Talking about the 1980s is like reminding ourselves of the older era’s culture with expressive time, typography, colour, neon lights, extravagance, etc. The 1980s nostalgia has brought so much inspiration for graphic designers even now.
You can also find these fonts in the Nexflix poster of Stranger Things and many more. These fonts have captured the vibes of that time and continue to amaze us even now. Let us look at the 50 best fonts from the 1980s.
In this article
- 1. Helvetica – Best 1980s Fonts
- 2. Streetwear
- 3. Newark
- 4. Baskerville
- 5. Sabo
- 6. Times
- 7. Bernier
- 8. Akzidenz Grotesk
- 9. Streamster
- 10. Bitcraft
- 11. Restora
- 12. Gotham
- 13. Carosello
- 14. Schwager Sans
- 15. Intro
- 16. Didot
- 17. Ansley Display
- 18. Ate Bit Font
- 19. Nexa Rust
- 20. Futura
- 21. Good Times Regular
- 22. Hacker
- 23. Parker
- 24. Gill Sana
- 25. West Side
- 26. Neons Display
- 27. Stiff staff
- 28. Frutiger
- 29. Still Time
- 30. Copper
- 31. Lovely Inline
- 32. Rockwell
- 33. Franklin Gothic
- 34. Lobster
- 35. Orlando
- 36. Ailerons
- 37. Georgia
- 38. Metropolis
- 39. Thunderstorm
- 40. Big John/Slim Joe
- 41. Charming
- 42. High Tide
- 43. Transistor
- 44. Aqua Grotesque
- 45. Maxwell
- 46. Matchbook
- 47. REN Typeface
- 48. Devious Typeface
- 49. Grand Hotel
- 50. Endless Bummer
1. Helvetica – Best 1980s Fonts
- Source – fonts.google
- Price- $35
- License- Commercial License
Helvetica typeface was designed in the 1950s by a Swiss designer none other than Max Miedinger. However, it was introduced to us in 1957. Since its birth, this typeface has been the most favourite because of its simple style and evergreen look.
This 62-year-old versatile font has always been the most popular because of its clean corners and unique shapes.
2. Streetwear
- Source – myfonts.com
- Price- $14
- License- Personal & Commercial Use
Streetwear font is bold, retro, and super stylish to choose from even now. This font has been made with the inspiration of script typeface. Moreover, you can use this font for poster, logo, packaging, branding, and even t-shirt designs to get a perfect look.
This font looks so much like the 1960s fashion style. Also, this font has been created with the typeface much related to the sport style. This font gives a bold scratchy, and unique look on using.
Also, using it in a much bigger size will be quite helpful as compared with other looks.
You can use this typeface’s alternative character by using the savvy programs of OpenType like InDesign and Adobe Illustrator.
3. Newark
- Source – fontspring.com
- Price- $55
- License- Personal & Commercial Use
Newark will be the right choice for sure if you are looking for some simple, clean, and easy to understand typeface. This typeface is eye-catching and comes with a slightly bold look.
Also, the font’s endings are sleek and rectangular shapes, giving it a much different look than others. This font looks perfect with magazine and headline layouts.
4. Baskerville
- Source – fontlibrary.com
- Price- $29
- License- Free for personal use
John Baskerville made the Baskerville font in 1757. After getting unimpressed with Caslon typeface, he again started improving his typeface even more and brought it back with a new look in the 1950s.
This look comes with a typeface of transitional serif, somewhere between old-style based on Caslon and modern style based on Didot and Bodoni. Also, the lower case of this font features great contrast along with horizontal serifs.
After this typeface was introduced in Word, many Baskerville competitors like Giambattista Bodoni and Benjamin Franklin started producing many creative versions of it, making it look more elegant and fresh.
5. Sabo
- Source – behance.net
- Price- $19
- License- Commercial
Are you looking for something that will give you a feel of 3D effects in the 80s look? Then Sabo font is the right choice. This font is entirely pixelated and comes with an 8-bit pixel style.
Not online this, it comes with outline as well as filled combined look. It seems perfect with its retro feel for use on t-shirts, posters, and, most importantly, games. Another best thing about this font is that anyone can download it in OTF format.
6. Times
- Source – font.google
- Price- $65
- License- Commercial
Times font has a different but exciting story about its origin. In 1929, the manager William Lints-Smith realized that Stanley Morrison wasn’t so impressed by the quality of his London daily newspaper’s print, so he decided to take a new step on this.
He requested the much-respected and most intelligent typographer Mr Mrrison to redesign his newspaper. Then in 1931, Times Old Roman was replaced by Times New Roman. Since then, this font has become the most favourite font style for newsprints and publishing materials.
7. Bernier
- Source – dafontfree.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal & Commercial Use
Bernier is an all caps font, which comes in three elegant and different regular, shape, and distressed styles. Hence this font is right to go with logotype, typography style based on old-school base, and vintage badges. Ryan Pyae designed this font. Also, one can download this font for free in TTF format.
8. Akzidenz Grotesk
- Source – prepressure.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Akzidenz Grotesk font has been made in the type foundry of Berthold in the year 1896 by Akzidenz Grotesk. This font comes with a great variety of weights and styles.
This font belongs to the traditional type’s general purposes, along with its unadorned sans-serif style, which had ruled the German printing standards in the 19th century.
9. Streamster
- Source – downloadfonts.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for Personal Use
Youssef Habchi has designed Streamster font with the inspiration of the 80s script style. This font has been the best option available for creating any retro-style posters or headlines. Also, the fans of this font can download it for free in TTF format, but just for personal uses.
10. Bitcraft
- Source – gthub.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for commercial use
Bitcraft is the perfect font that gives the vibe of the 80s just by looking at it. It represents the old 80s tech styles. Inspired by tech styles, this font gives the view of pixelated designs as well. The new game of Minecraft has also used this same old font and still found it much trendy and original.
11. Restora
- Source – fontspring.com
- Price- $22
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Do you recall the feel of a new book? Restora font brings a similar feeling. This font is a complete typeface of the “modern novel” and “at home” display. THis Roman-serif style comes with 700 plus characters with a large number of different characters bound with it.
12. Gotham
- Source – tpc.ucf.edu
- Price- $11.89
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Gotham font has been introduced to us in 20000, by most favourite Hoeflrt and Frere-jones. This font gives a complete feel of the early 20s with its Gothic style American Signmaker. Since its release, this font has remained extremely popular among users and designers because of its modern, elegant, and clean look.
13. Carosello
- Source – whatfonts.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Carosello vintage font with a marker over style comes in a handmade feel. Unio has made this font by getting inspiration from none other than the vintage ads.
The font has been created by none other than a sharpie to represent all the hand-written typeface’s imperfections. This font is thus perfect for writing quotes, vintage designs, and inspirational phrases.
14. Schwager Sans
- Source – hypefortype.com
- Price- $25
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Do you know the story behind Schwager Sans? The original font here was Schwager, but then the creator got an idea to give it an alternative look. That is when they changed some styles and introduced Schwager Sans to us.
This font comes with the same style and principle designs, but the only difference is its sport style. This font design is much straightforward, elegant and gives the 80s appeal, with slim curves.
15. Intro
- Source – fontspring.com
- Price- $47
- License- Personal and Commercial Uses
The geometrical font comes with elegant lines and robust designs, with a free font style from the FontFabric. This font is completely free for the people looking to consider it with commercial and personal work. But in case of need regarding full font, it costs $29.
16. Didot
- Source – fontstruct.fontshop.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Didot font came into existence in 1784 by Firmin Didot. This font came out at the same time interval as that of Bodoni; that’s why we can look at their similarities. It’s much like a slimmer version of the Bodoni font.
According to the typographist, this font was an inspiration drawn from John Baskerville’s font, which he made with the condensed armature and high contrast bold strokes. It has been such a long time since this font has come out, but it is sparkling the font world with its elegance and modern look.
17. Ansley Display
- Source – whatfontis.com
- Price- $19
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Ansley Display font has been made by a famous graphic designer Kady Jesko, with an inspirational retro design in a slab serif typeface. This font was more important designed for larger displays and holding as well.
This font also comes with almost six different styles- bold, regular, inline, black, light, and outline. The font files of Ansley Display is TTF.
18. Ate Bit Font
- Source – whatfontis.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Ate Bit font comes with pixel designs exactly like Bitcraft, capturing the tech look and old structures. This font gives an exciting twist while the other half has a bulgy look. Its approach to a slimmer view makes it more complementary to be used for t-shirts and different designs.
19. Nexa Rust
- Source – fontfabric.com
- Price- $17
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Have you seen the other Nexa fonts of Nexa Slab families? It is much like the rough version in the typeface. Coming with the type foundry of Fontfabric, this font gives a new match to Nexa Handmade Fonts and Nexa Script.
This font is rough, warm, and diverse all together. It includes slab, sans, script, extras, and handmade patterns. The option of downloading 5 of these fonts for free is available in the complete package of 83. Also, this font works completely perfectly while designing vintage logos.
20. Futura
- Source – fontsop.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Futura font style came in 1927, by Paul Renner. As this style was born in Germany, it gives the vintage vibes of that place too. For 80 years, this font has set a benchmark in geometric sans with its elegant and remarkable shapes.
The font still gives a modern look, often used to create business signatures and advertisement holdings. Even Volkswagen considered this font as their favourite and using it for headlines for so long.
21. Good Times Regular
- Source – fontspring.com
- Price- $6.95
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Good Times Regular font came in the 1980s with an inspiration taken from the lettering style used in Pontiac cars around 1989-94. The disconnected strokes with their uniform lines give this font a futuristic feel. This font comes in almost 15 style patterns and a regular weight style available for free to download in TTF format.
22. Hacker
- Source – myfonts.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
When we talk about hacking, a black screen with green floating alphabets comes to our mind. This font right here gives the same view of that screen look. It’s like digging deep in the computer screen to look at how the fonts look like from inside.
This font is much like the view of the quiet prominent time interval.
23. Parker
- Source – appliquecorner.com
- Price- $6.99
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Parker font has been made by none other than the designer and art directed by James Lafuente. This font is wholly based on vintage styles, and all caps custom typeface to perfectly match posters, logos, T-shirts, and many more.
This font is completely free for personal use, but if someone wants to use it for commercial services, he must get a commercial license first. The cost of the commercial ownership of this font costs $12. According to the designer, one must use this font while putting all caps lock on their keyword.
24. Gill Sana
- Source – fontshop.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Uses
This font was made in 1928 by Eric Gill. This English font has been produced by none other than Monotype Corporation. The designer of this font collaborated with Edward Johnston to design it mostly like legible sans-serif, who created it for London Underground.
This font has still been on the designers’ top favourite list because of its different weight and variants.
25. West Side
- Source – pixelo.net
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
This handcrafted typeface has been made with the inspiration of 1980’s handmade illustrations and poster designs. This font came from the Artimasa Studio with its styled block look. Also, this font is completely free for you regarding commercial as well as for personal uses too. The main font format of this typeface is OTF.
26. Neons Display
- Source – indianmart.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for commercial use
We see this particular display with perfect match style art decorative designs when we look behind to see the neon-based style typeface. These fonts look more than beautiful in big plans mostly.
27. Stiff staff
- Source – brontobytes.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
If a person is looking for something decorative based on retro style, he must try Stiff Staff for sure. This font’s designs are based on Bulgaria; specifically, Borislav Petrov, to provide nod constructivism to its kind.
28. Frutiger
- Source – myfonts.com
- Price- $237
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
This font was made in 1977 by Adrian Frutiger for the signature designs of the new Airport in Paris. The designer had already designed their typeface in 1957, but he thought to give it a unique look to his old geometric and compact signs.
Thus when this font came into existence, he called it beautiful and banal. The designer has contributed to the famous typeface of Linotype Didot too.
29. Still Time
- Source – previewfirst.net
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
This font has been made in the 1980s with the inspiration of rock and roll style. Also, this font allows a free commercial typeface look to its users. It has been designed by Typoermic font style and made available in TTF format to people.
30. Copper
- Source – fontmeme.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Going back to 1980s movies, we may notice these outrageous designs everywhere. The same goes with Copper; this edgy font gives a scratchy triangular 3D look, which looks perfect to be used in headers, titles, event posters, and invitations altogether.
31. Lovely Inline
- Source – lettersfromsweden.se
- Price- $19
- License- Commercial License
This font was designed by Hans Rinzler, who was an art director in Austria. The first thing you’ll notice about this font is that it comes out with open endings. You can download the free version of this font in three style options from Font Fabric.
This font style has a geometric sans-serif typeface, with basic Latin numerals, alphabets, punctuation, and a Latin alphabet.
32. Rockwell
- Source – myfonts.com
- Price-$39
- License- Personal and Commercial use
This font was created in 1934 by Monotype Foundry in a slab-serif typeface. This font style came out with edgy, thick, and distinct bold shapes. This font has remained so much popular in the current world because of its elegant piece of design.
33. Franklin Gothic
- Source – fontshop.com
- Price- $29
- License- Commercial Use
This font style was developed in 1903, by Morris Fuller Benton, in America and was redrawn in the 1980s. The designer also redrew this font style in the 1980s to embrace his style a little bit more.
In the 1980s, it got a style updation and was relaunched with a completely new and broad range of characters. Also, this font comes with different categories of names of realistic sans-serif style. The bold look of this font remained in the favourite list of the designers.
34. Lobster
- Source – etsy.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
This font script comes with hundreds of subtle alternatives and ligatures that come out with bold calligraphy. This font has been created in a typeface of Impallari’s viewpoint. To embed this font on your website, you must search it on Google Web Fonts Directory to get it in OTF format.
35. Orlando
- Source – 1001fontsfree.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Orlando embraces everything the 80s was known for, like movement, fun, geometry, and so on. This typeface is perfect for giving an eye-catching look to any typeface. Also, the usage of this font has always been to represent the nostalgia level of the 80s.
36. Ailerons
- Source – Befonts.com
- Price- $40
- License- Commercial License
The Ailerons typeface has been made with inspiration taken from the era of the 40s. The Brazil-based designer, Adilson, has made this design by getting the push of aircraft models too. Also, this font has a stylish, clean, retro vibe typeface. It comes with rounded edges and sharp ends.
37. Georgia
- Source – fontshop.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
This font was released in 1993 by Matthew Carter. Mr Mathew has collaborated with Tom Rickner to create a font design to be used further in Microsoft Font Collection. It can easily charm anyone with legibility, simplicity, and elegance.
Also, this font has been created for screen clarity that comes with low resolutions and Verdana counterparts.
38. Metropolis
- Source – fontspring.com
- Price- $12
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Metropolis font comes out with an Art Decorative style in the 1920s after getting the inspiration from the Industrial movement of that period. It features double lines and a bold look to describe the typography.
This font is perfect for you if you’re thinking about using it on a retro-futuristic project. Also, it can be downloaded in the OTF file whenever needed.
39. Thunderstorm
- Source – mightydeals.com
- Price- $14
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Thunderstorm font had shown the love of its designer for the pop culture. It was created with a handmade brush to showcase the free and experimental mindset of the people who lived in that time.
Also, this design still makes the texts a complete standout than the rest of the arrangements.
40. Big John/Slim Joe
- Source – dafontfree.io
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Big John/ Slim Joe typeface comes out in two typefaces of ultra-light and bold. Also, this Madrid –based typography design comes out in the geometric all-caps format.
If used together, this design provides an instant lookout design to the text, perfect to go with stunning effects in all retro and vintage projects. It comes out with glyphs and numerals to be used. Also, you can use it for personal as well as for commercial uses for free.
41. Charming
- Source – freebiejar.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Charming is a folk style typeface created with the inspiration taken from the Vintage American Lettering style. It is perfect to be used in signage designs, advertisement posters, logos, and lettering quotes.
The designer of this font base Anastasia Dimitriadiaa had set the format of this font in OpenType typeface. This font comes in other languages like Greek, Latin, and Cyrillic characters too.
42. High Tide
- Source – fontfabric.com
- Price- $28
- License- Free for personal use
As it sounds, high Tide is the deepest and powerful typeface, but somehow it comes out as the most relatable and gentle demeanour. This font style was based entirely on the hand-written typeface, which is probably the reason for its great retro option available to it.
43. Transistor
- Source – creativemarket.com
- Price- $15
- License- Commercial
Transistor font was one of the most popular fonts in the 1900s. Most of the electrical packaging and receipts were found used this font for so long. This font may cost a minimum amount right now, but it gives the nostalgia of the 80s directly by staring into it.
44. Aqua Grotesque
- Source – downloadfonts.io
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Aqua Grotesque font can be expressed as the font made for a mystical feel and a futuristic look. Also, this font comes out just in one regular weight, without any glyphs.
If you are looking for a font that can give your information a scientific edge, this font is a perfect choice. It makes the design look more vintage and retro when used.
45. Maxwell
- Source – 1001fonts.com
- Price- Free
- License-Free for Commercial Uses
Maxwell comes with three font weights of regular, light, and bold. Also, this font has been created by the famous typographist Ryan Pyae. It gives a complete vintage feeling when used.
Also, this font is simply fantastic to use in web designs, motion graphics, and prints. One must try this design while working on logotypes, headlines, and wordmarks. The format of this font has been kept as TTF.
46. Matchbook
- Source – fontsquirrel.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
Matchbook font comes with the condensed and narrow outlook of the 80s. It comes in two types together, Sans-serif and serif version. If you are looking for sporty and rounded characters, then these fonts go perfectly with your design.
This font looks more beautiful when taken for large scales accented characters.
47. REN Typeface
- Source – freebiesbug.com
- Price- Free
- License- Free for personal use
REN Typeface is only an uppercase font. It has been designed by Andreas Leonidou, in the intro format type of font. It comes with four different weights of Duo, Regular, Shadow, and Retro. The font looks perfect when used for logos, posters, motion graphics, etc. The main format comes with TTF fonts.
48. Devious Typeface
- Source – pixelbudhdha.net
- Price- $10
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
The Devious typeface comes with a simple yet minimalistic look, which is entirely suitable for posters, greeting cards, labels, and even invitation designs. This font comes in both OTF as well as in TTF format.
This typeface has a romantic and vintage feel to it, so if you’re designing a wedding card, this will be ready to go option for you.
49. Grand Hotel
- Source – downloadfonts.io
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Inspired by the 1937 movie cafe screen, appeared the Grand Hotel tool. It gives pure classy yet vintage vibes in its upper and lowercase design format/ This format comes out with Bakery and Holiday themed designs. Also, this font is available in OTF format only.
50. Endless Bummer
- Source – 1001fonts.com
- Price- Free
- License- Personal and Commercial Use
Endless Bummer is a complete radial yet hand-drawn font style that gives the vibe of 80s stake board brands, graphics, and culture. It comes in both lower as well as in uppercase format. It comes in only OTF format.
Hence there are many retro fonts available for you to try and integrate into your designings. Some are completely free for commercial and personal uses, while others are just available for personal services.
After finalizing the text, you should wisely decide which font will uniquely complement your project and provide the icing on the cake for your readers.
Happy designing!
