Choosing the Right Font For Your PowerPoint Presentation

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at:

• The different styles of fonts
• The 5 most popular fonts
• How to embed fonts, and more.

What are the different styles of fonts? Before we get too deep into each font and what looks best, let’s examine font styles and how they’re classified.

• Sans-serif fonts. Most serif fonts are easy to identify because of the tiny flags or projections on the ends of the characters. Serifs make distinguishing a lowercase L from a capital I in print easy.
• Serif fonts. Sans-serif fonts are commonly used in digital media because serifs can make letters difficult to see if an image or screen is low-resolution.
• Script fonts. Script fonts are also known as handwritten fonts because of the looping letters that make them look like cursive or calligraphy. Most people find it difficult to read more than a few sentences in a script font, so they’re best limited to a few words or a single phrase.
• Monospaced fonts. Even when writing by hand, you’ll notice that not all letters take up the same amount of space. Monospaced fonts buck this trend by allotting the same amount of space laterally for all letters, similar to a typewriter.
• Display fonts. Display fonts can also known as fantasy or decorative fonts. These aren’t typically use for anything besides signage, banners, logos, or other text that’s isolated. Using display fonts for multiple sentences or a full paragraph isn’t a good practice because they can be hard to read or off-putting after a while.

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What are the 5 most popular fonts in presentations and why? A common theme you’ll notice when looking at the best fonts for PowerPoint is that they’re traditionally sans-serif fonts. Why? Well, this style is much easier to read from a distance and won’t feel cramped if letters are bolded. Additionally, the minimalistic style of sans-serif fonts isn’t distracting from the material or the speaker. Let’s look at five fonts that fit the best practices for a winning presentation.

Note: You’ll notice a serif font on this list, but we’ll address it when we get there.

• Verdana: Despite the font size you choose, not all fonts display the same. Verdana is a larger sans-serif font that can make it easier to display information without taking your font up an extra size.
• Tahoma: Tahoma is different from the previous sans-serif font in that it’s thinner than the others. While Tahoma might not have the same impact for a heading or title as Verdana, it’s perfect for body text and fitting into smaller spaces without crowding.
• Palatino Linotype: Serif fonts have long been considered a no-no with digital publications, but with the advent of high-resolution computer monitors, tablets, smartphones, and TVs, they’re fine. What’s more, the serifs on Palatino Linotype aren’t incredibly prominent, so they make for a subtle nod to old-style fonts without over-embellishing.
• Arial:This clean and crisp sans- serif PowerPoint font is a classic choice. Count on this contemporary font to take the body text or headers in your presentation to the next level with its simplicity and easy readability.
• Calibri:Calibri is another sans- serif font that will look super clean in your PowerPoint. This modern typeface is known for its rounded corners and for being easy-to-read on computer screens.

How do you embed fonts in PowerPoint? If you use a custom font in your presentation that doesn’t come built into PowerPoint, you might want to embed it. That’s because if you send your file to a friend, classmate, or colleague who doesn’t have the same font, it may not transfer properly to their device. There could be formatting errors as their device defaults to a different font. Keep this from happening by embedding your custom font in PowerPoint using these easy steps:

1. Select the “File” tab.
2. Move down to the lower-lefthand corner of the window and select “Options.”
3. Select “Save” on the left side of the screen.
4. Scroll down to the section titled “Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation:”
5. Select the box next to “Embed fonts in the file.”
6. If you or someone else will be using the presentation on a different device, then select the first option, “Embed only the characters used in the presentation (best for reducing file size).” If you or someone else will be editing the presentation on a different device, then select the second option, “Embed all characters (best for editing by other people).”
7. Select “OK.”

There you have it! Choosing the best font for PowerPoint doesn’t have to be difficult. The most important part is making sure that the font is easy to read, and sans-serif fonts are usually a good way to go. By the way, it’s always a good idea to get a second set of eyes on your presentation before your big speech—and be sure to practice it a few times to iron out the kinks!