30+ of the Best 1950s Fonts for Typography and Lettering
This page may contain links from our sponsors. Here’s how we make money.
If you’re looking for the perfect typeface for your next retro of mid-mod-inspired project, this roundup of the best 1950s fonts is really going to razz your berries!
The ’50s were a time of immense change and progress. Think rock ‘n’ roll, the space race, and new technologies like television and cars. The war was over and the economy was booming.
This decade also saw some amazing advances in design, with a new focus on simplicity and functionality — that includes fashion, home decor, and graphic design. And, the streamlined style that was popularized way back then still has an impact on design today.
For more retro fonts, please see:
The Best 1950s Fonts
With that in mind, we’ve scoured the web for the very best 1950s font. If you’re looking to add a touch of retro flair to your designs, consider using one of these premium and free ’50s fonts. As they used to say back in the day, “you’ll be made in the shade!”
If you love fonts, you’ll definitely want to check out Envato Elements. With an Elements subscription, you’ll get unlimited downloads of 39,000+ fonts, plus millions of other resources like WordPress themes, stock photos, graphics, sound effects, and more. It’s the best value you’ll find in the design industry.
MidCentury Typeface
Right out of the gate we have a midcentury-inspired all caps display font that is unmistakably retro. It’s perfectly suited for posters, illustrations, book covers, flyers, social media graphics, and party invitations. Full-featured font package includes all caps letters, numbers, punctuation, stylistic alternates, multilingual support, 55 logo badges & icons, flyer & Instagram templates, and web fonts.
Winter is Coming
Winter is Coming is a playful retro family of typefaces that includes 5 fonts and a set of ’50s-inspired dingbats. You can create complete vintage designs for signage, graphics, apparel, flyers, movie posters, product packaging, and more. This set is especially perfect for vintage Christmas designs. Set includes Winter is Coming Serif in Regular, Shadow, and Expand, Winter is Coming Script in Regular and Shadow, and Winter is Coming Extras. Uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation.
Les Paul
Les Paul is a nifty layered vintage font family that’s got a classic ’50s vibe. It’s perfect for your book covers, greeting cards, postcards, t-shirt designs, advertising, and more. The zip file includes 7 stackable versions of the typeface so you can truly get a custom look plus a font full of retro extras. All caps lettering, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
Fifties Typeface
Well, if you’re looking for a ’50s typeface, perhaps you would start with one aptly named ‘Fifties Typeface.’ This hip serif display font will look great at any size and just might fit the bill for whatever retro project you’re working on. The font package comes with upper and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, ligatures, stylistic alternates, multilingual support, 55 logo badges & icons, flyer & Instagram templates, and web fonts.
Rockabilly Romance
Shake, rattle, & roll with this rebellious ’50s-inspired script! It’s a great choice for diner menus, movie posters, book covers, album art, social media graphics, and more. Choose the alternative version when you want more glossy lipstick! Font comes in two styles — regular and alternative with uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numbers, punctuation, alternates, underlines, language support, and web font.
The Country Blues
The Country Blues comes with three retro fonts — everything you need to create a range of designs from commercial projects to bold menus to classic logos. Package includes 15 total fonts. The Country Blues is available in weights from thin to black, The Country Blues Signs is a set of dingbats, and The Country Blues Script. They also all come in a rough version called Raw. Uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numbers, punctuation, stylistic alternates, underlines, language support, and web font.
The Big Tickle
Vintage typography lovers, stop your scroll! You’ll flip your lid when you see The Big Tickle! With so many different fonts and alternates — every single capital letter has an alternate and many lowercase letters do, too — there are endless ways to customize this font. Plus, if you use all caps and alternates you’ll get a bouncy baseline. This font package includes 15 fonts (serif, script, and dingbats) with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, alternate characters, multilingual support, and two full sets of graphic elements.
Jurka
And now for something completely different. Jurka is a solid sans serif display font family that comes with two styles — regular and rough. It’s inspired by old 1950s poster art and would be a stunning choice for your vintage posters, websites, editorial layouts, or anything that calls for a big, bold typeface. The zip file includes all caps letters, numbers, and punctuation.
Soda Fountain Typeface
Soda Fountain is a nifty all caps vintage family of typefaces that comes in 8 fun flavors! Inspired by the diners of yesteryear, with streamlined lettering and retro styling, this font will give your project all the classic ’50s feels. With 8 different flavors, you’re sure to find the right look for your project, including an italic version, a hollow version, thin and heavy version. Comes with capital letters, numbers, and punctuation.
CA Smut
If you’re looking for the perfect font to design a vintage movie poster or horror poster, you can’t get any better than CA Smut. It’s a dirty, trashy, handdrawn, stackable font that comes in two styles — shadow and fill. Comes with all uppercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual character.
Fifties Paint Brush Font
Looking for a fun, casual script font to jazz up your next retro album cover, menu layout, or other nostalgic designs? Then look no further than Fifties Paint Brush! Each letter was hand-created with a calligraphy pen and modeled after old 1950s signpainter lettering. Font package includes all caps lettering, numbers, and punctuation.
Snifter
Snifter has that iconic mid-century vibe — with sharp serifs, wide curves, and a shuffling baseline. Use it to add a retro touch to logos, flyers, posters, and even home decor — anywhere that calls for a classic 50s design. Snifter pairs perfectly with the sans serif font Bluto. Character set includes upper and lowercase characters, numbers, and punctuation.
Pink Broccoli
Yes, it has a weird name, but Pink Broccoli is the life of the party! So put on your poodle skirt, crank up the juke box and get ready to boogie down! This truly unique soft-edged shortcaps font is just funky enough to get everyone’s attention. It’ll stand out in any retro-style design. Comes with uppercase letters, small caps letters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
Let’s Jazz
Let’s Jazz has a spontaneous baseline, just like the music that inspired its name. it’s playful, bouncy, and sure to grab your viewer’s attention. Use it anywhere you need a jazzy headline — packaging, logos, posters, album covers, quotes, social media, and more. Comes in two styles — regular and stamp with uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numbers, punctuation, ligatures, alternate characters, multilingual support, and bonus illustrations.
Hellenic Wide
Here’s a monospaced slab serif typeface with strong horizontal letterforms that give it a classic mid-century look. Pair it with a retro script or a thin, slick sans-serif to complete the look. Use it anywhere you need a large, attention grabber like logos, editorial layouts, flyers, or home decor quotes. Font comes with uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
Mayburn
Mayburn has that end-of-the-decade, groovy, vintage vibe. It’s a chubby, bold script that will really stand out on classic logos, package designs, branding, greeting cards, labels, and advertising. Features uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, alternates, ligatures, and multilingual support.
Authentique
Here we have another vintage script font, entirely different from the last one but still inspired by the fabulous ’50s. Try this one for your shirt designs, retro stationery, social media posts, party or wedding invitations, web designs, and much more. Package includes uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numbers, punctuation, ligatures, alternative characters, multilingual support, and web fonts.
Belvedere
Laurel and Hardy, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers…these duos were famous in the ’50s…and the Belvedere monoline font duo is another duo that should be revered for its ’50s-inspired talent and style. This duo is comprised of a cursive script and a sans serif that were designed to pair perfectly together. Use them for logos, apparel, posters, signage, wherever you need a perfect pair of fonts! Font package includes font duo with two fonts, uppercase, lowercase, numbers, punctuation, alternates, swashes, ligatures, alternates, multilingual support, plus 26 bonus vintage illustrations.
Mortina Font Duo
Mortina is inspired by sign fonts from back in the day. These iconic typefaces are meant to bring you back to the good ol’ days. Use them in any of your vintage-inspired designs like retro signage, labels, packaging, postcards, magazines, advertising, and more. Includes two weights — thin and bold with uppercase characters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
The Athletica Font
Modeled after retro posters and magazine ads from the ’40s and ’50s, you can’t help but feel like you’ve been whisked away in a time machine when you see designs that use The Athletica Font. The family of typefaces comes with a whopping 26 different styles including a sans serif and a script. Combine them in virtually endless ways to create retro-inspired websites, posters, social media graphics, logos, packaging, and so much more. Full-featured font package includes 26 styles from regular to black with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, alternates, swashes, ligatures, and multilingual support.
Carosello
One of my favorite ’50s fonts from this roundup, say hello to Carosello! Inspired by vintage advertisements, this script typeface was hand-created using a real sharpie so that it would have the common imperfections of the period. Use it to recreate vintage ads, posters, flyers, and quotes. Or design diner menus, websites, social media graphics, and more. Font includes uppercase, lowercase, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
Karmela
Karmela pays tribute to the painted lettering that was widely seen in store windows and on signage throughout the ’50s and ’60s. The lost art of sign painting can be found by new generations of designers through this beautiful script typeface! Use it to design retro-style signs, quotes for home decor, ads logos, and much more. Package includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, discretionary ligatures, swashes, and alternates.
Juvenile Typeface
Here’s a young, fun, mid-century-inspired handwriting display font that comes with tons of extras. It’s a great choice for retro comic books, kids advertising, quotes and home decor for young adults, and social media graphics. The package includes two weights — regular and bold with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, multilingual support, 22 logo & badge templates, flyer and Instagram templates, 4 vintage illustrations, and web fonts.
Chopader
For your consideration, another sans serif font duo with two vintage fonts inspired by ’50s signage. I wonder if any of the signpainters back then had any idea their work would have such a massive impact on design 70 years into the future? Chopader would be a perfect choice for modern sign design, packaging, labels, logos, and more. Includes two fonts with uppercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
Hucklebuck
This happy-go-lucky retro script would be great for a wide range of projects! It is a perfect fit for menus, signs, and any other funky designs that call for a touch of the nifty fifties. It was inspired, again, by some old hand painted sign lettering from a store window, so you know it’s authentic. Font comes with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support.
Sunset Strip
Speaking of beautiful 1950s fonts that were inspired by signpainters, have a look at this elegant font, Sunset Strip. This one is more smooth and flowy than some of the others on our list. A great option for someone who wants a calligraphy font with a retro vibe for their wedding invitations. Font comes with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and two full sets of “Star Caps” alternates for added 1950s fun.
Free ’50s Fonts
Our list wouldn’t be complete without including these nifty free 1950s fonts, too. Just make sure if you use any of these that you double-check the license, as some of them are only free for personal use. You’ll be made in the shade, daddy-o.
Vintage Wheel
Here’s a vintage script font that’s a great fit for a wide selection of projects from apparel to invitations, menus to social media, and more.
HamburgerHeaven
This cool mid-mod-inspired retro font is uniquely styled to stand out on your design projects. Try it for editorial layouts, logo designs, and more.
Fontdinerdotcom Sparkly Font
Here’s an adorably sparkly creative typeface that looks like it was swiped right out of a 1950s sitcom! Use it for flyers, social media, and party invitations.
Troglodytenf
This sturdy, geometric typeface has retro styling and would definitely fit right in on your ’50s-inspired graphic design projects. It’s a display font, so be sure to use it at a large size.
The Juke Box
The Juke Box comes with a set of fun retro illustrations to use along with the font. It’s a good fit for poster designs, book covers, and flyers.
Final Thoughts on The Best 1950s Fonts
Every good designer knows that font selection is the key to adding personality to any design. So, when you’re working on a vintage-inspired project, you’ll truly benefit from this roundup of the best 1950s fonts to pull your look together.
With their style, simplicity, and functionality, these fonts will give your designs that extra bit of charm that will take them from average to amazing. If you’re looking to create a mid-century masterpiece, be sure to give one of these 1950s fonts a try. Download your favorites today!
Enjoyed this post? Pin it to Pinterest and follow us to see more like it!
