Guides
Caption Fonts and Colours: A Readability Guide
25 October 2026 · 6 min read · CaptionFy team
Captions are read in under a second on a small screen, often over moving footage. Font and colour choices decide whether that second is enough.
Fonts
Bold sans-serif fonts are the safest choice. Avoid thin weights and decorative scripts for body captions; save them for a single hero word if you want personality.
Size
Captions should be readable without squinting on a phone held at arm's length. If you have to zoom the preview to read them, they are too small.
Contrast
White or yellow text with a dark outline or shadow works on almost any background. On consistently bright footage, consider a semi-transparent background box.
Highlight colours
Choose one accent colour that fits your brand and contrasts with your footage. Use it only on keywords.
The short version
Bold sans-serif, large size, strong contrast and one accent colour.
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