Fonts play an important role in the design of a newsletter. To ensure that the fonts used are displayed in the same way for every e-mail recipient, it is advisable to only use web-safe fonts that are available on every receiving device and can be displayed correctly by every e-mail client. Unfortunately, most e-mail clients, such as Outlook, only support a limited selection of fonts that can be used without hesitation.
Recommended fonts
If possible, use the following web-safe fonts:
- Arial
- Helvetica
- Verdana
- Calibri
- Times New Roman
Sans-serif fonts are easier to read on screens than serif fonts.
Limit the design to a few fonts, otherwise the newsletter may appear confusing and untrustworthy.
Font sizes
When choosing the font size, make sure that the font is easy to read. A font size that is too small can make it difficult to read, while a font size that is too large can appear too clunky and coarse. Also pay attention to the ratio between headline and body text.
Line spacing
Line spacing (line-height) contributes to the legibility of a text. If the line spacing is too small or too large, it is difficult to follow the lines. Line length also plays an important role here. If lines of text are too long, the reader has difficulty finding the beginning of the next line at the end, which impairs the reading flow.
Web fonts
The integration of web fonts in emails is technically possible, but not recommended. If a web font is used in an email, the loading time of the email is extended as the font must first be loaded by the server that provides the font. This leads to delays, especially on mobile devices. If the server hosting the fonts is offline, an alternative font is used, which can lead to an unattractive display of the email. With Google Fonts, personal data is transferred to the USA, which is not GDPR-compliant and is problematic in terms of data protection law. The question of whether the font may only be used for your own website or also for newsletters must also be regulated in the license conditions of the web fonts used; there are often restrictions here. We advise against the use of web fonts.