15 Best Fonts For Presentations (That Won’t Let Your Presentation Down)

Let’s be real, picking the right font for a presentation might seem like a small thing, but it can make a huge difference in how your audience looks at your message. We’ve all seen slides that look like a chaotic mix of different font styles, sizes, and weights. And we’ve all struggled to read a block of text squeezed into a fancy, curly font that belongs on a wedding invitation, not a corporate presentation, business presentation or an investor pitch deck.

The truth is, your choice of font can make or break your presentation. A good font makes your slides easy to read, visually attractive, and aligned with the tone of your message. A bad font? It distracts your audience, makes your content harder to digest, and can even make your presentation look unprofessional.

If you’ve ever worked with a presentation design firm or a presentations designer, you must have noticed that they pay special attention to typography. That’s because they know that the right font helps deliver a message clearly and persuasively. So, whether you’re designing an investor pitch deck, a sales presentation, or making an event presentation, choosing the best fonts for presentations is just as important as choosing what goes inside your presentation.

This brings us to our list- 15 of the best fonts for presentations, and to make it easier for you, we’ve explained when and why to use them.

Why Choosing the Right Font Matters

Fonts shape how your audience perceives your message. A poorly chosen font can make even the most well-researched presentation look messy, while a clean, professional font enhances credibility and engagement.

Here’s why font selection is extremely important in presentations:

1. Readability- If your audience has to struggle to read your slides, they’ll lose focus. A clear font ensures they absorb your message easily.
2. Professionalism- Your presentation reflects your brand. The right font makes your presentation look polished, credible, and well-prepared.
3. Emotional Impact- Fonts evoke emotions. A sleek, modern font can make your pitch deck feel innovative, while a classic serif can give off a formal and conventional vibe to a presentation.
4. Screen-Friendliness- Some fonts work beautifully on printed documents but are hard to read on screens. Choosing a screen-friendly font ensures clarity, whether presenting on a laptop, projector, or LED screen.

If you’re unsure which fonts to use, hear it from the professionals! Any good presentation designer will suggest clean, modern, and highly legible fonts as the safest options. On that note, let’s get into our recommendations!

Best Sans-Serif Fonts for Presentations (Modern, Clean and Highly Readable)

Sans-serif fonts are the gold standard for presentations. They’re modern, minimalist, and easy to read on screens, making them ideal for everything from startup pitch decks to corporate reports.

1. Helvetica

Helvetica is the font designers swear by. It’s simple, elegant, and works in any professional setting. If you want a no-fail option, this is it.

Best for: Corporate presentations, professional reports, investor pitch decks.

Why it works: Helvetica is a go-to choice for designers because it’s neutral, and clean. It doesn’t draw attention to itself and lets your content shine. That’s why companies like Apple and Microsoft have used it for years.

2. Calibri

Calibri is not a flashy font, it’s clear, professional, and a very safe option almost all presentations. If you’re using Microsoft Office, this is already in your toolkit.

Best for: General business presentations, educational content, internal reports.

Why it works: Calibri is highly a familiar and legible font. It has been used since the tradition of fonts started, and it works great for text-heavy slides.

3. Arial

Arial is like the plain white t-shirt of fonts. It might not be exciting, but it always works. Use it when you need something universally readable.

Best for: Corporate decks, event presentations, formal reports, training materials.

Why it works: Arial gets its popularity from being simple and easy to read in all text types- be it bold or italic. It really gets the job done when clarity is the priority.

4. Lato

Lato is a great alternative if you want a font that feels modern but still warm. It’s especially good for tech and creative presentations.

Best for: Investor pitch decks, SaaS product decks, Sales decks, creative pitches, client proposals.

Why it works: Lato’s personality as a font is approachable, so for presentations that need a bit of personality without losing professionalism, it works well.

5. Montserrat

Montserrat has a bold, geometric feel that makes it great for headlines and key points. If you want to make an impact, try this one.

Best for: Branding presentations, marketing presentations, keynote presentations.

Why it works: Montserrat stands out without being overwhelming. It makes sure that all the key points are eye-catching and gives them a good recall value.

6. Poppins

Poppins is another modern sans-serif with a rounded, friendly look. It works for presentations that need a fresh and contemporary feel.

Best for: Startup presentations, product launches, conference presentations.

Why it works: Poppins is sleek, trendy, and bold, which makes it a good fit for making statements in high-energy presentations.

7. Roboto

Originally created by Google for Android, Roboto is built for digital readability. It’s a solid choice for any screen-heavy presentation.

Best for: Digital-first presentations, tech company presentations, app launch pitches, product pitches.

Why it works: Roboto has a contemporary feel, but it also features open curves, which make the text feel more natural and human-friendly, making it suitable for presentations.

8. Open Sans

Open Sans is one of the most widely used fonts online, and for good reason. It’s neutral, easy to read, and professional without feeling stiff.

Best for: Business pitches, educational decks, online webinars.

Why it works: Due to its clear and simple look, Open Sans stands out as great all-around font for any industry. The font also tends to make texts look more impactful.

9. Avenir

If you want something a little more refined, Avenir is a great pick. It has a premium look without being over-the-top.

Best for: Luxury brands product decks, high-end corporate presentations, premium product launch presentations.

Why it works: Avenir has a sophisticated look and feel to it which is something not all fonts can give off. This is why it works well for all things luxury.

10. Futura

Futura is a go-to for modern, minimalist designs. It’s great for brands, startups, and anyone who wants a sleek, forward-thinking vibe.

Best for: Creative presentations, architecture industry presentations, partnership presentations.

Why it works: Futura’s strong, geometric design makes it a top choice for bold and modern presentations.

Best Serif Fonts for Presentations (Classic, Trustworthy and Formal)

Serif fonts have small decorative strokes at the ends of letters, giving them a more formal and traditional look. They works well when you need an elegant, or authoritative feel for your presentation or deck.

11. Times New Roman

Times New Roman is not the most exciting font on our list, but it’s formal, readable, and safe. It doesn’t work for all types of presentations and industries, but anything that involves academics, this font is the default setting.

Best for: Formal reports, legal presentations, education and training presentations.

Why it works: The font looks highly authoritative which helps presentations which have an educational or informational purpose.

12. EB Garamond

Garamond has a sophisticated feel without looking old-fashioned. It’s a great serif alternative to Times New Roman.

Best for: Professional presentations, business reports, product presentations, investor pitch decks.

Why it works: Garamond is elegant and easy to read, which are the two characteristics required to make a slide more professional and sophisticated.

13. Merriweather

Unlike traditional serif fonts, Merriweather was designed for better readability, especially on the screens, making it a great pick for presentations.

Best for: Research papers, finance presentations, historical topics.

Why it works: Merriweather is a font with slightly condensed letterforms and large x-height helps it maintain a clean and structured appearance, even in small sizes.

Best Display Fonts for Presentations (For Bold, Attention-Grabbing Headlines)

If you need to make an impact, these headline fonts can grab attention.

14. Raleway

Raleway is a thin, sleek font that works great for titles and headlines. Just avoid using it for body text, as it can be hard to read in smaller sizes.

Best for: Creative portfolios, startup pitches, branding presentations, company profile.

Why it works: It was created to be a display typeface, meaning it shines when used in larger sizes. This makes it work for section headings, and impactful quotes in presentations too!

15. Bebas Neue

If you need a strong, all-caps font for titles, Bebas Neue is perfect. It’s great for big, punchy statements.

Best for: Sales presentations, bold key messages, marketing slides.

Why it works: Bebas Neue is widely used in advertising, branding, and marketing materials because of its ability to create a powerful visual presence, due to its clean, condensed letterforms and strong geometric structure.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the best fonts for presentations are the ones that make your presentation fulfil the purpose it was made for. If you’re looking to level up your presentation slides, Start by choosing a font that works with your message- not against it. Ask “What’s your go-to font for presentations?” to our presentation design team, they’ll probably end up naming a sans serif font!

If you’re here just for the insights, you might want to check out the Crappy Presentations Blog, but if you’ve got a presentation requirement that needs our design expertise, we’d be happy to help! Contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many fonts should I use in a presentation?
It's advisable to limit the number of different fonts to two or three to maintain a cohesive and professional look.

Q2. What font size should I use in my presentations?
For titles, a font size of 36-44 pt is recommended; for subtitles, 28-36 pt; and for body text, 18-24 pt. This ensures readability while maintaining space for visuals.

Q3. How do I ensure my chosen font is compatible across different devices?
Using standard fonts like Arial or Calibri ensures compatibility. If you choose a unique font, consider embedding it into your presentation or saving the file as a PDF to preserve formatting.

Q4. What are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing fonts for presentations?
Avoid using overly decorative fonts that hinder readability, using too many different fonts, and choosing font sizes that are too small for the audience to read comfortably.

Q5. How can I create a visual hierarchy with fonts in my presentation?
Use different font sizes, weights, and styles to distinguish headings from body text, guiding the audience's attention through your content effectively.