How to choose a typeface for a kiosk display

People may read a kiosk while standing, moving, or dealing with glare. If the type is too small, thin, or cramped, they can miss a button or give up before finishing.

Compare fonts using the words and numbers your kiosk actually shows, then check your choice on the kiosk screen from the distance people will use it. The Installed Fonts tool lets you preview text in fonts available on your computer.

Compare typefaces for your kiosk

1. Open Installed Fonts on a computer in Chrome or Edge. The tool can show every font installed on that computer and preview your own text.
2. Write a short sample using real kiosk content. Include a main instruction, a button label, a longer message, and any important numbers or codes.
3. Preview several fonts with the same sample. Compare the shapes of similar characters, the weight of the letters, and how quickly you can read each line.
4. Try your strongest two or three choices on the kiosk itself. View them at the normal screen size and from the distance users will stand, without zooming in.

A useful sample could include “Tap to start,” “Choose a pickup time,” a price, and characters that are easy to confuse, such as I l 1 and O 0. If your kiosk supports more than one language, include accented letters or characters from each language in your sample.

Choose a typeface that fits the kiosk

For instructions and button labels

Look for letter shapes that are easy to tell apart and remain clear at a glance. A straightforward sans serif is often a practical starting point, but the name of the font matters less than how it looks at the final size on your screen. Avoid very thin strokes, tight spacing, and overly condensed styles for essential instructions.

Use a regular or medium weight for most text. A bold weight can help a heading stand out, but using bold for every label makes it harder to see which information matters most. Sentence case is usually easier to scan than long strings of all-capital text.

For prices, times, and codes

Check numbers separately from words. Make sure users can distinguish characters such as 5 and S, or 8 and B. If the kiosk displays columns of prices or times, see whether the numerals line up clearly. A typeface with tabular numerals can help, but only if the kiosk software supports that feature.

For multilingual kiosks

Do not assume a font that looks good in English includes every character your kiosk needs. Preview actual names, accents, punctuation, and other writing systems. Missing characters may be replaced by a different font, so a line can look uneven even when the chosen typeface works well for English.

Fix common readability problems

1. Make important text larger. Increase the size of instructions and action labels in the kiosk interface, then check that longer messages still fit without clipping. Choose a size based on a real viewing test rather than assuming one point size will work on every screen.
2. Check screen scaling. A different display scale can change how large interface elements appear. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display › Scale. On a Mac, open System Settings › Displays. Set the kiosk to its intended display configuration before evaluating the type.
3. Use stronger strokes and clear contrast. If letters fade into the background or disappear under bright lighting, try a heavier font weight and improve the text-to-background contrast. Check the result from the side as well as straight on.
4. Give labels room. Increase line spacing or shorten the wording if lines feel crowded. Keep button labels concise, and leave enough space around buttons so users can distinguish one action from another.
5. Check for font substitution. If text looks different on the kiosk than on your design computer, the kiosk may not have the same font. Preview the candidate on the kiosk computer or ask the person who manages it to install and configure the approved font.

Changing the whole screen's scale is not a substitute for adjusting the kiosk interface. A scale change can make every element larger, cause content to overflow, or alter the layout. Use it only if it is part of the kiosk's intended setup.

Test the finished screen with real users

Fonts that look readable on a design monitor can be difficult to use on a kiosk because the screen may be farther away, brighter, or viewed at an angle. Test the finished interface in its normal location and lighting. Ask a few people to read key instructions and find a specific button without prompting. If they lean closer, pause to decipher characters, or tap the wrong control, revise the size, spacing, wording, or typeface and test again.

Installed Fonts works in Chrome and Edge on a computer. It shows fonts available on the computer you open it on, not necessarily those installed on the kiosk. Check the font's license before using it in a public or commercial display.