What fonts are similar to Times New Roman?

Type Team
3 min readOct 11, 2023

--

Alternatives to the Times New Roman font

Typography is an art form that breathes life into design, and the choice of a typeface can shape the entire look and feel of a project. Times New Roman, a classic serif font, has been a staple in print for decades, known for its timeless and elegant appearance. However, designers often seek different fonts to Times New Roman to add diversity to their projects or to meet specific design needs.

Here are our favorite fonts similar to Times New Roman.

7 Fonts Similar to Times New Roman

1. Nimbus Roman

Designer: URW Design Staff

Characteristics: Nimbus Roman is often noted for its close resemblance to Times New Roman. Nimbus Roman is a serif typeface with a classic, slightly formal style. It offers a range of weights and styles, making it a versatile choice for various types of publications and documents.

Preview Nimbus Roman

2. Plantin

Designers: Fritz Stelzer and Frank Hinman Pierpont

Characteristics: A robust and versatile serif font, Plantin is known for its clear and readable style. It has a strong historic connection as it was a basis for Times New Roman. Its generous x-height and slightly condensed letters make it an excellent choice for both text and display uses.

Preview Plantin

3. Sabon

Designer: Jan Tschichold

Characteristics: Sabon is a popular and elegant serif font that shares many classic characteristics with Times New Roman, offering a balanced and harmonious text flow.

Preview Sabon

4. Garamond

Designer: Claude Garamond

Characteristics: Garamond, with its graceful, old-style serifs, is another font similar to Times New Roman, making it an ideal choice for text-heavy documents, such as books, academic papers, or newspapers.

Preview Garamond

5. Palatino

Designer: Hermann Zapf

Characteristics: Palatino is a font with serifs that resemble Times New Roman but with a touch of calligraphic elegance. It can be a great alternative for projects that need a more artistic and sophisticated look.

Preview Palatino

6. Cambria

Designer: Jelle Bosma

Characteristics: Cambria is a typeface that closely resembles Times New Roman, sharing a similar classic serif style. It’s often used for academic and professional documents, making it an ideal choice for reports and research papers.

Preview Cambria

7. Bodoni

Designer: Giambattista Bodoni

Characteristics: Bodoni, with its high contrast and modern serifs, is similar to Times New Roman, but with a more contemporary edge. It’s often chosen for fashion, luxury, and editorial design to achieve a refined look.

Preview Bodoni

Selecting the right typeface for your project is a vital decision. It involves considering factors like the project’s context, target audience, and readability requirements. Additionally, experimenting with different typeface combinations can breathe new life into your designs and help you create a unique visual identity. These alternatives to Times New Roman give you a starting point for your typographic journey, allowing you to find the perfect font for your design endeavors.

--

--