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How sure can you be that the font you specify will be present on the end user's machine? This is the latest snapshot of the Code Style Windows font survey and should give you greater confidence in selecting a font.

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The most common Windows fonts

The most common reported font on the Windows platform is the system interface font Tahoma, reported in practically 100% of submissions. the classic typewriter font Courier New Windows system Microsoft Sans Serif and Mathew Carter's sans serif Verdana take joint second place. Microsoft's sans serif font Arial completes the top 5 most common Windows fonts.

The new Web safe fonts

Several font families not commonly recognised as Web safe fonts are reported with more than 98% frequency on Windows systems:

Most common fonts on Windows systems to 14 August 2010
Font name Installed (%) Sample Image
Tahoma 99.90% 99.90% Sample Image
Courier New 99.71% 99.71% Sample Image
Microsoft Sans Serif 99.71% 99.71% Sample Image
Verdana 99.71% 99.71% Sample Image
Arial 99.66% 99.66% Sample Image
Times New Roman 99.61% 99.61% Sample Image
Trebuchet MS 99.32% 99.32% Sample Image
Lucida Console 99.18% 99.18% Sample Image
Comic Sans MS 99.13% 99.13% Sample Image
Impact 99.03% 99.03% Sample Image
Georgia 98.98% 98.98% Sample Image
Lucida Sans Unicode 98.79% 98.79% Sample Image
Palatino Linotype 98.79% 98.79% Sample Image
Arial Black 98.35% 98.35% Sample Image
Franklin Gothic Medium 98.25% 98.25% Sample Image
Sylfaen 96.22% 96.22% Sample Image
MV Boli 96.07% 96.07% Sample  
Estrangelo Edessa 95.44% 95.44% Sample  
Mangal 95.10% 95.10% Sample  
Tunga 94.91% 94.91% Sample  
Gautami 94.86% 94.86% Sample  
Latha 94.86% 94.86% Sample  
Shruti 94.81% 94.81% Sample  
Raavi 94.72% 94.72% Sample  
Arial Narrow 89.05% 89.05% Sample Image
Century Gothic 88.22% 88.22% Sample Image
Kartika 87.98% 87.98% Sample Image
Vrinda 87.98% 87.98% Sample Image
Garamond 86.91% 86.91% Sample Image
Book Antiqua 86.38% 86.38% Sample Image
Bookman Old Style 85.94% 85.94% Sample Image
Monotype Corsiva 82.94% 82.94% Sample Image
MS Reference Sans Serif 72.86% 72.86% Sample Image
Haettenschweiler 68.59% 68.59% Sample Image
Arial Unicode MS 65.78% 65.78% Sample Image
Lucida Sans 65.63% 65.63% Sample Image
Calibri 65.10% 65.10% Sample Image
Cambria 65.10% 65.10% Sample Image
Papyrus 65.10% 65.10% Sample Image
Bradley Hand ITC 64.86% 64.86% Sample Image
Candara 64.81% 64.81% Sample Image
Consolas 64.81% 64.81% Sample Image
Cambria Math 64.76% 64.76% Sample  
Corbel 64.76% 64.76% Sample Image
Constantia 64.47% 64.47% Sample Image
Tempus Sans ITC 64.32% 64.32% Sample Image
French Script MT 64.28% 64.28% Sample Image
Mistral 63.35% 63.35% Sample Image
Kristen ITC 63.26% 63.26% Sample Image
Copperplate Gothic Light 62.43% 62.43% Sample Image
Copperplate Gothic Bold 62.38% 62.38% Sample Image
Perpetua 62.38% 62.38% Sample Image
Franklin Gothic Book 62.29% 62.29% Sample Image
Juice ITC 62.14% 62.14% Sample  
Felix Titling 61.95% 61.95% Sample Image
Maiandra GD 61.95% 61.95% Sample Image
MS Mincho 61.90% 61.90% Sample  
Curlz MT 61.80% 61.80% Sample Image
Edwardian Script ITC 61.80% 61.80% Sample Image
Franklin Gothic Medium Cond 61.80% 61.80% Sample Image
Franklin Gothic Demi 61.75% 61.75% Sample Image
Engravers MT 61.66% 61.66% Sample Image
Eras Demi ITC 61.66% 61.66% Sample Image
Rockwell Extra Bold 61.61% 61.61% Sample Image
Eras Light ITC 61.46% 61.46% Sample Image
Blackadder ITC 61.17% 61.17% Sample Image
Rockwell 60.98% 60.98% Sample Image
OCR A Extended 60.79% 60.79% Sample Image
Franklin Gothic Demi Cond 60.35% 60.35% Sample Image
Franklin Gothic Heavy 60.35% 60.35% Sample Image
Vivaldi 60.20% 60.20% Sample Image
Pristina 59.67% 59.67% Sample  
Jokerman 59.38% 59.38% Sample  
Freestyle Script 58.07% 58.07% Sample  
Lucida Handwriting 57.15% 57.15% Sample Image
Arial Rounded MT Bold 55.07% 55.07% Sample Image
Segoe UI 54.97% 54.97% Sample Image
Calisto MT 54.44% 54.44% Sample Image
Script MT Bold 54.44% 54.44% Sample  
Century Schoolbook 53.85% 53.85% Sample Image
Imprint MT Shadow 53.81% 53.81% Sample  
Gill Sans MT 53.66% 53.66% Sample  
Gill Sans Ultra Bold 53.66% 53.66% Sample  
Goudy Old Style 53.56% 53.56% Sample Image
Palace Script MT 53.56% 53.56% Sample  
Goudy Stout 53.32% 53.32% Sample  
Gill Sans MT Condensed 53.22% 53.22% Sample  
Castellar 53.13% 53.13% Sample  
Rage Italic 53.08% 53.08% Sample  
Lucida Calligraphy 52.88% 52.88% Sample  
Agency FB 52.79% 52.79% Sample  
Forte 52.74% 52.74% Sample  
Gill Sans MT Ext Condensed Bold 52.74% 52.74% Sample  
Eras Medium ITC 52.69% 52.69% Sample  
Perpetua Titling MT 52.69% 52.69% Sample  
Rockwell Condensed 52.69% 52.69% Sample  
Cooper Black 52.59% 52.59% Sample  
Gigi 52.54% 52.54% Sample  
Gill Sans Ultra Bold Condensed 52.54% 52.54% Sample  
Viner Hand ITC 52.54% 52.54% Sample  
Eras Bold ITC 52.50% 52.50% Sample  
Wide Latin 52.45% 52.45% Sample Image
Britannic Bold 52.35% 52.35% Sample Image
Tw Cen MT Condensed 52.30% 52.30% Sample  
Tw Cen MT 52.25% 52.25% Sample  
Broadway 52.21% 52.21% Sample  
Onyx 52.16% 52.16% Sample  
Snap ITC 52.16% 52.16% Sample  
Algerian 52.11% 52.11% Sample Image
Gloucester MT Extra Condensed 52.11% 52.11% Sample  
Harrington 52.01% 52.01% Sample  
Playbill 52.01% 52.01% Sample Image
Chiller 51.96% 51.96% Sample  
Tw Cen MT Condensed Extra Bold 51.96% 51.96% Sample  
Brush Script MT 51.91% 51.91% Sample Image
Matura MT Script Capitals 51.91% 51.91% Sample Image
Baskerville Old Face 51.87% 51.87% Sample  
Bauhaus 93 51.87% 51.87% Sample  
Old English Text MT 51.82% 51.82% Sample  
Footlight MT Light 51.62% 51.62% Sample Image
Bernard MT Condensed 51.58% 51.58% Sample  
Harlow Solid Italic 51.58% 51.58% Sample  
Vladimir Script 51.53% 51.53% Sample  
Informal Roman 51.48% 51.48% Sample  
Kunstler Script 51.43% 51.43% Sample  
Stencil 51.38% 51.38% Sample  
Bell MT 51.09% 51.09% Sample  
Colonna MT 51.04% 51.04% Sample Image
Centaur 50.61% 50.61% Sample  
Californian FB 50.56% 50.56% Sample  
Ravie 50.51% 50.51% Sample  
Showcard Gothic 50.51% 50.51% Sample  
High Tower Text 50.46% 50.46% Sample  
Berlin Sans FB 50.36% 50.36% Sample  
Bodoni MT 50.32% 50.32% Sample  
Bodoni MT Black 50.27% 50.27% Sample  
Bodoni MT Condensed 50.27% 50.27% Sample  
Niagara Engraved 50.22% 50.22% Sample  
Niagara Solid 50.22% 50.22% Sample  
Berlin Sans FB Demi 49.44% 49.44% Sample  
Magneto 49.39% 49.39% Sample  
Lucida Fax 48.91% 48.91% Sample  
Bodoni MT Poster Compressed 48.38% 48.38% Sample  
Batang 46.92% 46.92% Sample  
SimSun 46.53% 46.53% Sample  
Iskoola Pota 46.19% 46.19% Sample  
Mongolian Baiti 46.19% 46.19% Sample  
Segoe Print 46.19% 46.19% Sample  
Segoe Script 46.19% 46.19% Sample  
Lucida Sans Typewriter 45.86% 45.86% Sample Image
DaunPenh 45.71% 45.71% Sample  
DokChampa 45.71% 45.71% Sample  
Euphemia 45.71% 45.71% Sample  
Kalinga 45.71% 45.71% Sample  
Microsoft Yi Baiti 45.71% 45.71% Sample  
Nyala 45.71% 45.71% Sample  
Lucida Bright 45.32% 45.32% Sample  
Arabic Typesetting 45.24% 45.24% Sample  
PMingLiU 41.11% 41.11% Sample  
MS Gothic 40.04% 40.04% Sample  
MS UI Gothic 38.58% 38.58% Sample  
GulimChe 38.54% 38.54% Sample  
MS PMincho 38.49% 38.49% Sample  
MS PGothic 38.44% 38.44% Sample  
NSimSun 38.44% 38.44% Sample  
MingLiU 38.39% 38.39% Sample  
Gulim 38.15% 38.15% Sample  
Dotum 38.10% 38.10% Sample  
DotumChe 38.10% 38.10% Sample  
BatangChe 38.00% 38.00% Sample  
Gungsuh 38.00% 38.00% Sample  
GungsuhChe 38.00% 38.00% Sample  
SimHei 37.81% 37.81% Sample  
Bitstream Vera Sans Mono 24.04% 24.04% Sample  
Eurostile 20.99% 20.99% Sample  
Matisse ITC 20.46% 20.46% Sample  
Bitstream Vera Sans 18.76% 18.76% Sample  
Bitstream Vera Serif 18.42% 18.42% Sample  
Staccato222 BT 13.33% 13.33% Sample  
Broadway BT 9.89% 9.89% Sample  
Baby Kruffy 9.50% 9.50% Sample  
Calligraph421 BT 9.16% 9.16% Sample  
ParkAvenue BT 9.11% 9.11% Sample  
MisterEarl BT 8.97% 8.97% Sample  
Square721 BT 8.97% 8.97% Sample  
Cataneo BT 8.73% 8.73% Sample  
Alba Super 8.63% 8.63% Sample  
Alba 8.48% 8.48% Sample  
Blackletter686 BT 8.48% 8.48% Sample  
Alba Matter 8.24% 8.24% Sample  
Ruach LET 7.95% 7.95% Sample  
Chick 7.80% 7.80% Sample  
Rage Italic LET 7.80% 7.80% Sample  
Westwood LET 7.80% 7.80% Sample  
La Bamba LET 7.76% 7.76% Sample  
Scruff LET 7.76% 7.76% Sample  
Frosty 7.71% 7.71% Sample  
John Handy LET 7.66% 7.66% Sample  
Milano LET 7.61% 7.61% Sample  
Helvetica 7.42% 7.42% Sample  
Weltron Urban 7.42% 7.42% Sample  
Croobie 7.32% 7.32% Sample  
Freshbot 7.32% 7.32% Sample  
Jenkins v2.0 7.22% 7.22% Sample  
OldDreadfulNo7 BT 7.22% 7.22% Sample  
Jokerman LET 7.17% 7.17% Sample  
Mekanik LET 7.17% 7.17% Sample  
One Stroke Script LET 7.17% 7.17% Sample  
Pussycat 7.17% 7.17% Sample  
Orange LET 7.13% 7.13% Sample  
Pump Demi Bold LET 7.13% 7.13% Sample  
Tiranti Solid LET 7.13% 7.13% Sample  
GlooGun 7.08% 7.08% Sample  
Highlight LET 7.08% 7.08% Sample  
Smudger LET 7.08% 7.08% Sample  
Fat 7.03% 7.03% Sample  
Jokewood 6.98% 6.98% Sample  
Quixley LET 6.98% 6.98% Sample  
University Roman LET 6.98% 6.98% Sample  
Victorian LET 6.88% 6.88% Sample  
Academy Engraved LET 6.83% 6.83% Sample  
Odessa LET 6.83% 6.83% Sample  
Poornut 6.83% 6.83% Sample  
Univers 5.96% 5.96% Sample  
Verdana Ref 5.82% 5.82% Sample  
Kabel Ult BT 5.77% 5.77% Sample  
Abadi MT Condensed Light 5.28% 5.28% Sample Image
Helvetica Narrow 4.94% 4.94% Sample  
Times 4.70% 4.70% Sample  
Palatino 4.36% 4.36% Sample  
New Century Schoolbook 4.22% 4.22% Sample  
News Gothic MT 4.17% 4.17% Sample Image
Beesknees ITC 4.02% 4.02% Sample  
Braggadocio 3.97% 3.97% Sample Image
Andale Mono 3.88% 3.88% Sample Image
Kino MT 3.88% 3.88% Sample Image
MS Reference Serif 3.88% 3.88% Sample  
Georgia Ref 3.83% 3.83% Sample  
Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold 3.49% 3.49% Sample  
Andale Mono IPA 3.49% 3.49% Sample  
GENUINE 3.05% 3.05% Sample  
Placard Condensed 3.05% 3.05% Sample  
OCRB 3.01% 3.01% Sample  
Pepita MT 2.96% 2.96% Sample  
Andy 2.91% 2.91% Sample  
Desdemona 2.86% 2.86% Sample Image
Abadi MT Condensed 2.81% 2.81% Sample  
Monaco 2.71% 2.71% Sample  
DomBold BT 2.47% 2.47% Sample  
Optima 2.42% 2.42% Sample  
Bickley Script 2.38% 2.38% Sample  
Runic MT Condensed 2.38% 2.38% Sample  
Gill Sans 2.28% 2.28% Sample  
Base 02 2.23% 2.23% Sample  
Chicago 2.13% 2.13% Sample  
Fine Hand 2.13% 2.13% Sample  
CAMPBELL 2.04% 2.04% Sample  
Geneva 1.94% 1.94% Sample  
MARKETPRO 1.89% 1.89% Sample  
A Charming Font 1.75% 1.75% Sample  
Helvetica Neue 1.65% 1.65% Sample  
Mercurius Script MT Bold 1.60% 1.60% Sample  
Apple Chancery 1.45% 1.45% Sample  
New York 1.45% 1.45% Sample  
Futura 1.36% 1.36% Sample  
BudHand 1.07% 1.07% Sample  
Hoefler Text 1.02% 1.02% Sample  
FIRSTHOME 0.97% 0.97% Sample  
Monotype.com 0.97% 0.97% Sample Image
Mead Bold 0.92% 0.92% Sample  
Champignon 0.87% 0.87% Sample  
DecoType Naskh 0.87% 0.87% Sample  
04b_21 0.53% 0.53% Sample  
Minion Web 0.39% 0.39% Sample  
Gadget 0.19% 0.19% Sample  
Terminal 0.15% 0.15% Sample Image
Textile 0.10% 0.10% Sample  

Font survey statistics

These figures are the cumulative total of font survey submissions since April 2007. Older submissions are archived to maintain a 3 year rolling sample. The table shows the average submission rate and totals for each operating system, and the the date the applet-based survey was introduced.

Survey Windows Mac Linux
Submissions per week 10 2 2
Submission sample 2063 379 329
Survey applet from 21 April 2007 12 May 2007 21 February 2009
Fonts surveyed 292 133 102

Font stacks for print style sheets

Our main interest is to build reliable font stacks for screen rendering, but CSS allows us to specify a different font stack to print Web pages. The most reliable way to apply print media style sheets is to use the media attribute on the style sheet link element. The selectors you choose and font-family declarations you add to this style sheet will only apply when the page is printed. 

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"
      href="/styles/print.css" media="print" />

What font combinations would you choose for print? Use the font stack builder to create a print font stack and submit your ideas.

CSS font family resources

Web font survey and sampler

Contribute to the survey and discover the new Web safe fonts.

Common fonts by generic font family

Set an unconventional font style and stack fallback fonts with confidence.

Web font foundations

Font jargon: CSS font family glossary

Find fonts: Anchor Points: Font foundries & sources

Get the sampler font code: Sampler.css

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