Lobster
About Lobster
- Source
- Google Fonts ↗
- Classification
- display
- Weights
- 400
- Features
- Standard
Lobster is a bold script typeface designed by Pablo Impallari for Google Fonts. Released in 2010, Lobster quickly became one of the most popular free display fonts, offering a warm, retro-inspired script with connected letterforms and friendly personality.
History and Design
Pablo Impallari designed Lobster during the early expansion of Google Fonts, when the platform was establishing its library of quality open-source typefaces. The design draws inspiration from 1960s American advertising scripts—the kind that appeared on bowling alleys, diners, and classic car dealerships.
Lobster's distinctive character comes from its connected letterforms and ball terminals. The script flows naturally from letter to letter, creating a handwritten quality while maintaining typographic consistency. Multiple stylistic alternates provide variation to prevent identical letter patterns.
Technical Features
- Single bold weight: Optimized for display use
- Connected script: Flowing letterform connections
- Stylistic alternates: Varied letterforms available
- Cyrillic support: Extended language coverage
- Web optimized: Clean rendering on screens
Why Lobster Excels
Lobster succeeds by offering genuine personality in a usable package. Its warm, nostalgic character makes it immediately recognizable, while careful design ensures it remains legible. The script connections are natural rather than forced, creating authentic handwritten rhythm.
Best Use Cases
Lobster excels in:
- Casual branding: Friendly, approachable identities
- Food and beverage: Restaurant signage and menus
- Retro themes: 1950s-60s design aesthetics
- Personal projects: Invitations and creative work
Usage Tips
Lobster works best for short text—headlines, logos, and display applications. The bold weight demands attention but can overwhelm in extended use. Pair with clean sans-serifs for balance. While extremely popular (sometimes cited as overused), Lobster remains effective when deployed thoughtfully. The stylistic alternates help create variation when multiple words appear together. Consider Lobster Two for a lighter alternative with similar aesthetic.
Alternative For (1)
Lobster is a free alternative to the following premium fonts:
The original Lobster, available free on Google Fonts with bolder weight
How to Use Lobster
Copy these code snippets to quickly add Lobster to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lobster:wght@400&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=Lobster:wght@400&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'lobster': ['Lobster', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-lobster">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Lobster } from 'next/font/google';
const lobster = Lobster({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['400'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={lobster.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'Lobster'" }}>Your text</p>