Arvo

Arvo font preview
Replaces: Archer (85%) | OFL-1.1 | Updated: Jan 2026

About Arvo

Classification
serif
Weights
400, 700
Features
Italics
SIL Open Font License 1.1
Free to use, modify, and distribute. Can be used commercially without attribution.
Get Arvo Free ↗

Arvo is a geometric slab serif typeface designed by Anton Koovit. Released on Google Fonts in 2010, it features friendly ball terminals and warm proportions that create an approachable personality unusual for slab serifs, making it an excellent free alternative to premium friendly slabs like Archer.

History and Design

Anton Koovit designed Arvo as part of the early wave of Google Fonts contributions, when the platform was establishing its library of quality open-source typefaces. The design combines geometric slab serif construction with humanist touches—most notably the distinctive ball terminals that appear on letters like 'a', 'c', 'f', and 'r'.

These ball terminals give Arvo its characteristic warmth, softening the typically stern slab serif aesthetic into something more inviting and personable.

Why Arvo Excels

Arvo succeeds by proving that slab serifs don't need to feel cold or aggressive. Its friendly personality makes it suitable for contexts where traditional slabs would feel too imposing—lifestyle brands, food packaging, hospitality, and any application requiring approachable authority.

Technical Features

  • Ball terminals: Distinctive friendly details
  • Two weights: Regular and Bold with matching italics
  • Web optimized: Good screen rendering
  • Geometric construction: Clean, sturdy foundations
  • Extended Latin: Good character coverage

Best Use Cases

Arvo excels in:

  • Lifestyle branding: Approachable, premium positioning
  • Food and hospitality: Menus and signage
  • Editorial headlines: Warm, engaging titles
  • Children's content: Friendly without being childish

Usage Tips

Arvo works best at display sizes (18px+) where its ball terminals and details are visible. Use Bold sparingly for emphasis—the Regular weight already has significant presence. Pair with geometric sans-serifs like Montserrat or Open Sans for complementary typography. The italic is true italic (not oblique), making it ideal for emphasis within running text or creative applications.

Alternative For (3)

Arvo is a free alternative to the following premium fonts:

#1 Archer 85%
[Hoefler&Co] · serif

Friendly geometric slab with ball terminals and warm character

View all alternatives →
#2 Rockwell 75%
[Monotype] · serif

Friendly geometric slab with good readability and distinctive character

View all alternatives →
#3 Cooper Black 65%
[Barnhart Brothers & Spindler] · display

Friendly slab serif with warm character, good for softer display needs

View all alternatives →

How to Use Arvo

Copy these code snippets to quickly add Arvo to your project.

CSS Import

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Arvo:wght@400;700&display=swap');

HTML Link Tags

<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Arvo:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">

Tailwind CSS

// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      fontFamily: {
        'arvo': ['Arvo', 'sans-serif'],
      },
    },
  },
}

// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-arvo">Your text here</p>

React / Next.js

// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Arvo } from 'next/font/google';

const arvo = Arvo({
  subsets: ['latin'],
  weight: ['400', '700'],
});

export default function Component() {
  return (
    <p className={arvo.className}>
      Your text here
    </p>
  );
}

// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'Arvo'" }}>Your text</p>