What are the best fonts for name badges?

The best fonts for name badges are clean sans-serif typefaces such as Helvetica, Arial, Futura, or Open Sans, which stay legible at small sizes and from a distance. Decorative script and very thin fonts are harder to read on a small badge.

Why sans-serif?

Sans-serif letters have even stroke widths and open shapes that hold up when printed small or read quickly across a room. High contrast between the text and the background matters even more than the exact typeface, so dark text on a light badge, or the reverse, reads best.

How should you weight the type?

Set the name in a bold or medium weight as the largest element, then the title and company in a lighter or smaller weight so the hierarchy is clear at a glance. Limit a badge to one or two typefaces for a clean look.

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