Table of contents

Use your theme’s built-in font settings Install fonts with a plugin Manually install fonts Add Google Fonts Font formats and licensing FAQs Getting started

Get the industry’s fastest WordPress hosting ◦ 99.99% uptime
◦ Comprehensive security
◦ 24/7 support

WordPress Guide → Development → Install Font

How to install a font in WordPress

Fonts set the tone for your WordPress site—literally. Whether you want something bold and modern or elegant and minimal, installing a custom font is the first step to making your brand stand out.

There are multiple ways to install a font in WordPress, ranging from beginner-friendly plugins to manual uploads for more control. Let’s explore each method in detail.

Get fast, reliable hosting for WordPress

Power your site with the industry’s fastest, most optimized WordPress hosting

WordPress.org hosting

Use your theme’s built-in font settings

Some WordPress themes come with built-in typography tools that let you choose from system fonts or popular libraries like Google Fonts.

Steps to follow:

Go to Appearance > Customize > Typography or Fonts in your WordPress dashboard.
Select the font family for your headings and body text from the dropdown menu.
Preview your selections in real-time, then click Publish to apply changes site-wide.

This is the easiest way to change fonts—no plugins or code required. But it depends entirely on your theme’s features. Many commercial themes and block themes offer more granular typography options.

Install fonts with a plugin (like Custom Fonts or Elementor)

Plugins give you a simple interface to upload and apply custom fonts, especially if your theme doesn’t support font uploads directly.

Popular plugin options:

How to install fonts using a plugin:

Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Custom Fonts” or your preferred plugin, and click Install and Activate.
In the admin menu, look for the plugin’s settings. For example, Custom Fonts adds a new section under Appearance > Custom Fonts.
Upload font files in supported formats like .woff, .woff2, or .ttf.
Assign font weights and styles (e.g., regular, bold, italic).
Save the font and apply it through the Customizer, Elementor, or theme options.

This method is best for beginners who want visual controls and don’t want to edit code.

Manually install fonts with CSS and FTP

If you want full control or are working with a custom or stripped-down theme, manual font installation is the most direct method.

Steps to install fonts manually:

Download your font files from a reputable source (Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts, Font Squirrel, etc.).
Connect to your site via FTP using a tool like FileZilla or through your hosting file manager.
Navigate to wp-content/themes/your-theme/ and create a new folder named fonts.
Upload all font files into this folder.
Open your theme’s style.css file and add a @font-face rule. For example:
@font-face {
font-family: ‘MyCustomFont’;
src: url(‘fonts/myfont.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),
url(‘fonts/myfont.woff’) format(‘woff’);
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal;
}
Apply the font to elements using standard CSS:
body {
font-family: ‘MyCustomFont’, sans-serif;
}
Save your file, clear browser and server caches, and test your changes.

Manual installation is more advanced but gives you full control over how and where fonts are used.

Add Google Fonts using the Customizer or a plugin

Google Fonts gives you access to over 1,000 free fonts, and many themes already support them natively.

Using the Customizer:

Go to Appearance > Customize > Fonts (or Typography).
Look for Google Fonts in the dropdown menus.
Choose fonts for headings and body text, then publish changes.

If your theme doesn’t offer this option, you can still use Google Fonts with a plugin.

Using a plugin:

These plugins let you:

Browse and preview Google Fonts inside the WordPress dashboard.
Apply fonts globally or by element (h1, p, etc.).
Host fonts locally to improve privacy and site speed.

Choosing the right font formats and licensing

Before you upload anything, make sure the font is compatible with web usage and that you have the rights to use it.

Common web font formats:

.woff2 – Most optimized for web; recommended.
.woff – Widely supported across browsers.
.ttf and .otf – Larger file sizes and slower performance; use only if needed for fallback.

Font licensing tips:

Always confirm the license allows web embedding.
Avoid using desktop-only fonts without proper rights.
Look for open licenses like the SIL Open Font License or use services like Google Fonts, which are free for commercial use.

WordPress font installation FAQs

You can install a font by using your theme’s built-in options, uploading it with a plugin like Custom Fonts or Elementor, or manually adding it using FTP and CSS.

Use FTP to upload the font files to your theme directory and define them in your style.css using @font-face. Then apply them using CSS rules on elements like body, h1, and p.

Download the font files, upload them to a new /fonts/ folder in your active theme, and use the @font-face CSS rule to define the font. Then assign it to specific elements with font-family.

You can host fonts locally by placing them in your theme directory (or a child theme) and referencing them with relative paths in your CSS. This is the most secure and performance-friendly method.

Next steps for installing a font in WordPress

Custom fonts can elevate your site’s design and brand presence—but only if they’re properly installed. Whether you want easy plugin tools or full manual control, WordPress gives you plenty of flexibility.

If you’re unsure which method is best, start with your theme’s built-in options or use a plugin like Custom Fonts. Only go the manual route if you’re comfortable with FTP and CSS.

Ready to upgrade your WordPress experience? Professional hosting improves speeds, security, and reliability for a website and a brand that people find engaging and trustworthy. Liquid Web’s WordPress hosting options configure business-class servers and support plans specifically for WordPress websites.

Don’t want to deal with server management and maintenance? Our fully managed hosting for WordPress is the best in the industry. Our team are not only server IT experts, but WordPress hosting experts as well. Your server couldn’t be in better hands.

Click through below to explore all of our hosting for WordPress options, or chat with a WordPress expert right now to get answers and advice.