Retro and vintage style fonts are an awesome way to capture the essence of the past while adding a modern twist to your journals, planners, and other designs. It’s no secret that retro and vintage styles have made a roaring comeback and what better way to create that retro feel than through the power of typography and some amazing Google Fonts!
The Google Fonts library has a massive collection of typefaces and fonts that is an incredible resource to use if you are looking for the perfect vintage fonts that evoke the spirit of yesteryears. And the best part is that these fonts are free to download and use!
In this article, I’ve collected and summarized all the best retro Google fonts that are available so that you have a quick reference to font ideas that will transport you back to the days of disco and flower power with iconic font styles from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Use them in Google Docs, in your journal, on your website, or even just for a poster or a groovy birthday invitation design.
If you are new to Google Fonts, then check out our detailed Google Fonts Guide!
It includes everything you need to know about what Google Fonts are, whether they are free to use, and how to download them.
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Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Fonts Collection and our Halloween Fonts Collection for holiday-inspired designs!
Top Retro Google Fonts for Vintage Designs
Let’s jump in and take a look at some of the best retro Google fonts in the Google Fonts collection!
Yesteryear
Yesteryear is a vintage-inspired retro font that has cursive styling.
Pacifico
Pacifico has a fluid handwritten feel that captures the style of vintage diners.
Playball
Playball has a 70s feel to it that captures the spirit of old sports teams!
Great Vibes
Great Vibes is a classic retro font with a flowing cursive style.
Related: 30+ Gorgeous Google Fonts That Look Like Signatures
Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel has an old-world charm to it that adds a touch of vintage glamour to any design.
Kavoon
The Kavoon font has a distinctive 60s retro feel to it which is easy to read.
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Ranchers
Ranchers has an old American charm which is a great choice if you want to create a vintage Western vibe.
Condiment
Condiment is a fun eye-catching nostalgic font that you will sometimes see used in vintage sign design and packaging.
Mrs Sheppards
The Mrs Sheppards font is a retro script font that has uneven letters with a unique old American charm.
Chicle
Chicle is a bold and chunky retro font that is fun and easy to read.
Oi
The Oi Google font has a very distinctive look to it with its unique bubble-shaped letters which makes it the perfect 60s font reminiscent of hippie-style flags, posters, album covers, and all things flower power!
Lobster
Lobster is a very popular retro Google font that has a funky charm to it.
Yellowtail
Yellowtail is another 60s-style script font with flowing and fluid strokes.
Fascinate
Fascinate is a 70s-style font that comes in two different styles: Fascinate and Fascinate Inline.
Purple Purse
Purple Purse has a funky feel to it and I can see it being used in fun hippie-type designs.
Atomic Age
Atomic Age is described as a retro Google font that “pays homage to the iconic typography of the 80s and 90s. With its bold and geometric letterforms, it captures the futuristic and optimistic spirit of the mid-20th century.”
Cherry Cream Soda
Cherry Cream Soda is a fun and casual vintage font with a handwritten style.
Cherry Bomb One
Cherry Bomb One is bold with thick strokes and a funky style!
Notable
Notable is bold and distinctive and you will sometimes see it being used in vintage newspapers and headlines.
Special Elite
Special Elite is a typewriter-inspired Google font with a military feel to it.
Press Start 2P
Press Start 2P mimics the style of pixelated old-school video games from the 80s and 90s.
DotGothic16
DotGothic16 is another font that has a pixelated style that was seen in 80s and 90s computer interfaces.
Mystery Quest
Mystery Quest is a really fun and quirky Google font that has a whimsical retro feel.
Monoton
Make an impact withMonoton and its unique and bold design.
Bungee
Bungee is a unique font family that has exaggerated letters that have an 80s style.
Bungee comes in six different styles: Bungee, Bungee Shade, Bungee Inline, Bungee Outline, Bungee Hairline, and Bungee Spice.
Related: 27 Best Thin Google Fonts – Skinny Font Ideas (With Examples)
Audiowide
Audiowide is a 90s-style font that has geometric letters that have a blocky feel to them.
Spicy Rice
Spicy Rice has bold and curvy letters that very much remind me of Austin Powers and the swinging 60s!
What Makes a Font Retro or Vintage?
There are a few characteristics that retro and vintage fonts have that add to their classic vibe. These are a few of their defining characteristics:
Bold and Chunky Letters
Retro and vintage fonts will often have a bold and chunky appearance that is full of personality and charm. These fonts can’t be missed and are often paired with bold colors that are energetic and fun.
Along with bold and chunky fonts, bubble fonts can’t be forgotten! Bubble fonts were very popular, especially in the 60s when colorful designs with flowing letters were all the rage!
If you are looking for more chunky font ideas, then don’t forget to check out our Chunky Google Font ideas!
Serif or Script Styles
Vintage and retro fonts fully embrace both serif and script font styles. Serif fonts have small decorative strokes on the ends of each letter stroke giving them a touch of timeless style that is very popular for vintage-inspired designs.
Script styles on the other hand mimic cursive handwriting and give any design a unique style and personality.
Decorative Font Elements such as Shadows, Gradients, or Textures
One feature of vintage fonts is the way that they use decorative elements like shadows, gradients, textures, and other artistic touches to enhance the visual impact of the font with depth and dimension.
Inspired by Typography from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s
To truly capture the retro vibe, fonts often get their inspiration from the typography that was used in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. These decades were characterized by bold experimentation and were heavily influenced by the psychedelic and pop art movements at the time that incorporated unconventional, shapes and vibrant colors.
Conclusion
Retro-style Google Fonts are the perfect way to add a touch of nostalgia, timeless charm, and personality to any design. Whether you’re aiming for the 70s vibe, vintage Hollywood glamor, 60s hippie style, or a funky 80s look, these vintage fonts capture the essence of bygone eras and allow you to create a memorable sense of nostalgia that appeals to many.
