A Clear Guide to Pricing Your Typeface Like a Pro
If you’re a type designer—whether just starting out or already selling fonts—one question always comes up: How much should I charge for my font? Set the price too low, and you undervalue your work. Too high, and you risk losing potential customers. Let’s explore a practical and strategic approach to font pricing that balances your creative effort with what the market expects.
Before setting a price, understand what you’re actually selling. Fonts aren’t just “files”—they’re licensed intellectual property. Pricing should vary depending on the type of usage allowed:
Each of these should be priced differently based on scale and value.
Study pricing on major platforms like MyFonts, Creative Market, Fontspring, and independent foundries. Some general benchmarks:
Compare similar fonts by category (script, serif, sans-serif, display) and quality. Consider your competition, but also what sets your font apart.
Ask yourself:
The more extensive and polished the font, the higher the price can be justified.
Instead of basing your price solely on time or effort, consider value to the buyer. A font used in a high-impact branding project may be worth far more than one used in a school poster.
Here’s an example:
To appeal to different audiences:
These strategies let you price smartly without losing casual buyers or enterprise clients.
Your pricing should reflect your brand:
Remember: consistent pricing builds trust.
Once your font is released, track sales performance. If a font isn’t selling, don’t immediately drop the price—first examine marketing, presentation, and exposure. Sometimes, raising the price even boosts perceived value.
Final Thought:
Pricing a font is part science, part art. By understanding your product, your market, and your value as a designer, you’ll be able to create a price that respects your craft and serves your audience.
