When used correctly, the right font type can help evoke emotion or influence a user’s scrolling behavior. For example, Sans Serif fonts best display on web and are therefore used by over 70% of Fortune 500 companies in their logos.
This piece of information made me curious about social media platforms and the fonts used to keep users hooked on apps for longer. That’s when I came across the question: What font does Instagram use and how does it impact its audience of millions?
If you’re also now curious like me, I’ve got the right summary for you. In this blog, I will explore Instagram’s font choices across its interface, Stories, Reels, captions, bios, along with tips to enhance your content using custom fonts.
Let’s dive right in and understand Instagram fonts better!
Instagram is currently using its own custom typeface, Instagram Sans, created by the award-winning Colophon Foundry for Meta. This typeface has changed the way users connect with the platform and made it more accessible for everyone.
Instagram Sans isn’t just one font—it’s a versatile family with options for different uses. Here’s what it offers:
The best part? It’s also multilingual, supporting languages like English, Serbian, Polish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and more.
Instagram Sans draws inspiration from a design concept called the “squircle”—a mix of squares and circles that’s central to Instagram’s iconic look. This unique blend gives the font its smooth, rounded edges and a modern yet approachable vibe.
One of its standout features is Instagram Sans Script, which adds a touch of artistic elements without sacrificing readability.
According to Colophon Foundry, the new Instagram font is “a case study in modernizing historical design principles,” showcasing a balance of tradition and innovation.
Instagram font is well designed to ensure maximum comfortability across different platforms.
Let’s see how Instagram handles text display on different operating systems.
Android devices have been using the Roboto typeface as their main font since 2011. That’s because Roboto’s mechanical precision and modern geometric structure works perfectly with Instagram’s Android interface.
The font’s tall x-height makes it easy to read on screens of all sizes and resolutions.
But the text display on Android comes with its own challenges. A complex caption can take up to 50ms to draw and 30ms to measure while scrolling.
Instagram solved these challenges with several smart techniques:
Apple’s San Francisco font family powers Instagram on iOS devices since 2014. This font gives users clear, consistent text across Apple platforms.
It adjusts size-specific outlines and spacing automatically to keep text readable at any size.
The system has:
Now, let’s explore all Instagram font types available across different features.
You must have noticed that Instagram Stories lately have more font and style options. That’s because of the introduction of 6 new custom typefaces.
The new Instagram story fonts are:
Moreover, text animations now come with sparkle, shimmer, and pixelation effects. This makes it easy for you to implement your Instagram Story ideas in a more visually appealing way.
Just like Instagram Stories, Reels also have the 6 new custom typefaces like Signature, Editor, Bubble, Squeeze, Poster, and Deco. That’s because the usage of the right Instagram font can help you easily capture attention, enhance message clarity, and add creative flair.
But that doesn’t mean you go crazy with fonts. Overloading your Reels with too many styles or effects can make them look cluttered and distract from your message.
Instead, follow these best practices to keep your text effective and visually appealing:
There’s no surprise that Instagram by default uses a clean and simple sans-serif font for bios. Both Android and iOS platforms display the bio in their respective system fonts: Roboto for Android and San Francisco for iOS. These fonts ensure that your bio is easy to read, regardless of the device or screen size.
To further make your bio more appealing, you can use emojis or special characters. Here are a few Instagram bio ideas you must check out!
When you post comments or captions on Instagram, the font used is part of the system font stack, with Roboto for Android users and San Francisco for iOS users. The Instagram caption font is designed for readability, keeping the conversation flowing smoothly.
Instagram doesn’t allow much customization in these fonts. However, users can still make their comments or captions stand out by using emojis or creative formatting techniques.
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Here’s the thing about Instagram fonts–they are clean and functional. But every once in a while, you might want to customize fonts to stand out in a sea of content.
Here’s you can achieve that:
Remember: While custom fonts can make your content more eye-catching, readability should always be your priority. The most creative font won’t matter if your audience can’t read it.
When I went down the Instagram font rabbit hole, I was amazed by how minor changes like typography can have a huge impact on the way we interact with the platform.
Understanding what font does Instagram use across different features – from SF Pro Display in the interface to the variety of options in Stories – reveals how thoughtfully the platform approaches its typography choices.
Here’s what I like best: What font Instagram uses isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about creating a balance between consistency and creativity.
If you’ve reached the end of this blog, I would like to say two things:
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The Instagram logo utilizes a bespoke sans-serif font named “Billabong.” For similar fonts, you might consider options like Futura, Avant Garde, or Avenir.
Instagram primarily uses a font called Instagram Sans for its system text. Additionally, on Android devices, Instagram captions are displayed in Roboto, which is the default system font.
Instagram Sans is notable for its unique design, which incorporates elements of both a circle and a square, often referred to as a “squircle.” This design reflects Instagram’s commitment to simplicity and craftsmanship.
Yes, Instagram allows the use of various fonts, especially in Stories. Users can choose from a selection of fonts provided by Instagram or use third-party font generators to create and use custom fonts in their Stories.
The Instagram interface primarily uses the Instagram Sans font, which is designed to be simple and functional, aligning with the platform’s overall esthetic and usability goals.
Mamta is an SEO Analyst with 2 years of experience. Currently, she is spending her time on content roadmapping to drive organic growth and engagement for SaaS businesses. Mamta is also an avid cinephile who spends her spare time watching latest action and sci-fi flicks from around the world.
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