Looking for fonts to try on a website for dyslexic readers? Start by comparing Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Open Sans, Comic Sans, OpenDyslexic, and Dyslexie. The first five are general-purpose choices; the last two were designed specifically for dyslexia. This guide explains what each offers, where to use it, and how to check whether the full page stays comfortable to read. No one font has been shown to work best for everyone.
Seven fonts to compare on your website
The British Dyslexia Association's style guide names several familiar sans-serif fonts as readable options. Use the same paragraph, size, and spacing when comparing them, so you can judge the typeface itself. Specialist fonts are also worth considering as optional reader choices.
Arial
Arial is a familiar sans-serif starting point for body copy and interface labels. Its simple appearance fits many website designs, making it a useful baseline when you compare alternatives. Check how it reads at your actual body-text size; a familiar font can still be hard to read when the text is too small or tightly packed.
Verdana
Verdana has a roomier appearance and is worth trying when Arial feels crowded. Its wider text can wrap earlier, so review long headings, navigation labels, buttons, and mobile layouts before choosing it site-wide. Compare real paragraphs rather than only a row of isolated letters.
Tahoma
Tahoma is another sans-serif option listed by the British Dyslexia Association. Try it in body copy and shorter interface text, then check whether its letter shapes remain clear at the sizes your site actually uses. Leave enough space around lines and controls instead of expecting the font to fix a cramped layout.
Open Sans
Open Sans is a practical web-font option with a neutral look. Test both the loaded font and its fallback, since visitors may see a substitute while fonts load or when a download is blocked. Keep the same size and line height during comparison so that a layout change does not get mistaken for a font benefit.
Comic Sans
Comic Sans is included in the British Dyslexia Association's examples, even though its informal style may not suit every brand. If readers ask for it, offering it as a selectable reading font is more useful than ruling it out because of appearance alone. Ask readers whether it helps them complete an actual task on your site.
OpenDyslexic
OpenDyslexic was created as a typeface for dyslexic readers. Some visitors may prefer it, so it can be offered as an opt-in choice. Controlled research has not found a consistent reading-speed or accuracy advantage over standard fonts, so avoid presenting it as a guaranteed improvement.
Dyslexie
Dyslexie is another purpose-built font that some readers may want to use. Compare it with your ordinary font on complete pages, including forms and long articles. A controlled study of Dyslexie did not find a reading advantage over Arial or Times New Roman for the children it tested; individual preferences can still differ.
For a default, start with a clear, familiar font such as Arial, Verdana, or Open Sans. Then allow readers to adjust the presentation or use a preferred font when practical. Keep the choice easy to find and easy to reverse.
What the evidence says about specialist fonts
Fonts such as OpenDyslexic and Dyslexie were designed with dyslexic readers in mind. They can be worth offering as options, but their design goals should not be presented as proven outcomes. A 2026 meta-analysis of 15 studies found no consistent improvement in reading speed or accuracy from specialist fonts compared with standard fonts. An earlier study of OpenDyslexic also found no overall improvement for the students it tested. These results do not mean no individual will prefer a specialist font; they mean a website should not promise that one will help everyone.
The practical lesson is to treat font choice as a preference, not a diagnosis or a cure. Readers with dyslexia are not a single audience with identical needs. The U.K. Home Office design guidance makes the same point: no font is fully accessible to every person.
Start with a readable default and reader choice
Choose the default typeface using full pages and real tasks. A font that looks clear in a heading may read differently in a long paragraph, form instruction, or error message. A reader's preferred font may also differ from the one your design team chose. The British Dyslexia Association's list is practical guidance, not a rule that serif fonts are always difficult or that a listed font works for every reader.
Keep body text large enough to read, use a comfortable line length, and avoid long passages in italics or all capitals. Left-aligned paragraphs and meaningful headings can make it easier to keep your place. The W3C guidance on readable content also explains how spacing and presentation can affect access to blocks of text.
If you provide font controls, label each option clearly and let people switch back easily. Avoid changing the typeface automatically based on an assumption about a visitor. When possible, ask users what helps instead of deciding for them.
Let people adjust text and spacing
Text controls can matter as much as the font itself. WCAG Success Criterion 1.4.12 requires content to remain available and functional when readers override text spacing to these values:
- Line height of at least 1.5 times the font size
- Spacing after paragraphs of at least 2 times the font size
- Letter spacing of at least 0.12 times the font size
- Word spacing of at least 0.16 times the font size
These are test values for whether a page can handle user adjustments, not a required permanent style for every website. The W3C explanation of text spacing describes the criterion and why text should not overlap, clip, or lose functionality when spacing changes.
Use relative units such as rem and avoid fixed-height text containers that cut off enlarged content. Check that navigation, buttons, forms, and error messages still work when text gets larger or more widely spaced. A website accessibility check can flag some code issues; manual review is still needed to confirm that the page remains usable.
Structure copy so readers can scan it
Typography cannot compensate for dense, poorly organized writing. Give each section a descriptive heading, put one main idea in each paragraph, and explain unfamiliar terms. Lists work well for short procedures or criteria, while links should make their destination clear from the wording.
For longer articles, add a contents list and make sure its links move to the right headings. Keep instructions near the controls they describe. These choices help readers scan, return to a section, and understand a page without relying on font shape alone. Our guide to checking website accessibility includes additional checks for content, zoom, and keyboard use.
How to test typography changes
Test the rendered page, not just a sample of letters. Choose pages with long copy, forms, menus, and smaller labels, then check them at increased text size and with wider spacing. Confirm that text remains visible, controls do not overlap, and the page still reflows at a narrow viewport.
Invite people with different reading preferences to try the page when you can. Ask what they changed, where they lost their place, and whether they could finish the task. Do not ask one participant to represent every person with dyslexia. Record the feedback, make adjustments, and test again after design changes.
If your team is reviewing more than typography, combine these checks with keyboard and assistive-technology testing. See what automated accessibility checkers cannot assess before treating a scan as a complete evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best font for dyslexia?
There is no single font proven to work best for every dyslexic reader. Arial, Verdana, and Open Sans are sensible website defaults to compare. Comic Sans, OpenDyslexic, and Dyslexie may be useful as optional choices for readers who prefer them. Test each option with the people who use your site.
Do OpenDyslexic or Dyslexie fonts improve reading?
Research has not shown a consistent reading-speed or accuracy benefit from specialist fonts across readers. Some people may still prefer them. Offering a choice can be useful, but describing either font as a universal solution would overstate the evidence.
What can website owners change besides the font?
Allow text resizing and spacing adjustments, keep content from clipping, use clear headings, and break long explanations into manageable sections. Test the full page at larger text sizes and ask readers with different access needs whether they can complete key tasks.