Cantarell

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What do I do with this?

Just want to use the font? Click "Get this font on Google Fonts" to download it or add it directly to a document, design tool (like Canva or Photoshop), or your computer's font list.

Building a website? Click "Copy Font Code" to copy a short snippet, then paste it into your website's HTML (usually inside the <head> section) to use this font on your site.

Cantarell is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Dave Crossland, originally created for the GNOME desktop environment. It has clean, open letterforms with a slight geometric quality that stops short of being cold or mechanical. The strokes have modest contrast and the overall texture is calm and readable at both small and large sizes. It reads as modern without being trendy, and has a functional, approachable character that feels at home in digital interfaces. The letterforms are well-spaced and legible, giving it a reliable and neutral presence that works across different contexts without calling too much attention to itself.

Cantarell works well as a UI typeface for web applications or software products where clarity and legibility matter more than personality. It suits editorial content on digital platforms, particularly tech blogs, documentation sites, or developer-focused publications where a clean reading experience is the priority. It also functions well in branding for startups or tech-oriented companies looking for something contemporary and accessible without leaning heavily on the overused grotesque styles. Its open-source origins also make it a natural fit for projects that prioritize accessibility and transparency.

Best suited for: User interface design, web applications, technical documentation, digital editorial layouts, and accessible digital products requiring clear hierarchy and reliable legibility.

Design considerations: Cantarell's four-weight range supports flexible typographic hierarchy while maintaining consistent readability across scales. The humanist structure balances geometric restraint with approachable warmth, making it effective for both functional interfaces and longer-form digital content.

Pairing guidance: Pair Cantarell with Playfair Display for sophisticated editorial layouts where serif elegance contrasts with sans-serif clarity, Merriweather for accessible long-form reading that combines serif tradition with digital-friendly spacing, or Pacifico for accent applications where handwritten warmth complements Cantarell's functional character without overwhelming the design.

Pairs well with

Cantarell at a glance

All 4 Cantarell styles

Cantarell character map

Which languages does Cantarell support?

Cantarell includes 2 character sets:

• Latin: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and other Western European languages
• Latin Extended: Central and Eastern European languages such as Polish, Czech, Turkish, Romanian and Hungarian

It does not include Cyrillic or Greek characters, so it can't set Russian, Ukrainian or Greek text.

Can I use Cantarell commercially?

Yes, it's free for personal and commercial use. Cantarell is released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1. You can use it in logos, websites, apps, videos, printed products and merchandise without paying or asking permission. The one thing you can't do is sell the font file on its own.

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Cantarell FAQ