What Is a Serif Font? Meaning, Types and Examples
A serif font is a font whose letters have small extra strokes, called serifs, at the ends of their main lines. Look at the capital “T” in a font like Times New Roman: the little feet at the bottom and the tips on the crossbar are serifs.
Fonts without these strokes are called sans serif fonts. “Sans” is French for “without”, so sans serif simply means “without serifs”. Arial, Helvetica and Roboto are sans serif fonts.
Serif vs sans serif at a glance
- Serif fonts have small strokes at the ends of letters. They often feel classic, formal, literary or trustworthy. Examples: Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond, Baskerville.
- Sans serif fonts have clean line endings. They often feel modern, simple and neutral. Examples: Arial, Helvetica, Roboto, Montserrat.
Where do serifs come from?
Serifs are much older than computers. Letters carved in stone in ancient Rome already had them, and they became part of printed type when printing spread across Europe from the 1400s. Some of the most famous serif styles are named after the people who made them:
- Garamond, after Claude Garamond, a French type maker of the 1500s.
- Baskerville, after John Baskerville, an English printer of the 1700s.
- Bodoni, after Giambattista Bodoni, an Italian printer active in the late 1700s.
In the 1800s, advertising and posters brought heavy slab serifs, with thick block-shaped serifs that could be seen from across the street.
The main types of serif fonts
- Old style – soft, rounded shapes and low contrast between thick and thin strokes. Comfortable for long reading. Example: EB Garamond.
- Transitional – sharper and more upright, with more contrast. Example: Libre Baskerville.
- Modern (Didone) – very strong contrast: heavy verticals and hairline-thin details. Elegant and dramatic. Example: Playfair Display.
- Slab serif – thick, square serifs and little contrast. Sturdy and bold. Example: Roboto Slab.
Are serif fonts easier to read?
You’ll often hear that serif fonts are easier to read in print and sans serif fonts are better on screens. Research on this has been mixed, and today’s high-resolution screens display both styles clearly. In practice, good letter shapes, a comfortable size, enough line spacing and strong contrast matter more than whether a font has serifs.
When to use a serif font
- Books, long articles and reports – old style and transitional serifs are comfortable for long reading.
- Elegant brands – fashion, beauty, jewelry and luxury brands often use high-contrast Didone serifs.
- Invitations and certificates – serifs feel formal and traditional.
- Newspapers and editorial designs – serifs signal trust and seriousness.
- Posters and packaging – slab serifs are bold and friendly.
When to use a sans serif instead
- App and website menus, buttons and small labels.
- Signs and wayfinding, where letters must be recognized at a glance.
- Modern tech and startup brands that want a clean, simple feel.
Famous serif fonts and free alternatives
- Times New Roman – created for The Times newspaper in London in the early 1930s. Free alternatives: Libre Baskerville or Source Serif 4 for a similar classic feel.
- Georgia – designed by Matthew Carter to be easy to read on screens. Try Merriweather.
- Garamond – try EB Garamond or Cormorant Garamond.
- Baskerville – try Libre Baskerville.
- Bodoni – try Bodoni Moda.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arial a serif font?
No. Arial is a sans serif font: its letters have no small strokes at the ends.
Is Times New Roman a serif font?
Yes. Times New Roman is one of the best-known serif fonts in the world.
What does “sans serif” mean?
It means “without serifs”. “Sans” is the French word for “without”.
Where can I download free serif fonts?
See our list of the 20 best free serif fonts or browse the full Serif fonts collection.