15+ Fonts Similar to Papyrus

What's up with the font Papyrus? In this article, we'll take a look at some similar fonts to Papyrus from Envato Elements. We'll also address some of the sentiment behind this popular yet controversial font.

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The Venture Serif Font

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https://elements.envato.com/ring-of-kerry-3JCUHX

Ring of Kerry Font

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Envato Elements offers thousands of premium digital assets like fonts, graphic templates, photos, and much more. And for one low monthly fee, you can download as many of these as you like, as often as you like. Let's take a look at some fonts similar to Papyrus.

Fonts Similar to Papyrus

1. Rosemary Handlettered Serif Font (OTF, TTF)

Rosemary is one of the fonts like Papyrus. This hand-drawn font has such a welcoming aesthetic. Note the variety in the stroke of each letter, not only in terms of jitter but also in the width.

2. Victorius Aged Ancient Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF)

This fun font departs from the usual Papyrus typeface looks, but it also plays with a historic or aged aesthetic. It can be a fun direction for specialty projects, like mobile gaming, logos, and more.

3. Odd Times Script Inspired Font (OTF, TTF)

This may not be your first option when looking for a font similar to Papyrus. But you could push even more towards a calligraphic aesthetic, as we see in this stylish typeface. It takes more influence from Blackletter but still lends itself to an aged aesthetic.

4. Chara Sans Serif & Serif Duo (Sans Fonts Like Papyrus) (OTF, TTF, WOFF)

If you're looking for clean, smooth fonts like Papyrus, try something like this one. This Papyrus font lookalike has serifs, but there's a sans serif option down below too. Give it a try!

5. Historia Font (Bold Papyrus Fonts Script) (OTF, TTF)

How about a font that's similar to the Papyrus typeface? This one really pushes the aged, historical look, and it's even more calligraphic without necessarily being a calligraphy font. It's definitely a top choice when it comes to fonts similar to Papyrus.

6. Scriptease Typeface: Brush Font (EOT, OTF, SVG, TTF, WOFF)

This typeface in the Papyrus range has some interesting curves, edges, and a calligraphic feel. Why not push that aesthetic further with a script typeface like this one? It has interesting angles and an aged feel. It makes the cut of fonts with the Papyrus classic vibe.

7. Avatar Display Font (Papyrus Font Download Like Avatar) (OTF, TTF)

This is one of the fonts similar to Papyrus with some Avatar inspiration, but it goes in a different direction. You still get some calligraphic influence without being a script. Give this stylized font a try. It's a fun take on a Papyrus font download.

8. Old Church Display Comic Papyrus Fonts (OTF)

Here's a great choice to download a Papyrus font lookalike. It's a clean font similar to Papyrus but smooth. You get some similar variation in the line width, as we'd see in hand-drawn type, but without the worn, textured edges.

9. SUPER: Handwritten Sans Serif Fonts Like Papyrus (OTF, TTF)

On the other hand, if you love texture and an organic vibe, check out this font in the Papyrus range. It takes the hand-drawn aesthetic much further and has a lot of interesting variety and texture.

10. Magalon Display Font (Like the Papyrus Typeface) (OTF, TTF, WOFF)

Isn't this display font fun? It's a typeface in the Papyrus spectrum. It's farther from it, but it still has a rather ancient and aged feel to it. It could work well for scenarios where you need historical fonts with the Papyrus style.

11. Obsypac Font (Fonts Like Papyrus But Smooth) (OTF, TTF)

This is a font with a Papyrus vibe. It has a vintage look and feel, as well as some stylish variety in the line work. It doesn't have texture, but it could be a perfect choice if you're looking for a smooth font similar to Papyrus.

12. Regolith Font (Aged Fonts Like Papyrus) (OTF, TTF)

Here's a really fun, bold, and aged font similar to the Papyrus typeface. It comes with a bunch of really awesome bonus items included. Want to create an ancient look? Try this unexpected twist on a Papyrus font download.

13. Velociraptype Script Brush Font (OTF)

Or push even more towards that visually interesting calligraphic look with a script, brush font like this one. It's an eye-catching typeface with the Papyrus style. It has some really interesting angles and peaks that could work well in a number of projects.

14. Hand Writer (Handwriting Inspired Bold Papyrus Fonts) (OTF, TTF)

If you love an aged, handwritten look, try this download of a papyrus font lookalike. The shapes are very different from Papyrus, but it has that similar weathered, textured look.

15. Rustic Station Handwriting Brush Typeface (OTF, TTF)

Some just create fonts with Papyrus in mind, and this seems to be the case. Push the curves and visible stroke variation further with this handwriting font. It has that calligraphic influence without being a calligraphy font. It's also got a really memorable look.

What Is the Papyrus Font?

Papyrus is a widely available font, which is likely why so many people are familiar with it. Many of us didn't need to download the Papyrus font, since it was already installed on our computers. The Papyrus fonts have been around over 30 years old and have often been included, by default, with both Microsoft and Apple products.

When thinking about the Papyrus font, the 2009 movie Avatar might come to mind. It used fonts similar to Papyrus. In fact, this even sparked comedy sketches and criticism, because the typeface of Papyrus has such a reputation.

But why? What's the deal with Papyrus, and why do so many designers have a distaste for it?

What's Wrong With Papyrus Font (Or Why Is Papyrus Font Bad)?

Although some may disagree, Papyrus is not inherently a "bad font". Instead, its reputation is a lot like Comic Sans, another font with a notorious reputation. A font arguably becomes a "bad font" when it is used in a poor or mismatched way. So, for example, using Papyrus sans font for something like official, legal paperwork would feel strangely inappropriate—the font itself has a textured look with some calligraphic inspirations. It looks almost biblical and has an ancient feel to it. It's quite decorative and should probably be reserved for situations that warrant that aesthetic.

The problem here is: overexposure and misuse can lead to a bad reputation. As designers, we often rely on the preconceived ideas of our target audience to connect with them. So, if Papyrus has a reputation, and it's off their trend, that can make it a challenging font to use successfully.

So can we make a case for Papyrus? Absolutely. Calligraphic fonts that have an aged aesthetic can be a fun, memorable choice, especially for things like display type. You might even prefer a calligraphic sans serif, like Mariposa Sans or Palatino Sans. There's plenty of visual inspiration we can take from Papyrus and use successfully.

Fonts that look like Papyrus often have calligraphic qualities. You may also prefer textured, brush-like qualities.

Textured fonts, for example, can bring a rustic or organic feel to a composition. Many different font styles can also benefit from a calligraphic influence. For example, Papyrus is not necessarily a calligraphy font, but it still has strokes that taper, rather than stiff, continuous lines that have no variety.

These organic qualities can work well with aesthetics that are earthy, informal, aged, vintage, and much more.

font like papyrus — Invitations can benefit from an aged or hand-drawn aesthetic, if you want to invoke an informal or weathered look and feel.

You can find influences like this in a number of fonts, and in a number of visual directions too. While Papyrus is a sans serif, even serif fonts can work with a bit of texture and variety in their strokes.

old font like papyrus — This Papyrus font alternative has an aged look with some calligraphic inspiration, but also employs serifs.

Learn More About Typography Today

If you're looking for a Papyrus font download but with a more modern style, feel free to try some of the options from the list. There are many fonts similar to Papyrus that are also unique in their own way.

Do you love typography, and are you looking to learn more about it? We've got so many free tutorials you can check out right now on Envato Tuts+. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned designer, there's plenty to see and explore.

Check out these tutorials and articles today:

Which Papyrus Font Alternative Do You Like?

Which fonts similar to Papyrus are your favorites? Fonts like Papyrus can have a host of qualities that make them worth checking out.

If you love fonts, remember to check out Envato Elements. One low price gets you unlimited access to an entire library of thousands of fonts. That means you can download as many fonts as you want from the collection. It's a great deal.

Looking for even more font inspiration? Check out these font collections, recommendations, and more from Envato Tuts+.