Fonts That Read Well on Small Labels (and the Sizes to Use)

A font that looks lovely on screen can turn to a smudge at label size. Here's how to choose fonts that print clearly.

Sizes that work

• Product name: 14-24 pt on small labels (lip balm, 10 ml bottles), 24-48 pt on larger ones (wine, candles).
• Details (scent, size, flavor): 8-10 pt.
• Ingredients and warnings: about 6 pt minimum, in a plain font. Cosmetic ingredients have a legal minimum height; see what to put on a product label.

Font sizes vary between fonts. Print a test and read it at arm's length.

Fonts that hold up small

• Sans-serif (no little feet on the letters), with open shapes and medium weight: clearest at small sizes. Examples free in Canva include Montserrat, Open Sans, Lato and Poppins.
• Serif fonts look classic for names and headings; medium weights such as Lora or Playfair Display print well at 12 pt and up.
• Script fonts are best for one or two words at a large size. Thin connecting strokes vanish below about 14 pt.
• Avoid thin, light or condensed weights for anything small; ink spreads slightly and fills them in, especially on kraft and paper labels.

In Canva, a crown next to a font means it's a paid-plan font; see how to use Canva for free.

Pairing two fonts

• Pick one font with personality for the name (a script or a bold serif) and one plain sans-serif for the rest.
• Use size and weight for the rest of the hierarchy, not more fonts.
• Use the same pair on every product so your line looks like one brand.

Small-text tips

• Add a little letter spacing to small capitals: Spacing in the Canva text toolbar.
• Use dark text on a light background. Light text on dark backgrounds needs a larger, bolder font.
• Avoid small text on clear or kraft labels; see designing for clear, kraft and colored labels.
• Print at your printer's best quality.

More on text tools in how to add and edit text on a label in Canva.

Still stuck? Email customerservice@dashleigh.com with your template number and a screenshot, and we will help.