Libre Franklin
About Libre Franklin
- Source
- Google Fonts ↗
- Classification
- sans-serif
- Weights
- Variable (100-900)
- Features
- Variable, Italics
Libre Franklin is an open-source interpretation of the classic Franklin Gothic typeface, designed by Impallari Type and released in 2015. It faithfully captures the American gothic character of the original while offering modern features and comprehensive weight coverage.
History and Design
Pablo Impallari led the design of Libre Franklin as part of the Google Fonts library initiative to provide high-quality free alternatives to classic typefaces. The design closely follows Morris Fuller Benton's 1902 original while making subtle refinements for digital use.
Libre Franklin maintains the characteristic American gothic traits—sturdy construction, moderate contrast, and honest, workmanlike letterforms—while offering a complete weight range from Thin to Black that the original lacked.
Why Libre Franklin Stands Out
As a faithful Franklin Gothic revival, Libre Franklin brings one of America's most influential typefaces to projects with open-source requirements. Its variable font implementation allows for precise weight selection, and its extensive italic styles maintain the character of the uprights.
The typeface has been adopted by publishers, news organizations, and brands seeking the authoritative Franklin Gothic aesthetic without licensing costs.
Technical Features
- Variable font: Continuous weight axis from 100 to 900
- Complete italic family: Full range of italic weights
- Web optimized: Carefully hinted for screen rendering
- Extended Latin support: Covers Western European and Vietnamese
Best Use Cases
Libre Franklin excels in:
- Editorial design: Authentic newspaper and magazine typography
- Headlines: Bold weights command attention
- News and publishing: Classic journalistic character
- Branding: American gothic confidence and directness
Usage Tips
Use Black (900) or ExtraBold (800) for impactful headlines and Regular (400) for body text. The condensed proportions work well in navigation and tight layouts. Pair with a classic serif like Libre Baskerville for editorial designs. For web projects, consider subsetting to reduce file size while keeping essential weights.
Alternative For (2)
Libre Franklin is a free alternative to the following premium fonts:
Direct open-source revival with excellent fidelity to the original
American gothic style with similar editorial applications
How to Use Libre Franklin
Copy these code snippets to quickly add Libre Franklin to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Libre+Franklin:wght@100..900&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=Libre+Franklin:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'libre-franklin': ['"Libre Franklin"', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-libre-franklin">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Libre_Franklin } from 'next/font/google';
const libre_franklin = Libre_Franklin({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={libre_franklin.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: '"Libre Franklin"' }}>Your text</p>