. Serif fonts are the most popular type of font used for books, but there is always room for sans serif fonts. Caution: Sans serif fonts tend to be harder to read for longer periods of time, whereas serif seems to be easier on the eye.
A few examples of where you could use it are cookbooks, short non-fiction books, and children’s books.
- Adobe Garamond Pro (Garamond Family) (serif)
- Baskerville (serif)
- Palatino (serif)
- Bodoni (serif)
- Helvetica (sans-serif)
Other Favourite Fonts
These are some more of our favorite fonts that don’t get used as much, but when a book comes along, you just know that one of these will work. These are for all those special areas or even headings, depending on what the book calls for.
- Futura
- Sketchnote Text
- Rieven Uncial
- Castellar
- Dakota
Best Fonts for Books | Conclusion
Remember, when you’re getting your book formatted, you have the final say. So, if you don’t like the font being used, ask for something different and we can explore alternatives with you. We will always give you our opinion as professionals, but when it comes to the final product, as the author, we want you to be 100% happy. Afterall, fonts are used to bring your book to life. Please remember, you hired us for a reason, so if we don’t think a font will work well for your book, we will tell you.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, or uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark Publishing, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and children’s book formatting services.
Our experienced and professional self-publishing team is standing by to assist you with your self-publishing dreams. Do you have any additional writing or self-publishing questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly. One of our friendly and professional team members will get back to you ASAP!
For authors still considering which self-publishing platform suits them as a Canadian author, read The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
If you have any questions or comments about which fonts would be best for your book, please comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them or point you in the right direction.
