TL;DR: Accessible fonts support inclusion and site engagement. Use them!
Readability
The fonts used on your site need to be readable for a number of important reasons.
Delicate, curly, and/or teeny tiny words on a website can quickly lose the interest and patience of site visitors.
Paragraph, header, and sub-header fonts should be simple and easy to read. Headings are often large enough to assist readability: Some flourish in your heading font is typically okay and offers an opportunity to creatively express yourself in your website branding.
Before you settle on a font for your website, try the squint test. If you squint, does your site content remain readable?
Accessibility
Website fonts are an accessibility issue. Difficult-to-read fonts are not accessible to individuals with vision impairment or reading disability and therefore violate US ADA laws. Click here to read a great article about general website accessibility from SiteImprove.
Generally, it’s a good idea to prioritize fonts that are commonly used. They are commonly used for a reason!
If you didn’t know the importance of prioritizing accessibility on your site until now, this is the time to do something about it.
Our team provides accessibility evaluations informed by the wisdom and lived experience of disabled people. Reach us using our contact form to book a discovery call.
In summary, practice inclusion. Find fonts that suit the design of your site and make your site content more accessible. Ensure that your website is a place that everyone can access.
