When brands ask, “How much will it cost to make a custom typeface?”, they’ll hear a wide range of figures.
According to Thomas Phinney, a four-style custom typeface from a well-known designer with temporary exclusivity typically runs $100,000–$250,000+. But budgets can flex—smaller studios or less comprehensive specs might land between $25,000–$50,000, depending on experience, features, and rights.
Avondale Type Co. lands in the middle as a small studio that works with large companies.
Price isn’t strictly tied to quality. Simple fonts for ad campaigns may cost a few thousand, while national-level brand fonts can scale into the tens of thousands. Cost drivers include number of styles (weights/italics), language support, OpenType features, kerning, hinting, and whether the client wants exclusive or perpetual rights.
Some designers estimate pricing per glyph: roughly $10–$18 per glyph, translating to $300,000+ for full-featured families. This aligns with estimates in Type.today's article, where a year’s effort by a three-person team can run $300K or more. Large families (like Helvetica) may even surpass $1 million depending on complexity and scope.
Design Week points out that while custom fonts demand high upfront investment—often $25,000–$250,000+—they can also eliminate recurring license fees and enhance brand identity. In some cases, the total cost of licensing a retail font over five years exceeds the cost of commissioning a bespoke font, making custom typefaces a smart long-term investment.
So, what factors should you budget for? Leinster Type suggests breaking the project into phases—research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and refinement. You’ll also need to define licensing terms, exclusivity, and whether you want a wordmark or a full family. In the end, the custom typeface price isn’t just about letters—it’s about creative control, brand cohesion, and long-term value.
Are you looking for a custom typeface? Contact Avondale Type Co!
