CSS: common web fonts

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Here is a list of fonts that are available across Microsoft Windows, macOS.

On linux, a Metrically Compatible Font is available and automatically substituted.

Core web fonts (screenshot)

web safe fonts 2020-11-01 pJGJ8
web safe fonts 2020-11-01 pJGJ8

screenshot is used because otherwise your system may not show the correct font because it may not be installed.

Core Web Fonts (1996)

Standard Sans-Serif Font

font name: Arial

/* metrically compatible fonts for arial */
.sans {
 font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Arimo, "Liberation Sans", sans-serif;
}
Helvetica

Year 1957. On Mac since 1980s.

Arial

Year 1992. Microsoft's clone of Helvetica, since Windows 3.1.

Liberation Sans

2007. Linux.

Arimo

Google, ~2013

Standard Serif Font

font name: Times New Roman

/* metrically compatible fonts for Times New Roman */
.x {
 font-family: "Times New Roman", Tinos, "Liberation Serif", serif;
}
Times New Roman

Year 1932. On Mac/Windows since 1990s.

Liberation Serif

Linux. 2007

Tinos

Google. 2013

Standard Monospace Font

font name: Courier New

/* metrically compatible fonts for Courier New */
.x {
 font-family: "Courier New", Cousine, "Liberation Mono", monospace;
}
Courier New

1992. Windows 3.1.

Liberation Mono

Linux. 2007

Cousine

Google, 2013

Default Monospace Font

Microsoft
  • Lucida Console from year 2000 to 2011.
  • Consolas from 2007.
  • Cascadia Mono from 2019. Open Source.
Apple

Menlo since 2009

SF Mono (since 2015. but for Apple Inc use only.)