Typography

A clear typographic hierarchy is critical to the effective communication of our brand. Type should be light and well-spaced to reinforce that we are transparent, open, and approachable. This system uses weight, scale, and capitalization to convey the relative importance of each heading within a document. Readability and accessibility allow all users to efficiently read and absorb textual information.

Feature image of Avenir Type Sample

Typefaces View code

Avenir Next

Avenir Next is the primary brand typeface and can be used across all formats from print to digital. Its round and geometric letterforms are approachable and modern.

Avenir Next Demi Bold

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

0123456789

Avenir Next Medium

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

0123456789

Avenir Next Regular

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

0123456789

Web hierarchy

Hierarchy refers to the difference in type size and weight between text elements. A successful hierarchy establishes the order of importance of elements on a page, allowing readers to easily scan content and find what they’re looking for.

Headings

Consistent scaling, weights, and capitalization are used to create distinction between heading levels. At screen widths of 600px and below, the Display heading and Headings 1-4 drop in size. Headings 5-6 remain consistent at all screen widths.

Display

  • Avenir Next Regular
  • 48px / 60px
  • <601px wide: Drops to Heading 1

Getting out of debt

Heading 1

  • Avenir Next Regular
  • 34px / 42px
  • <601px wide: Drops to Heading 2

Getting out of debt

Heading 2

  • Avenir Next Regular
  • 26px / 32px
  • <601px wide: Drops to Heading 3

Getting out of debt

Heading 3

  • Avenir Next Regular
  • 22px / 28px
  • <601px wide: Drops to Heading 4

Getting out of debt

Heading 4

  • Avenir Next Medium
  • 18px / 22px
  • <601px wide: Drops to 16px / 18px

Getting out of debt

Heading 5

  • Avenir Next Demi Bold
  • 14px / 18px, 1px letter spacing
  • All caps
  • <601px wide: No change
Getting out of debt

Heading 6

  • Avenir Next Demi Bold
  • 12px / 15px, 1px letter spacing
  • All caps
  • <601px wide: No change
Getting out of debt


Body text

Body text should provide an efficient and pleasant experience on every viewport size. Readable text makes good use of alignment, spacing, line length and height, and contrast.

Lead paragraph

  • Avenir Next Regular
  • 22px / 28px
  • <601px wide: 18px / 22px

Use this tool to compare school data and relevant financial factors to make a more informed decision for your future.

Body

  • Avenir Next Regular
  • 16px / 22px

If you have received financial aid offers, use this tool to compare school data and relevant financial factors to make a more informed decision for your future.


Lists

Lists are an effective way to visually highlight important information so that it can be more easily scanned and read. Before writing a list, it’s important to identify the best style needed for the information being presented.

List items should:

  • Be capitalized
  • Avoid unnecessary repetition
  • Have a parallel structure
  • Start with an introductory clause or sentence
  • Use consistent punctuation

If the list items are complete sentences, the introductory clause should also be a complete sentence, followed by a colon. These list items should end with a period.

If the list items are a group of short fragments that each work to complete an introductory clause, the introductory clause should also be a short fragment, followed by a colon. These list items should end with no punctuation.

Bulleted list

Use a bulleted list when grouping similar items or short thoughts into “bite-size” chunks. Generally, the order or count of the items in a bullet list isn’t important. An exception to this may be a list of states, which naturally fits into an alphabetical order.

Default
  • Avenir Next Regular, 16px
  • Margin bottom (list item): 8px
  • Margin top (list): 10px
  • Margin bottom (list): 15px
  • Bullets are solid squares
  • Bullets are aligned flush with the left margin of the column of text they’re in
  • List item 1
  • List item 2
  • List item 3
Nested
  • Bullets are open circles and flush left with the preceding line of text
  • List item 1
  • List item 2
    • List item 2.1
    • List item 2.2
    • List item 2.3
  • List item 3

Numbered list

When the order of information presented is important, use a numbered list. This could include chronological items, things presented in the order or importance, or a finite list of a counted number of items.

Default
  • Avenir Next Regular, 16px
  • Margin bottom (list item): 8px
  • Margin top (list): 10px
  • Margin bottom (list): 15px
  • Numbers are right aligned to their associated period; all single-digit numbers fit inside the left margin
  1. List item 1
  2. List item 2
  3. List item 3
Nested
  • Bullets are solid squares and flush left with the preceding line of text
  1. List item 1
  2. List item 2
    • List item 2.1
    • List item 2.2
    • List item 2.3
  3. List item 3

The link list converts to a touch-friendly link with a large tap area on smaller screens.

  • Avenir Next Medium, 16px, Pacific
  • Border bottom: 1 px, dotted, Pacific
  • Margin bottom (list item): 8px
  • Margin top (list): 10px
  • Margin bottom (list): 15px


Typesetting for readability

Readable text allows users to efficiently read and take in textual information. Text that is not readable turns off readers or makes it challenging for them to stay focused. The following guidelines promote good readability.

Alignment

Typography should be set flush left. This provides the eye a constant starting point for each line, making text easier to read.

Alignment

Line height

Ample space between lines of type promotes an open feeling and lends flow to body copy.

When setting body copy, the leading should be 1.375 times the type size, or 37.5% larger.

Font size: 16px

Line height example

Line length

Comfortable line length allows the user’s eyes to flow easily from the end of one line to the beginning of the next.

For a single column of text, line length should be an average of 66 characters per line, including spaces, but may range from 50 to 75 characters.

Line length

Spacing

White space affects how the user focuses their attention on the content. It makes it easier to know what to read and where to begin. Spacing between typographic elements should be open enough to feel light, but close enough to establish a proper relationship between elements.

Heading followed by body copy

When a heading is followed by paragraph text, include 30px of space below Display and 15px below Headings 1–6.

Diagram of space between headings and body copy that follows

Body copy followed by a heading

When body copy is followed by a heading, include 45px of space above Heading 2 and 30px above Headings 3–6.

Diagram of space between headings and body copy that follow

Heading followed by a heading

For stacked headings, include 30 px of space after the primary heading.

Diagram of space between stacked headings

Body copy spacing

For multiple paragraphs within the same section set the space between paragraphs to 15px.

Diagram of space between stacked headings

Type accessibility

Text contrast

WCA (Web Content Accessibility) standards ensure that content is accessible by everyone, regardless of any disability or user device.

To ensure text remains compliant with WCAG 2.0 standards, use only these permitted color combinations. These options fall within the range of foreground/background color contrast permitted by the Section 508 guidelines.

For more information:

To learn more, refer to the http://www.section508.gov.

This color contrast tool is a useful resource for testing the compliance of any combination of colors in our palette.

Fully accessible combinations

Use only these accessible text and background color combinations.

  • Black on White
  • Dark Gray on White
  • Gray on White
  • White on Black
  • White on Dark Gray
  • White on Gray
  • Black on Gray 10
  • Black on Gray 5
  • Pacific on Gray 5
  • Black on Green 60
  • Black on Green 20

Non-accessible combinations

Never set CFPB Green type on a white background or white type on CFPB Green background as these combinations are not accessible. Never set type on a patterned background.

  • White on CFPB Green
  • CFPB Green on White

Undesirable combinations

Although CFPB Green and black are accessible for large scale type, this color combination should never be used for web or print type.

  • Black on CFPB Green
  • CFPB Green on Black