What is the best font for Dyslexic people. Expert guidance from a Dyslexia assessor

This is one of the most common questions I’m asked by parents and adults.

And it usually comes from a good place.

A desire to help, to make things easier, to finally remove a barrier that’s been quietly exhausting.

But here’s the honest answer, based on years of assessing and supporting dyslexic children and adults:

There is no single best font for dyslexia.

And understanding why is far more empowering than finding a magic fix.

The myth of the one perfect dyslexia font

Many parents and adults assume there must be one universally recommended font that works for all dyslexic readers.

In practice, that simply isn’t how dyslexia works.

Dyslexia is not a visual problem. It’s a difference in how the brain processes language. Fonts don’t change that underlying processing. What they can do is either reduce unnecessary strain or quietly add to it.

When people search for the best font for dyslexia, what they’re really asking is:

How can I make reading feel less tiring and more manageable?

That’s a much more helpful question.

Fonts that often make reading harder

In assessments and coaching, I consistently see certain font styles creating avoidable difficulty.

These include:

• Decorative fonts with unusual shapes or tails

• Handwriting-style fonts where letters are inconsistent or joined with a slant.

• ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, which remove important shape cues

• Fonts with tight spacing or crowded letterforms

These fonts increase cognitive load. For dyslexic readers, that means more effort just to decode the text, leaving less energy for understanding and confidence.

It’s not about ability. It’s about unnecessary friction.

A font I often recommend

When families or adults ask for a practical starting point, I often suggest OpenDyslexic.

Not because it’s perfect.

Not because it fixes dyslexia.

But because it is designed to reduce visual confusion.

Features such as heavier letter bases, clearer distinctions between similar letters and generous spacing can make reading feel more stable for some people.

For many of the children and adults I work with, this leads to:

• Improved reading stamina

• Fewer skipped lines or re-reads

• A noticeable boost in confidence

That confidence matters more than the font itself.

What I see in real life assessments

One pattern comes up again and again.

When text is presented in a clearer, calmer font, dyslexic readers don’t suddenly become faster readers. What changes is this:

They last longer.

They avoid reading less.

They stop blaming themselves quite so quickly.

I’ve seen children who previously shut down after ten minutes stay engaged for far longer. I’ve worked with adults who finally realised that their exhaustion wasn’t a personal failure but a processing difference being pushed too hard.

Fonts don’t create ability.

They create conditions.

One consistent approach works best

I don’t recommend wildly different fonts for different settings.

In my experience, a consistent, dyslexia-friendly font across learning, everyday reading and work reduces cognitive load. The brain doesn’t have to constantly adjust, which frees up energy for comprehension and meaning.

Consistency supports confidence.

What really matters more than font choice

This is the part I want parents and adults to hear most clearly.

Fonts are supportive tools, not solutions.

What makes the biggest difference long term is:

• Understanding how dyslexia shows up for that individual

• Reducing shame and unrealistic expectations

• Allowing adjustments without guilt

• Building self-advocacy, not just workarounds

When people feel empowered, they engage more. When they engage more, outcomes improve.

So what is the best font for dyslexic people?

The best font is one that:

• Is clear and uncluttered

• Avoids decorative or handwriting styles

• Supports stamina rather than speed

• Helps the reader feel more confident, not more different

For many, OpenDyslexic is a helpful option. For others, another clean sans-serif font works just as well.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is ease.

A final reassurance

If you’re reading this as a parent, or as an adult quietly wondering why reading still takes so much effort, please know this:

Struggling with text is not a reflection of intelligence, motivation or potential.

Choosing a supportive font is not making excuses. It’s removing barriers.

And that is always worth doing.

If you’d like help understanding what genuinely supports you or your child, clarity comes from assessment and informed guidance, not from endlessly tweaking fonts alone.

Written by Laura Gowers who is a specialist dyslexia assessor, coach and consultant and the founder of This Is Dyslexia. With over 23 years’ experience in education as a former teacher, SENCo and senior leader, she now supports children, parents and adults across the UK to understand dyslexia beyond labels.

Laura provides private dyslexia assessments, coaching and guidance for families and professionals, with a strong focus on confidence, wellbeing and practical clarity. She works with both children and adults who are often bright, articulate and capable, but quietly exhausted by the effort of reading, writing and keeping up.

Her work combines evidence-based assessment with real-world insight, helping people move from self-doubt to self-understanding. Laura is particularly passionate about dispelling myths around dyslexia and empowering individuals to advocate for the support they need at school, university and work.

Learn more at https://www.thisisdyslexia.co.uk or follow Laura on Instagram @thisisdyslexiauk for honest insight, reassurance and practical support.