The best e-book fonts are easy on the eyes, so readers can stay engaged for a long time. They should also be compatible with PDF, EPUB, and Kindle formats, since these are the typical options for e-books.
Follow along as we explain the characteristics of a good e-book font and introduce you to the top serif and sans-serif ones. Also, we will provide formatting tips, including common pitfalls to avoid, to help you create the best e-book.
What Makes a Good E-Book Font?
A good e-book font allows readers to enjoy every page with ease, and to do that, it has to be:
- Readable on screens. E-book font readability is perhaps the most important characteristic to consider. A font that is too cluttered or confusing and makes it difficult to read what’s on a page defeats the whole purpose of an e-book.
- Compatible with eReaders and PDF devices. E-books are typically viewed on eReaders and PDF devices; therefore, their content’s fonts need to be compatible. If they cannot be rendered properly, readers will encounter PDF missing text issues and choose a different e-book.
- Properly licensed. E-books require fonts that are properly licensed for digital use; a font license allows embedding in ePub, PDF format, and other electronic formats. Without the right permissions, you risk copyright infringement; so, when in doubt, it is best to choose fonts with open licenses.
What Are the Best Fonts to Use in E-Books?
Here are 9 best e-book fonts to use. These fonts improve readability and are compatible with most eReaders and PDF devices.
#1. Palatino
Palatino is an old-style serif font that has gently tapered strokes mirroring the motion of a broad-nib pen. With a large x-height, it is easy to read even at small sizes. This font is widely used in fine printing and publishing, particularly in books, periodicals, and catalogs.
Furthermore, it is included in many operating systems and software packages, like Microsoft Office and macOS, making it an accessible choice.
#2. Garamond
Garamond is another classic serif font with soft bracketed serifs that resemble calligraphy and give it a refined look. It is easy to read thanks to its balanced shaping. Even though the thin strokes may look lighter on low-resolution screens, on modern e-readers or tablets, they look clean.
#3. Georgia
Georgia is one of the best serif fonts for e-books because it has strong, sturdy strokes along with wider and chunkier letters that improve readability.
Additionally, Georgia is designed to stay sharp on screens, so it looks nice even on older or lower-resolution displays. In long reading sessions, when clarity matters most, Georgia is the go-to font.
#4. Helvetica
Helvetica is a sans-serif font loved for its clean design. It is gentle on the eyes, reducing reader fatigue, and works well for captions and labels if your content includes charts and diagrams.
Furthermore, it is clear on screens, and it feels calm, making it ideal for e-books. It is also widely available and familiar to most readers, which gives it a sense of trust.
#5. Verdana
Verdana is one of the best sans-serif fonts for e-books due to large letters, which reduce eye strain. Even with longer paragraphs, Verdana does not feel crowded since it has generous spacing between letters.
While this means that you will not be able to squeeze as many words on a page, it minimizes misinterpretation; you can choose it for academic e-books.
#6. Literata
Literata is a serif font whose lowercase letters have a lower x-height and higher ascenders, adding airy line spacing and improving readability on screen. It was made for Google Play Books and a top pick for continuous reading.
Literata is featured on more than 49,500 websites, according to Google Fonts. This shows how popular and trusted it is for e-books, websites, and PDFs optimized for web use.
Moreover, Literata is an open-source e-book font under the SIL Open Font License v1.1 and supports extensive scripts, including Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, Vietnamese, etc. It is a versatile choice for multilingual e-books and global audiences.
#7. Bookerly
Bookerly is among the most readable fonts for e-books, created by Amazon specifically for Kindle devices.
Bookerly's strokes have moderate contrast, which helps keep each letter distinct on screens. At the same time, it scales beautifully at any font size and helps avoid awkward spacing in justified text. You do not need to license or embed this font for Kindle e-books; readers can simply select it in their font settings.
#8. Arial
Arial is a font that has been everywhere for decades; it is common for legal and medical documents, but also works well for e-books. It has clean lines with mostly-even strokes, giving it a balanced look.
Arial letters are a bit wider and rounder than Helvetica, which makes them feel a little more approachable on screens. You can use it for short and long text, as well as headings. Arial is pre-installed on Windows, Mac, and many e-readers, so you will rarely have to worry about compatibility.
#9. Cambria
Cambria is one of the best fonts for legal documents, but it is good for e-books as well. It is a serif font with strong, sturdy shapes and clear letterforms; every character stands out even at small sizes.
As part of Microsoft’s ClearType Font Collection for screen reading, Cambria makes long passages of text easier on the eyes. It has thicker verticals and thinner horizontals; however, it does not feel cramped thanks to open counters. You can use it for e-books that need a professional and polished look.
What’s the Right Font Size and Formatting for E-Books?
The right font size and formatting make your e-book feel professional and comfortable to read.
Here are the recommended sizes, spacing, margins, and styling tips to keep in mind:
| Element | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Font size | 12 points for body text 18 points for headings 10-11 points for footnotes and captions |
| Line spacing | 1 to 1.5 times for body text Headings should be slightly tighter, but not so narrow that letters touch. |
| Margins and paragraph spacing | Uniform margins; at least 0.5 inches 0.5 to 1 line height gap for paragraph spacing 0.3 inches for indentations |
| Section headers and numbering conventions | Main headings should be bolded and larger. Subheadings should be the liter stroke weight and size. Use 2 to 3 heading levels only. Use Roman or Arabic numerals, but choose only one type. Add page numbers and a clickable table of content, however, make sure you have rearranged your pages properly beforehand. |
| Bold and italic styles | Use bold style for terms, calls to action, or section titles. Use italic style for foreign words, book titles, or subtle emphasis. Don’t overuse either; prioritize clarity. Stay consistent. |
Which Font & Style Mistakes to Avoid in E-Books?
Font and style mistakes can negatively affect your content, even if you have chosen the best fonts for e-books. Here’s what you should avoid when making your PDF e-book:
#1. Script or Decorative Fonts
Script and decorative fonts look appealing, but they are not suitable for body text. Script fonts often have elaborate swirls that blur together at smaller sizes.
Meanwhile, decorative fonts can feel unprofessional and distract from your content. Thus, they are both extremely difficult to read in long passages on screens.
These are some of the fonts you should avoid:
- Amatic SC
- Calistoga
- Carettere
- Caveat
- Comic Sans
- Delius
- Lobster
- Pacifico
- Praise
#2. Fonts Not Embedded or Supported on All Devices
Fonts that are not embedded or supported on all devices may cause PDF missing text issues. Otherwise, their systems may substitute them with a default font that ruins your layout or display them as random symbols. Usually, these are custom fonts that you download yourself.
To ensure the fonts you have chosen can be embedded and supported, follow these general steps:
- Check the fonts’ EULA (End User License Agreement). This will state whether embedding fonts in PDFs, e-books, or apps is allowed; if you do not have the licenses, you legally cannot embed them. Look for sections about "electronic document embedding," "PDF embedding," or "digital publishing". Some licenses specify conditions like "may be embedded in electronic documents for non-commercial use only."
- Check the embedding statuses with your e-book creation software. If not included in the EPUB package, your fonts are not embedded in PDFs yet.
- Test on multiple devices and apps. After you export your e-book, open it in a dedicated reader and see if the fonts display consistently. If your PDF won’t open, try to disable temporary ad blockers and reconnect to the Internet.
#3. Inconsistent Font Sizes and Styles
Inconsistent font sizes and styles can cause your e-book to look amateurish. Do not use more than two or three font size and style combinations: one for body text, one for headings, and one for captions or side notes. Mixing too many options will distract readers and make your content feel cluttered.
#4. Ignoring Contrast and Background Colors
Ignoring contrast and background colors makes reading difficult and causes eye strain, especially in long passages. You should avoid low-contrast text, like light gray on a white background or bright colors that clash.
Instead, stick to high-contrast combinations, like dark text on a light background, to keep your e-book readable. You may also want to check how your content looks in light and dark mode, since many e-readers allow users to switch between them.
How PDF.net Helps You Create Aesthetic E-Books
PDF.net makes designing polished, professional PDF e-books simple from start to finish. You can convert Word documents to PDFs instantly, so you never have to start from scratch.
Once imported, the intuitive, browser-based editor lets you change fonts, spacing, and margins to create a clean reading experience. You can also rearrange, rotate, merge, or split pages to fine-tune your layout. When everything looks perfect, export an e-book ready for your audience on any device.
Final Thoughts
The best e-book fonts are readable, professional, and compatible with e-readers and PDF devices. If you prefer sans-serif fonts, Helvetica, Verdana, and Arial are excellent options. For serif fonts, consider Palatino, Garamond, Georgia, Literata, and Bookerly.
Avoid script or decorative fonts that can cause eye strain and distraction, and be careful with your font sizes, spacing, margins, and styling. It is also worth previewing your e-book on multiple screens and modes before publishing. With the right approach, you can craft e-books that keep your audience engaged from the first page to the last!
Best Fonts for E-Books FAQs
#1. Which font style is best for reading?
The best font style for reading is one that is clear and clean, with balanced letterforms that guide the eye easily across each line. It should also have generous spacing to avoid eye strain.
#2. What is the best font for digital publishing?
The best font for digital publishing is professional, readable, and properly licensed. Bookerly is excellent for Kindle, while Literata is preferred for Google Play Books. Arial, Helvetica, and Georgia also work well because they have clean lines and render consistently.
#3. Are serif or sans-serif fonts better for E-Books?
Serif fonts are generally better for long-form reading because their small strokes guide the eye along lines of text. However, sans-serif fonts are still popular with many readers thanks to their clean designs.
#4. What’s the best font for a children’s book?
The best font for a children’s book is one that is easy for children to recognize and follow line by line. You should consider a large, rounded sans-serif font, which feels more friendly.
#5. Do fonts affect the file size of a PDF?
Fonts do affect the file size of a PDF during the embedding process. If you want to keep your PDF lightweight, limit the number of fonts embedded in your PDF. You can also use PDF.net to further compress your file.