Fonts that look like a typewriter
Special Elite gives the worn, inky look of a real typewriter; Courier Prime and Cutive Mono are clean typewriter faces. All are free on Google Fonts. Built into most computers: Courier New (Windows and Mac) and American Typewriter (Mac).
6 free fonts that look like a typewriter
INT. OFFICE – NIGHT. The phone rings.
Uneven, inky edges like a worn ribbon: the most “real” typewriter look.
View on Google Fonts ↗INT. OFFICE – NIGHT. The phone rings.
Courier redrawn for screenplays; heavier and cleaner than Courier New.
View on Google Fonts ↗INT. OFFICE – NIGHT. The phone rings.
Light, crisp typewriter face inspired by IBM 12-pitch type.
View on Google Fonts ↗INT. OFFICE – NIGHT. The phone rings.
Monospace with retro-futurist character.
View on Google Fonts ↗INT. OFFICE – NIGHT. The phone rings.
Modern monospace with typewriter-style slab serifs.
View on Google Fonts ↗INT. OFFICE – NIGHT. The phone rings.
Metric-compatible with Courier New, so layouts don’t shift.
View on Google Fonts ↗In Word, Google Docs and Canva
| App | Where to find these fonts |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Courier New (and American Typewriter on a Mac) |
| Google Docs | Courier Prime, Special Elite and Cutive Mono via Font menu › More fonts |
| Canva | Search the font list for Special Elite or Courier Prime |
Tips for using a typewriter fonts
- Typewriters are monospaced: every letter takes the same width. That is the main clue to look for.
- Screenplays are traditionally set in 12-point Courier; Courier Prime was drawn for exactly that use.
- For a distressed look, use Special Elite; for readable documents, use Courier Prime.
Saw a typewriter font somewhere and want the exact one? Upload a screenshot to the font identifier, or find a body font to pair it with.
Questions people ask
What is the standard typewriter font?
Courier, designed by Howard Kettler for IBM in 1955, is the classic. Courier New is the version bundled with Windows and macOS.
What font looks like an old typewriter?
Special Elite: its rough, uneven letter edges imitate ink spreading from a worn ribbon.
Why are typewriter fonts monospaced?
A mechanical typewriter moves the carriage the same distance for every key, so every character had to fit the same width.
Are these typewriter fonts free?
Yes. All fonts in the preview are Google Fonts under open licences that allow commercial use.