What is the Futura® font?
First presented by the Bauer Type Foundry in 1928, Futura is commonly considered the major typeface development to come out of the Constructivist orientation of the Bauhaus movement in Germany.
Paul Renner (type designer, painter, author and teacher) sketched the original drawings and based them loosely on the simple forms of circle, triangle and square. The design office at Bauer assisted him in turning these geometric forms into a sturdy, functioning type family, and over time, Renner made changes to make the Futura fonts even more legible.
Futura’s long ascenders and descenders benefit from generous line spacing. The range of weights and styles make it a versatile family. Futura is timelessly modern; in 1928 it was striking, tasteful, radical — and today it continues to be a popular typographic choice to express strength, elegance, and conceptual clarity.
Futura® Font families
The Futura® includes the following font families:
- Futura Light
- Futura Light Oblique
- Futura Book
- Futura Book Oblique
- Futura Medium
- Futura Medium Oblique
- Futura Bold
- Futura Bold Oblique
- Futura Heavy
- Futura Heavy Oblique
- Futura Extra Bold
- Futura Extra Bold Oblique
- Futura Light Condensed
- Futura Light Condensed Oblique
- Futura Medium Condensed
- Futura Medium Condensed Oblique
- Futura Bold Condensed
- Futura Bold Condensed Oblique
- Futura Extra Bold Condensed
- Futura Extra Bold Condensed Oblique
- Futura Display
- Futura Black
Futura® Preview
Here is a preview of how Futura® will look. For more previews using your own text as an example, click here.
What Fonts Are Similar To Futura?
- Neutraface – Designed by Christian Schwartz for House Industries, Neutraface is a geometric sans-serif typeface inspired by the aesthetics of architect Richard Neutra. It shares Futura’s modernist style with a bit more of an architectural twist.
- Avenir – A typeface created by Adrian Frutiger, Avenir, which means “future” in French, is often compared to Futura due to its geometric shapes and clean lines, but it brings a bit more warmth and humanist touch to the characters.
- Brandon Grotesque – Designed by Hannes von Döhren, Brandon Grotesque is a sans-serif typeface with a geometric base similar to Futura but has friendlier, more open shapes that make it quite versatile.
- Gotham – A creation of Tobias Frere-Jones, Gotham is a geometric sans-serif that, while perhaps less strictly geometric than Futura, shares its modern, clean aesthetic and has a similar versatility.
- Bauhaus 93 – Deriving its inspiration from the universal Bauhaus design style like Futura, Bauhaus 93 is a decorative sans serif typeface with simple geometric forms and even strokes.
Futura Font Uses
Futura, with its clean, geometric shapes and modern aesthetic, is a versatile font that can be used effectively in many contexts. Here are a few specific uses for Futura:
- Logo Design: Futura’s distinct characters and modern feel have made it a popular choice for logo design. Famous brands like Domino’s, Louis Vuitton, and Volkswagen have all used Futura in their logos.
- Headlines & Titles: Due to its strong, geometric characters, Futura is excellent for headlines and titles in both print and digital media. It commands attention and provides clear readability.
- Advertising & Marketing Materials: Futura is often used in advertising and marketing for its modern and forward-looking aesthetic. Its clear, simple characters stand out in promotional materials, packaging, and advertisements.
- Web Design & User Interfaces: Futura’s high legibility and clean design make it a good choice for web design and user interface elements. Its variety of weights allows for versatile usage in different parts of a web page or application.
- Signage: Futura’s geometric simplicity and excellent legibility at different sizes make it suitable for signage, whether it’s for a business, road signs, or public spaces.