Easy Ways to Change Fonts in WordPress

When creating a visually appealing and brand-consistent website, the choice of fonts plays a pivotal role. Fonts can convey mood, reinforce identity, and improve the readability of your content. In WordPress, a platform known for its versatility and customizability, changing fonts can be a straightforward process that significantly enhances your site’s aesthetic appeal.

Whether you’re looking to give your site a fresh, modern look or aiming for a more professional or specific thematic style, the right font can make all the difference. The beauty of WordPress is that it allows users of all skill levels, from novices to experienced web designers, to alter fonts easily, thereby offering a new dimension of customisation.

Serif

Sans-serif

Cursive

monospace

In this guide, we’ll walk through the simple steps of changing fonts in WordPress. By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to select and apply new fonts to make your website stand out and speak in a tone that aligns with your brand and message.

The Basics of Changing Fonts in WordPress

Before diving into the technical steps of changing fonts in WordPress, it’s essential to grasp the basics and the methods available for this task. WordPress offers several avenues to alter your website’s typography, catering to different levels of technical expertise.

Custom CSS: For those with some coding knowledge, custom CSS provides a direct way to modify fonts. This method involves adding custom style rules to your theme to apply your chosen fonts. It’s powerful but requires an understanding of CSS.
WordPress Plugins: There are numerous plugins designed specifically for font management in WordPress. These plugins, such as Easy Google Fonts or Custom Fonts, provide a user-friendly interface for selecting and applying fonts without coding.
Theme Customizer: Many WordPress themes have built-in customizers that offer typography settings. This method is ideal for beginners and does not require additional plugins or coding.
Theme Editor: For advanced users, editing the theme’s files directly can be an option. This method is not recommended for beginners, as it involves altering theme code, which can affect your site if not done correctly.
Page Builders: If you’re using a page builder plugin, many have font customization options, which can be quite intuitive and easy to use.

Understanding these methods will help you choose the one that best fits your comfort level and needs. Each method has its advantages, from the full control of manual CSS editing to the ease of use provided by plugins and customizers.

Top 5 Font Plugins on WordPress.org

Here are the top 5 leading WordPress font plugins, ranked according to user satisfaction, unique features, and overall functionality in January 2024:

Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally

User Satisfaction: Users appreciate its ease of setup and functionality. It’s noted for allowing the upload of custom font files and integration with Google Fonts.

Unique Features: This plugin supports local hosting of fonts, ensuring GDPR compliance and improved website performance. It seamlessly integrates with WordPress full site editing themes.

Notable Reviews: Positive reviews highlight its user-friendliness and efficiency. However, some users mentioned issues with italics and adding new fonts locally.

View Custom Fonts Plugin

Yabe Webfont

User Satisfaction: Although specific user reviews were not available, the plugin’s changelog and feature list suggest a focus on continuous improvement and compatibility with various tools and themes.

Unique Features: It offers integrations with tools like Slider Revolution and YellowPencil in the Pro version and includes a migration tool to import data from other font plugins.

Updates and Compatibility: Regular updates for compatibility with WordPress versions and different themes are evident from the changelog.

View Yabe Webfont Plugin

Fonts Plugin | Google Fonts Typography

User Satisfaction: Users have given positive feedback, praising its ease of use and immediate functionality. The plugin is well-received for its practicality and reliability.

Unique Features: Offers over 1000 Google Fonts with options for font size, variant, and line-height settings. It includes Adobe Fonts (Typekit) support and is compatible with several WordPress themes.

Premium Features: Note that some features are available only in the premium version.

Notable Reviews: Reviews emphasize its simplicity and effectiveness, with users appreciating the instant live preview feature.

View Fonts Plugin

Use Any Font | Custom Font Uploader

User Satisfaction: Garnering positive reviews, users find it reliable and useful for adding fonts. The plugin is commended for its functionality and ease of use.

Unique Features: It allows for font assignment based on language, supporting WPML and Polylang. Fonts are stored on the user’s server for better control.

Notable Reviews: Users appreciate its straightforward nature and the ability to use it across multiple websites. Some users, however, wish for more flexibility in editing assigned fonts.

View Use Any Font Plugin

Styleguide – Custom Fonts and Colors

User Satisfaction: While there are fewer reviews, users who have given feedback find it effective and easy to use. It’s particularly noted for its integration with Google web fonts and supported themes.

Unique Features: Provides a filter for adding additional fonts, allowing for more customization. It also offers the ability to tweak colours along with fonts.

Notable Reviews: Users appreciate its functionality with specific themes and its utility in checking font changes on the fly. Some users express a desire for more font options.

View Styleguide Plugin

Each of these plugins offers unique capabilities to enhance the typography of WordPress sites, catering to different needs and preferences of users.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Fonts with WordPress Plugins

Changing the fonts on your WordPress site can be a game-changer in terms of design and user experience. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Choose a Font

Finding the Right Font: Before you start, choose the font that best fits your website’s style and tone. Websites like Google Fonts offer a vast array of options. Remember, readability and brand consistency are key.
Selecting Font Styles: Once you’ve picked a font, note its name and the styles you prefer, like ‘Medium 500’ for body text or ‘Bold 700’ for headings.

Step 2: Install a Font Plugin

Choosing a Plugin: For a hassle-free experience, select a font plugin. Popular choices include ‘Easy Google Fonts’ and ‘Custom Fonts’. These plugins allow easy integration and customization of fonts.
Installation: Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Plugins’, click ‘Add New’, and search for your chosen font plugin. Install and activate it.

Step 3: Apply the New Font

Using the Plugin: Once activated, the plugin often adds a new section to your WordPress customizer. You can assign your chosen font to various website elements, like headings, body text, and menus.
Customization: Some plugins allow further customization, such as changing font size, weight, and line spacing.

Step 4: Customize Font Settings

Adjusting Font Size: Ensure your content is readable across devices by adjusting the font size. This is usually done within the plugin or the WordPress customizer.
Font Weight and Style: Change the font weight (e.g., bold, regular) and style (e.g., italic) to enhance the visual hierarchy and emphasis of your content.

Step 5: Preview and Publish

Preview Changes: Most font plugins offer a live preview feature. Use this to see how your font choices look on the actual site.
Go Live: Once satisfied, save your settings within the plugin or customizer, and your new font choices will be applied site-wide.

This step-by-step approach offers a straightforward way to refresh your site’s look with new fonts. Remember to consider the overall design and user experience when selecting fonts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Fonts via CSS in WordPress

Sometimes, you want to avoid using plugins. In this case, adding fonts via CSS is the most efficient way to add custom fonts to WordPress if you know a bit of basic coding. If not, there are a few tips below to help you along. Here’s our step-by-step guide to adding fonts to WordPress using CSS.

Step 1: Choose Your Font

Select a Font: First, choose the font you want to use. Google Fonts is a popular choice as it offers a wide range of free fonts. Visit Google Fonts, select a font, and note its name.

Step 2: Add the Font to Your Website

Using Google Fonts: If you’ve chosen a font from Google Fonts, you’ll need to include it in your website. Copy the embed code provided by Google Fonts. It will look something like this:

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">

Add to Your Site: Paste this link in the <head> section of your HTML or in the appropriate section of your WordPress theme (usually under ‘Appearance’> ‘Customize’> ‘Additional CSS’).

Step 3: Define Font in CSS

Add CSS Rules: Next, you’ll need to add CSS rules to apply the font to elements on your site. You can do this by going to ‘Appearance’> ‘Customize’> ‘Additional CSS’ in your WordPress dashboard. Here’s an example of CSS rules to apply the ‘Roboto’ font:

body {
  font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}
h1, h2, h3 {
  font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}

Customize Further: You can also customize font-size, weight, and style. For example:

h1 {
  font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
  font-weight: bold;
  font-size: 24px;
}

Step 4: Check and Adjust

Preview Your Changes: After adding the CSS, preview your site to see the changes. Adjust the CSS as needed to get the desired look.

Step 5: Optimize Font Loading (Optional)

Preload Your Fonts: To improve performance, you can preload your fonts. Add the following line in your HTML <head> section before the link to your font:

<link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto&display=swap" as="style">

Step 6: Test Across Devices and Browsers

Ensure Compatibility: Test your website on different browsers and devices to ensure the font displays correctly everywhere.

Tips for Adding Fonts Using CSS

Choose Web-Safe Fonts: If not using Google Fonts, ensure your chosen font is web-safe to ensure it displays correctly on all devices and browsers.
Limit Font Variants: Only load the font styles and weights you need to optimise your site’s performance.
Accessibility and Readability: Make sure that the font size, colour, and contrast are accessible and easy to read for all users.

By following these steps, you can effectively add and customize fonts on your WordPress site using CSS, offering a personalized touch to your website’s design. Remember, while CSS offers great power in customization, it requires careful implementation to maintain your site’s aesthetic and functional balance.

Best Practices for Changing Fonts in WordPress

Best practises for changing fonts in WordPress

While changing fonts in WordPress can be exciting and transformative for your website’s design, it’s crucial to adhere to certain best practices to ensure that the change enhances rather than hampers your site’s effectiveness and appeal.

Choose Readable Fonts

Prioritize Legibility: The primary goal of your text is to be readable. Opt for fonts that are easy on the eyes, especially for longer sections of text. While decorative fonts might look appealing, they can be challenging to read and should be used sparingly.

Consider Brand Consistency

Align Fonts with Your Brand: Your choice of font should complement your overall brand identity and website design. Consistency in typography helps in creating a cohesive and professional appearance across your entire website.

Test Across Devices

Ensure Compatibility: A font that looks great on a desktop might not translate as well on a mobile device. Test your font choices across various devices and browsers to ensure they maintain their readability and style.

Limit the Number of Fonts

Avoid Clutter: Using too many different fonts can make your website look disorganized and unprofessional. Stick to a maximum of two or three fonts (for headings, body text, and accents) to maintain a clean and harmonious design.

Optimize Font Loading

Consider Performance: The loading time of fonts is an important aspect of website performance. Use techniques like font preloading or asynchronous loading to minimize delays in font rendering, ensuring a smooth user experience.

Monitor User Feedback

Be Open to Adjustments: After implementing new fonts, pay attention to user feedback. If visitors find the font difficult to read or encounter any issues, be prepared to make adjustments.

Backup Your Website

Precautionary Measure: Before making significant changes like font adjustments, it’s always a good idea to back up your website. This allows you to revert to the previous state if needed.

By following these best practices, you can change the fonts on your WordPress site effectively, ensuring that the update enhances both the aesthetics and the functionality of your website.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting When Changing Fonts in WordPress

While changing fonts in WordPress is usually straightforward, you may occasionally encounter some issues. Here’s a guide to common problems and how to troubleshoot them:

1. Font Not Displaying Correctly

Check Font Installation: Ensure the font is installed and activated in the custom fonts plugin settings.
Plugin and Theme Conflicts: Other plugins or theme settings might sometimes conflict with your font. Try temporarily deactivating other plugins or switching to a default WordPress theme to identify the issue.

2. Font Size Issues

Adjusting Font Size: If the font size changes unexpectedly, you can correct it through your theme’s stylesheet, the customizer settings, or directly using CSS to override the default size.

3. Compatibility Problems

Browser and Device Compatibility: Not all fonts display consistently across different browsers and devices. If issues arise, consider using web-safe fonts or adding fallback font options.

4. Performance Impact

Optimize Font Files: Custom fonts can impact site performance, especially if the font files are large or numerous. Optimize by compressing font files or using font subsets that only include necessary characters.
Loading Techniques: Implement techniques like font preloading or asynchronous loading to minimize the impact on page load times.

5. Customizer Not Reflecting Changes

Caching Issues: Sometimes, caching plugins or browser cache might prevent you from seeing the changes. Clear your site and browser cache to check if the changes are reflected.
Permissions and Restrictions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to modify fonts, especially when using a multi-author or managed WordPress environment.

6. Limited Font Options

Exploring Additional Fonts: If your current plugin or theme offers limited font choices, consider using plugins that provide a wider range of fonts or allow for custom font uploads.

7. Styling Conflicts

CSS Overrides: In some cases, existing CSS rules might override your font settings. Inspect the elements using browser developer tools and adjust the CSS accordingly.

By understanding these common issues and their solutions, you can more effectively manage font changes on your WordPress site and ensure a smoother and more professional display of your content.

Great Font Pairings for Your WordPress Site

Selecting the right font pairings can significantly enhance the design and readability of a website. Here are the top 5 font pairings that are widely appreciated for their aesthetic appeal and functionality. Each pairing is chosen for its compatibility and ability to create a balanced and visually appealing hierarchy in typography. I’ve also included links for you to view and download these fonts from Google Fonts:

Montserrat & Merriweather

Montserrat: A modern, geometric sans-serif font that is excellent for headers and emphasizes a contemporary feel.

Merriweather: A serif font with a classic touch, perfect for body text, providing excellent readability.

View/Download: Montserrat | Merriweather

Roboto & Open Sans

Roboto: Features a mechanical skeleton with friendly curves, making it universal and approachable for a wide range of uses.

Open Sans: A humanist sans-serif font known for its legibility in print and on-screen.

View/Download: Roboto | Open Sans

Playfair Display & Source Sans Pro

Playfair Display: A sophisticated serif font with high contrast, ideal for luxury-themed websites or elegant headings.

Source Sans Pro: A sans-serif companion that offers a neutral yet friendly appearance for body text.

View/Download: Playfair Display | Source Sans Pro

Raleway & Lato

Raleway: An elegant sans-serif typeface, perfect for headings and large sizes with its stylish and refined nature.

Lato: A balanced and versatile sans-serif font that complements Raleway, ideal for body text.

View/Download: Raleway | Lato

Oswald & Roboto Slab

Oswald: A reworking of classic style historically represented by the ‘Alternate Gothic’ sans-serif typefaces. Great for impactful headlines.

Roboto Slab: A slab serif font that pairs well with Oswald, offering a nice contrast for body text.

View/Download: Oswald | Roboto Slab

These font pairings are chosen for their ability to create a harmonious look while ensuring readability and character. They can be applied to various website designs, from corporate to creative. Remember, the best font pairing for your website will align with your brand’s personality and the tone of your content.

Conclusion

Changing the font on your WordPress site is a simple yet impactful way to enhance its overall appearance and user experience. By carefully selecting and integrating new fonts, you can significantly uplift the aesthetics of your site, making it more engaging and reflective of your brand’s personality.

In this guide, we’ve walked through the steps to change fonts in WordPress, from choosing the right font to installing and using a font plugin and customizing your font settings. We’ve also covered best practices to ensure that your font choices improve readability and user experience, along with troubleshooting common issues that might arise during the process.

Remember, balancing aesthetics with functionality is key to effective font change. Prioritize readability, maintain brand consistency, and ensure cross-device compatibility. Your website’s typography should look good and contribute positively to the user’s journey on your site.

Embracing these changes can breathe new life into your WordPress site, making it stand out in the crowded digital landscape. So, go ahead and experiment with different fonts and styles to find the perfect match for your website in 2024 and beyond.

Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress user or just starting, we hope this guide has empowered you to confidently modify and enhance your website’s typography. Happy customizing