The font you choose can either invite users into your content or push them away. For individuals with visual, cognitive, or reading disabilities, the right font can make the difference between an inclusive experience and one that excludes it.
In this blog, we’ll explore the best fonts for accessibility, covering ideal typefaces, font sizes, and colours. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to create content that is both readable and inclusive for all.
Not every font is created with accessibility in mind. Some fonts can make text harder to read, especially for individuals with visual, cognitive, or reading disabilities.
An accessible font should be clear, easy to read, and adaptable to diverse user needs. With this in mind, here are the key properties of accessible fonts:
This is not an exhaustive list of properties. There are additional factors to consider when choosing an accessible font, but including them here might make things overly complex. For more details, read WebAIM’s guide on typefaces and fonts.
TL;DR: Best accessible fonts
In our opinion, the best fonts for accessibility are Arial, Atkinson Hyperlegible, Roboto, and Helvetica.
OpenDyslexic is specifically designed to assist individuals with dyslexia by improving readability. Its letters have heavier bottoms, providing a sense of stability and reducing letter flipping or rotation.
That said, many dyslexic individuals on Reddit have expressed that they don’t find OpenDyslexic ideal. Instead, they tend to prefer standard fonts such as Roboto, Arial, Montserrat, or Times New Roman.
If your website is specifically targeted at individuals with dyslexia, you can use OpenDyslexic or other dyslexia-friendly fonts mentioned above. However, if your audience includes all kinds of users, it’s better to avoid OpenDyslexic.
Sans serif fonts are widely recognised as the most accessible font category and are suitable for diverse audiences. Their clean, uncluttered design and uniform stroke width enhance readability, especially on digital screens.
Common sans serif fonts include Arial, Verdana, Roboto, and Helvetica. W3C, the authority on web accessibility, uses a Sans-serif font stack with Verdana, Arial, and Helvetica as primary options.
If you’re looking for an accessible font that accommodates a wide range of disabilities, consider one of the sans serif fonts listed here. We recommend Arial or Helvetica for their versatility and readability.
Lexend is a sans-serif font family specifically designed to improve reading speed and reduce visual stress. It was developed with cognitive accessibility in mind, making it an excellent choice for individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, or other reading difficulties.
The font’s expanded letter and word spacing reduce crowding and improve clarity. Its clean, minimalistic design ensures it remains easy to read without being overwhelming, making it versatile for both digital and print formats.
Atkinson Hyperlegible is a unique font designed by the Braille Institute to enhance readability for individuals with visual impairments. Unlike traditional fonts, it focuses on maximising character distinction, making it easier to differentiate similar letters.
While it is primarily a sans-serif font, it includes some subtle serifs or stylistic elements on certain characters to enhance differentiation and readability. This hybrid approach helps users with visual impairments easily distinguish between similar letters.
Dyslexic users appreciate it. Its blend of sans serif with subtle serif elements appeals to a wide audience. Users with vision impairments find it effective. People with reading difficulties also find it helpful. This versatility makes it one of the best accessible fonts.
Georgia is one of the most accessible serif fonts, designed to ensure readability across both digital and print formats. Its larger x-height, clear letterforms, and generous spacing make it easier to read, even at smaller sizes.
This font is particularly beneficial for individuals with mild visual impairments or those who prefer serif fonts for long-form reading. Some dyslexic individuals on Reddit have reported liking Georgia as well, making it a good option for certain users.
Note:
Font choice is not a WCAG success criterion, so it won’t make your website non-compliant with EAA or ADA standards. However, accessible fonts improves the user experience and show you care about creating an inclusive website.
A good starting point is 16px (12pt) for regular body text – it strikes a nice balance between readability and usability. For larger text, such as headings or emphasised content, 24px (18pt) is typically recommended as a minimum to ensure clarity.
Note that WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) do not impose a minimum size or colours for texts. However, WCAG emphasises that all text should be scalable up to 200% using standard browser features without loss of content or functionality.
Tip:
Using fixed sizes in pixels for some text blocks can sometimes cause issues, like truncated text or loss of information. To avoid this, it’s better to use relative units like %, em, or rem, which adapt more flexibly to different screen sizes and user preferences.
You can test the text size enlargement using the method provided at a11y-guidelines.orange.com.
For font colours, the best practice is to use dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background. This combination maximises readability for most users. For example, black or dark grey text on a white background works well.
When it comes to contrast, WCAG recommends the following ratios:
To ensure your text meets these guidelines, use tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker or browser extensions to test your font and background combinations. These tools can help you quickly identify issues and adjust your design to meet accessibility standards.
The best way to determine which font works for your audience is to ask them, particularly users with disabilities. Tools can help you test contrast and scalability, but they can’t identify the most suitable font for your specific users.
Conduct polls or usability tests with your audience, focusing on disabled users to understand their preferences and needs. This direct feedback ensures you choose fonts that create the most accessible and inclusive experience.
Choosing an accessible font is a great first step toward creating an inclusive website, but it’s just the beginning. True inclusivity means ensuring that every part of your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
If you’re unsure how accessible your website is or want to identify barriers that may exclude disabled users, we recommend running a free accessibility audit with WebYes. Discover the issues holding your site back and take actionable steps toward making it inclusive for everyone.
Article by
Melwyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has been writing professionally for over 4 years. He has a strong background in SEO and is certified in web accessibility from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). When he's not writing about website optimisation, you can find him enjoying a game of FIFA or exploring the open world of GTA.
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