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Fonts Similar to Futura, and What to Do About a Font That Is Too Fat

By Clint Sanchez · Published · Updated · 5 min read

too fat font feat1080

Quick answer

A font looks too fat when its letters are heavier than the design needs, usually because of tight letter-spacing, an oversized point size, or a bold weight. Fix it by switching to a lighter weight, adding tracking with CSS letter-spacing, reducing the size, or choosing a thinner typeface such as Avenir, Helvetica Neue, or Futura. When you want weight on purpose, Poppins Bold, Montserrat, and Bebas Neue hold up well.

Key takeaways

  • The three usual causes of a font that looks too fat are tight letter-spacing, a font size that is too large, and a weight that is too bold.
  • Letter-spacing can be adjusted on a website with one line of CSS, for example p { letter-spacing: 5px; }.
  • Switching from bold to regular or light weight within the same family is often the quickest fix.
  • Avenir, Helvetica Neue, and Futura are well-spaced thin typefaces suited to projects where readability matters most.
  • Poppins is a geometric sans serif that stays clean all the way up to its Black weight, which makes it a reliable heavy heading font for the web.
  • Montserrat has a Futura-like modernist feel with a large x-height and works well for short all-caps headings.
  • A light gray shadow a few pixels outside the characters can beef up a thin font without changing the weight.

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Have you ever selected a font that was just too fat for your project?

If so, you’re not alone. In fact, this is a common problem that many people face when choosing a font. But don’t worry-we’re here to help!

In this post, we’ll discuss the problem’s causes and solutions you can use to fix it. We’ll also provide examples of good and bad fonts so you can see the difference for yourself.

So, without further ado, let’s get started! But first, we think Shelia hit the nail on the head.

The Problem- Too Fat Fonts

One of the most common problems with fonts is that they can be too fat. This means the letters are thicker than they should be and take up more space than needed. As a result, the text can be challenging to read and look cluttered.

There are several reasons why this problem might occur. Most of the time, it’s simply a matter of choosing the wrong font.

The good news?

There are solutions to this problem! But before we get to that, let’s look at some common causes of too-fat fonts.

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Causes of the Problem

One of the most common causes of too-fat fonts is that the letters are not well-spaced. This means that there is not enough space between the letters, which causes them to appear closer together. As a result, the text can look cluttered and be challenging to read.

Another common cause of too-fat fonts is that the font size is too large. This might seem like an obvious problem, but it’s actually quite common. People often choose a font size that is too large for their project, making the text appear fat and difficult to read.

The last common cause of too-fat fonts is that the font itself is too bold. This means the letters are thicker than they should be, making the text appear fat.

Solutions to the Problem

Now that we’ve discussed some common causes of too-fat fonts, let’s look at some solutions to the problem.

Choose a different font.

One solution is to choose a different font. If you find that the font you’re using makes your text hard to read, try selecting a different one. Many thin fonts are available that will not make your text illegible.

tracking typography explained
tracking typography explained

Increase the spacing between the letters.

Another solution is to increase the spacing between the letters. This can be done in your word processor by selecting the “tracking” or “letter-spacing” option. Since we’re a digital marketing agency, we have to tell you how to do it on your website too.

Most content management systems (CMS) have a way to add custom CSS. This is what you’ll use to increase the spacing between the letters. For example, the following CSS would increase the spacing by 5px:

p { letter-spacing: 5px; }

Change the font size.

If you find that your font size is too large, you can simply change it. Try selecting a smaller font size and see if that makes a difference

.

Use a different weight.

examples of different font weights
examples of different font weights

Finally, if you find that your font is too bold, you can try using a different weight. For example, instead of using the “bold” weight, you could use the “light” weight.

Here’s a trick, if you have to use a thin font but want to beef it up a little, consider adding some shadow. A light gray shadow a few pixels outside of the characters can really make it “pop.”

Examples of Good, Thin Fonts

Now that we’ve discussed some solutions to the problem let’s look at some examples of good, thin fonts. These fonts will not make your text appear fat and are perfect for use in projects where readability is essential.

avenir font not too fat
avenir font not too fat

Avenir

Avenir is a thin font that is perfect for use in projects where readability is essential. The letters are well-spaced, and the font size is just right.

helvetica neue font not too fat
helvetica neue font not too fat

Helvetica Neue

Helvetica Neue is another thin font that is perfect for use in projects where readability is important. Like Avenir, the letters are well-spaced, and the font size is just right.

futura font family not too fat
futura font family not too fat

Futura

Futura is a thin font that has been around for many years. It’s perfect for use in projects where readability is essential. The letters are well-spaced and modern-looking.

The three usual causes of a font that looks too fat are tight letter-spacing, a font size that is too large, and a weight that is too bold.

Examples of Good, Fat Fonts

Now, let’s look at some examples of good, fat fonts. These fonts will make your text appear fat, but they can be used in projects where readability is not as important.

poppins font family not too bold
poppins font family not too bold

Poppins Bold

This is one of our favorite fonts around. Poppins is a popular typeface for creating websites, and it’s one of the Geometric sans serifs. With optical adjustments made to stroke joints necessary to maintain an even typographic color, each letterform is nearly monolinear.

In other words, Poppins Bold is incredible and perfectly suited for web projects that require a little more weight. Plus, you can go all of the way up to Poppins Black, and it’ll still look great!

montserrat font family not too fat
montserrat font family not too fat

Montserrat

Montserrat is one of our favorite typefaces. It has a modernist feel similar to Futura but feels less formal. Montserrat is perfect for short pieces that are all caps and have geometric simplicity to the letters. Montserrat is also a nice typeface with a large x-height and plenty of personality compared to Arial or Helvetica.

bebas neue font not too fat
bebas neue font not too fat

Bebas Neue

Bebas Neue is an all-caps condensed face built for headlines and short labels, not body copy. The letters are well-spaced and it holds up at large sizes, but set a paragraph in it and readers will bail.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference when it comes to choosing the right font for your project. However, if you follow the tips in this article, you should be able to find a font that is perfect for your needs! Thanks for reading!

What are your go-to fonts? Let us know in the comments below!

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About the author

Clint Sanchez, founder of BlakSheep Creative

Clint Sanchez

Founder & Lead Developer · Denham Springs, LA

Clint has built and marketed websites for 26 years, since founding BlakSheep Creative in 2000. He is also a 29-year firefighter and a 23-year member of IAFF Local 557, which is where the bias toward plain answers over sales copy comes from.

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Common Questions About Futura and Similar Fonts

Short answers to the questions that come up most on this topic.

What fonts are similar to Futura?
Avenir and Montserrat are the closest matches in the post. Avenir was designed as a more humanist take on geometric faces like Futura, and Montserrat has the same modernist, geometric feel with a less formal tone and a larger x-height. Helvetica Neue is a clean alternative when you want neutral rather than geometric.
How do I make a font look thinner without changing it?
Use a lighter weight from the same family, reduce the point size, and increase the letter-spacing so the characters have room to breathe. On a website, tracking is set with the CSS letter-spacing property. Any of these on their own can fix a heading that looks heavy; together they usually solve it.
How do I add letter-spacing on a WordPress site?
Most content management systems have a place to add custom CSS. Add a rule such as p { letter-spacing: 5px; } to widen the spacing for paragraph text, or target a heading tag instead. Adjust the pixel value until the letters no longer look crowded, then check it on a phone.
Is a bold font ever the right choice?
Yes, when the design calls for weight and readability at small sizes is not the priority, such as short headlines and posters. Poppins Bold, Montserrat, and Bebas Neue are well-spaced heavy typefaces that stay clean. The problem is bold used everywhere, especially in long body text.
How can I make a thin font stand up better?
Add a light gray drop shadow set a few pixels outside the characters. It gives thin letterforms more presence without switching to a heavier weight, which is useful when brand guidelines require a light typeface but a heading needs to carry more visual weight on the page.

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