How to Find Vintage Number Fonts for Iconic Designs
Posted on June 1, 2024 | Updated on June 11, 2024
A classic look never goes out of style. Some of the reasons you might need vintage number fonts for your designs include events embracing the history of a company, wedding programs and invitations, and celebrations that take a look back to decades gone by.
If you’ve looked at old newspapers, movie posters and documents, you likely have an idea of the swoops, swirls and serifs of vintage writing. The styles of today are much simpler and minimalistic. Start by researching the decade you’re trying to embody.
What Makes Number Fonts Look Classic?
What is the difference between antique, retro and vintage? Antique typically applies to things 100 years old or more. According to an article on Bob Villa, vintage applies to things between 20 and 99 years old. Merriam Webster defines retro as styles relating to the past. Because of the broader definition, retro can also be vintage.
What are the characteristics of number fonts that make them look vintage? Some are easy to identify, such as the sci-fi looking fonts of the early Star Wars era, or 1980s neon styles. Retro fonts often have big bold patterns and accents that tie to the styles and fashion of the era.
List of Vintage Number Fonts
The best way to get a feel for what fonts from different eras look like is to check out some examples of vintage number fonts. Here are a few of our favorites.
1. Vintage Machine
Vintage Machine is a font that has a decidedly handwritten look. It would work well on an invitation or printed material. Note the serifs and the uneven strokes on the numbers, giving it a penned appearance.
2. Aerologica
Aerologica reminds us of a time when computers were just becoming commonplace in middle class households across America. People from all walks of life began playing with desktop publishing and experiencing the fun of three-dimensional, computer-generated fonts such as the one here.
If you want to bring the 1980s to life, this retro font is an excellent start. It makes one think of movies such as Back to the Future. The heavy block numbers and shading make this font most suitable for headlines.
3. Genty
Canva has a wealth of styles to match almost any decade you desire. We love the retro, Partridge Family look of this 1970s-themed font. Look how the strokes on the numbers vary from thin to wide. The series and swirls give it a fancier look.
Genty would work well for an event poster for a retro 1970s party or a special sale about rolling back the clock on prices.
4. Market Deco
Market Deco has a definite art-deco look that pulls users in. The font has a vintage appeal but is also modern enough for almost any project type. You’ve likely seen this and similar vintage number fonts on addresses. It looks like something you’d see on a mailbox or the outside numbering of an office or apartment building.
5. 1960s Hippie
1960s Hippie vintage number font brings back the styles of the decade. It’s the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, a season of free love and a time when life was ruled by youth rather than electronics.
People often choose this era for various events because the fashions were iconic and the entire era makes for an interesting office party theme, birthday celebration or ties into natural product releases.
The font is quite bold and thick. Yet, the opening on the “O” is tiny. Because of the bulkiness of the font, it’s best to use it on a larger scale, such as for a heading, on a billboard or in a logo.
6. Freezone
Freezone looks like it came right out of the 1990s grunge era. It’s a time of skate parks, hanging out with friends, testing the boundaries of fashion and a new style of music for a generation.
Like many of the vintage number fonts in this lineup, Freezone works best as a heading or logo. Want to have a party and bring back all your favorite music? Freezone can help with the invites. Ready to host that 1990s grunge band you loved? Enter Freezone for the posters.
7. Lazer84
Remember when laser arcades were a thing to do on the weekends? If you want to bring back the mid-80s and a retro, neon look, the font Lazer84 is a great place to start.
Imagine the numbering above in an electric blue, neon pink or glowing green. You can also see and hear the inside of the arcade or laser tag arena.
8. Yesteryear Font
Yesteryear Font goes into vintage number fonts territory with its handwritten look. One can imagine a friend writing another friend a nice letter after a lunch out together at the local ladies club. The font would work well for a 1940s or even a 1950s theme.
The art of calligraphy is alive and well with Yesteryear Font. If you’re looking for a nice font for a formal invitation, this one fits the description. You can give the invite a vintage feel without using cursive. The swirls and ligatures on this font make it unique. It also has a few geometric elements that add interest.
A Special Nod to Fairwind
Fairwind fits into almost any decade you can name and thus is worth adding to this list of vintage number fonts. It’s a fun mix of modern and vintage that goes as nicely with a 1960s theme as a 2000s theme. The sans serif font has thick strokes and few accents where letters sweep up or down in a flowing trail. It would work well on websites, posters and invites.
Finding More Vintage Number Fonts
If you want your designs to stand out from others, locating unique fonts no one else is using can be the ticket to drawing in more clients and keeping the ones you have happy. The eight fonts above are an excellent choice for nearly any type of project.
About The Author
Eleanor Hecks is the Editor-in-Chief of Designerly Magazine, an online publication dedicated to providing in-depth content from the design and marketing industries. When she's not designing or writing code, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her husband and dog in their RV, burning calories at a local Zumba class, or curled up with a good book with her cats Gem and Cali.
You can find more of Eleanor's work at www.eleanorhecks.com.