Best Font Pairings On Squarespace to Optimize Loading Speed
Meet the easiest hack that improves the speed of your Squarespace website: Websafe fonts.
Websafe fonts are typefaces that are pre-installed on most devices. They don’t require the browsers to load additional files, which results in a faster loading speed. Even if you swap out just one custom font for a websafe alternative, it can make your site load faster.
In this post, let’s explore the best font combos on Squarespace that utilize websafe fonts.
Best Font Pairings For Loading Speed in Squarespace
Georgia + Verdana
Georgia + Verdana is a safe, reliable, and visually pleasing font combination. Georgia is a serif font with a refined, elegant look often associated with print media. Verdana is a clean, sans-serif font designed for optimal readability on screens. This mix gives you a touch of traditional formality combined with modern clarity.
Both Georgia and Verdana are highly legible fonts. Georgia's serifs can make it easier to read long passages of text, while Verdana's simplicity ensures easy readability on smaller screens or at reduced sizes.
Times New Roman + Helvetica
Times New Roman + Helvetica is a classic and functional font combination. Times New Roman is a serif font with a traditional, formal look. Helvetica is a sans-serif with a clean, modern aesthetic. This creates a strong visual contrast that's pleasing to the eye and helps distinguish different sections of text.
Despite their differences, Times New Roman and Helvetica share a sense of neutrality and legibility. While there might be more exciting or trendy combinations, this one remains a dependable choice for many design projects.
Verdana + Trebuchet MS
Verdana + Trebuchet MS is a classic web-safe font pairing that offers excellent legibility and a friendly, approachable feel. Both Verdana and Trebuchet MS are sans-serif fonts designed for optimal screen readability. They share a rounded, open structure, with Verdana being slightly wider and heavier.
While very similar, the subtle differences between the two fonts prevent the pairing from being too monotonous. Verdana's wider stance offers a touch of strength while Trebuchet MS maintains a softer, friendlier edge.
This pairing prioritizes clarity and easy reading. It's a safe and dependable choice for websites aiming for a clean and uncluttered look, especially those focused on informational content.
Other Great Squarespace Font Combinations
If you don’t like the appearance of websafe font pairings, I get it, they aren’t sexy. Let’s try the font pairs with just one websafe font then. You can also get the full list of websafe fonts (a “whooping” nine fonts in total) to experiment with.
Montserrat + Verdana
Montserrat + Verdana is a popular choice for websites that want a clean look. Modern, clean, with a hint of geometric flair.
Montserrat brings a touch of visual interest without being overly stylized, while Verdana maintains a classic simplicity. These two fonts provide a pleasing contrast. Montserrat is a geometric sans-serif, while Verdana is a rounded, humanist sans-serif. This gives your designs a sense of structure and hierarchy.
Georgia + Poppins
Georgia + Poppins offers a touch of classic sophistication with a modern, approachable feel. Georgia is a classic serif font with refined lines, while Poppins is a geometric sans-serif with a friendly, rounded style. This contrast creates visual interest without clashing.
Georgia evokes a sense of tradition and formality, making it a great choice for established brands or content with a focus on heritage. Poppins brings in a contemporary feel with its clean lines and slightly playful curves. It helps soften Georgia's formality and adds a touch of warmth.
Playfair Display + Arial
Playfair Display + Arial is great for websites seeking a refined look. Playfair Display is a refined serif font with beautiful curves and flourishes designed for larger text. Combined with Arial, it provides a strong visual contrast that's interesting without being overwhelming.
Playfair Display brings a sense of elegance and sophistication to the overall design. Arial's neutrality keeps things grounded and prevents the design from feeling too ornate or old-fashioned.
Freight Display Pro + Helvetica
With characteristics similar to the previous pair, Freight Display Pro + Helvetica provides a more approachable, friendly option.
Both fonts have a modern feel while still maintaining a sense of professionalism. Freight Display Pro shines in headlines and titles, drawing attention with its subtle character. Helvetica's clarity makes it an ideal choice for body text and smaller sizes.
Oswald + Helvetica
Oswald + Helvetica is a font pairing that delivers a strong, modern look. Oswald is a condensed sans-serif font with a powerful presence. Helvetica is known for its clean lines and neutrality. This combination balances visual impact with a sense of groundedness.
While both sans-serifs, they differ slightly in weight and structure. Oswald's condensed form adds a touch of uniqueness while Helvetica serves as a versatile and legible foundation. Oswald brings attention to headings while Helvetica ensures readability for body text.
Can I Use These Font Pairings If My Brand Typography Is Different?
In most cases, yes.
While your brand typography should be the primary visual language for your designs, using web-safe font pairings alongside your brand fonts is a smart and practical solution.
Most web users don’t notice the subtle difference in typography. Your brand fonts might be beautiful but not always ideal for large chunks of text or small screen sizes. Web-safe fonts are often designed for optimal legibility, enhancing the user experience on your website.
That said, if your website is very brand-centric, where its visual identity is critical to success, maintaining complete font consistency is more important. This might be true for luxury brands, design portfolios, or sites aiming for an extremely unique aesthetic.
To balance brand consistency and site speed, you can consider:
Hybrid Approach: Use your distinctive font for major headings and a complementary websafe font for body text. This optimizes for speed without sacrificing overall feel.
Close Alternatives: Choose a font combination that closely resembles your brand typography. For example, if your brand fonts are serif, choose the websafe alternative that is also serif.
Key Takeaways
The best font pairings for loading speed in Squarespace are Georgia + Verdana, Times New Roman + Helvetica, and Verdana + Trebuchet MS.
If you don’t like those combinations, try font combinations with just one websafe font. In this category, we have Montserrat + Verdana, Georgia + Poppins, Playfair Display + Arial, Freight Display Pro + Helvetica, and Oswald + Helvetica.
You can use web-safe font pairings alongside your brand fonts without affecting your brand’s consistency, unless your website is very brand-focused.
More Resources on Squarespace Fonts
With Squarespace font combinations as inspirations, take a fresh look at your website and see where a strategic font pairing could improve both style and readability.
If you need more inspiration and speed optimization isn’t a priority, check out our other Squarespace font combination post: 5 Luxury Font Combinations for Premium Services Websites. We also have a guide on How to Install Custom Fonts on Squarespace, enabling you to use any font you want on your Squarespace website.
