Arial
Sans serif designed by Robin Nicholas and Patricia Saunders for Monotype in 1982, drawn to the same widths as Helvetica.
- Designed by
- Robin Nicholas, Patricia Saunders
- Foundry
- Monotype
- Category
- sans-serif
- Styles
- 2 weights
Free alternatives to Arial
The closest free alternative to Arial is Arimo. It has the same letter widths, so text keeps its line breaks when you swap it in. For a more modern look on screens, use Inter or Roboto.
- Arimo (Same widths) Same letter widths as Arial, so documents and layouts keep their line breaks. Regular to bold with italics.
- Inter (Close match) A cleaner, more modern take on the same neutral style, drawn for screens with weights from 100 to 900.
- Roboto (Close match) A familiar grotesque with 9 weights. Slightly narrower, so text takes a little less room.
Websites that use Arial
Arial FAQ
Is Arial free for commercial use?
Arial is a commercial typeface from Monotype. A paid license is required for commercial projects — you can purchase it from the foundry directly.
Is Arial on Google Fonts?
Arial isn't part of the Google Fonts library. It's distributed by Monotype.
How do I download Arial?
Arial is a commercial font — you'll need to purchase a license from the foundry to download the font files.
What fonts pair well with Arial?
Arial pairs beautifully with a contrasting typeface — pair a display or heading font with a neutral body font for the strongest hierarchy. Scroll down to the "Font Pairings" section on this page for curated, ready-to-use combinations that work well with Arial, or open any pair in the Fontpair Playground to preview it live with your own copy.
What is Arial best used for?
Arial is a sans-serif typeface. It works well for editorial layouts, long-form reading, and elegant brand systems.