Fonts for Healthcare & Medical
Typography for medical devices, drug labels, healthcare applications, and clinical communications. Compliance requirements often mandate specific font sizes and styles for patient safety.
Typography Requirements
Source-backed compliance information for healthcare & medical applications.
FDA Drug Facts Label Requirements
- • Minimum 6-point type for Drug Facts labels (with exceptions for small packages)
- • Sans-serif fonts are recommended for Drug Facts panels for clarity
- • Active ingredients, warnings, and key safety information should use bold
- • Adequate contrast between text and background for readability
Source: FDA 21 CFR § 201.66 (retrieved 2026-01-14)
FDA Labeling Guidance
- • Type size measured by x-height of lowercase letters
- • Bullet points recommended for improved readability
- • Consistent formatting throughout label elements
Source: FDA Labeling Guidance Document (retrieved 2026-01-14)
Note: Requirements may vary by jurisdiction. Consult relevant authorities for your specific context.
Font Selection Checklist
Key questions to consider when choosing fonts for healthcare & medical applications.
Is this for patient-facing labeling or internal documentation?
Patient-facing labels have stricter readability requirements. Internal docs have more flexibility but should still prioritize clarity.
What is the minimum physical size the text will appear?
FDA requires minimum 6pt for drug labels. Consider 8pt+ for elderly patients or low-vision accessibility.
Will the font be used for warning or safety-critical text?
Safety-critical text should use bold weights. Avoid decorative fonts. High contrast is essential.
Recommended Fonts
Curated free fonts well-suited for healthcare & medical applications.
More Options
Additional fonts tagged for healthcare & medical applications.
Migrating from Premium Fonts?
Common premium fonts used in healthcare & medical and their free alternatives.
| Premium Font | Free Alternative | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Helvetica | Inter | 88% |
| Frutiger | Hind | 82% |
| Myriad Pro | Source Sans Pro | 88% |
| Avenir | Nunito | 88% |
| Univers | Inter | 85% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What font size is required for FDA drug labels?
FDA 21 CFR § 201.66 requires a minimum of 6-point type for Drug Facts labels, with some exceptions for small packages. The size is measured by the x-height of lowercase letters. For better readability, especially for elderly patients, consider using 8-point or larger.
Are there specific fonts approved by the FDA?
The FDA does not mandate specific fonts, but recommends sans-serif typefaces for Drug Facts panels due to their clarity. The key requirements are readability, adequate size, and proper contrast. Most clean, professional sans-serif fonts meet these guidelines.
Related Industries
Sources
- FDA 21 CFR § 201.66 — Retrieved 2026-01-14
- FDA Labeling Guidance Document — Retrieved 2026-01-14