How to Build a WordPress Site with Variable Fonts: A Complete Guide

Transform Your Typography with Modern Variable Font Technology

Variable fonts represent a revolutionary leap in web typography, allowing a single font file to behave like multiple fonts by offering adjustable weight, width, slant, and other attributes. When implemented in WordPress, variable fonts can significantly enhance your site’s design flexibility while improving performance.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about implementing variable fonts in WordPress, from basic setup to advanced customization techniques.

Why Use Variable Fonts in WordPress?

1. Design Flexibility – One font file replaces multiple static fonts with infinite variations
2. Performance Benefits – Fewer HTTP requests and smaller total file sizes
3. Responsive Typography – Perfectly adapts to different screen sizes and contexts
4. Creative Control – Fine-tune typography with custom axes like weight, width, and optical size
5. Future-Proof – Supported by all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

How to Implement Variable Fonts in WordPress

1. Understanding Variable Font Basics

• Single font file containing multiple variations
• Controlled via CSS using font-variation-settings
• Common axes: weight (wght), width (wdth), slant (slnt), italic (ital)
• Custom axes possible (like grade, optical size). Our YouTube channel; https://www.youtube.com/@easythemestore

2. Finding and Selecting Variable Fonts

Best Sources:

• Google Fonts (filter for variable fonts)
• Adobe Fonts (Typekit)
• Fontshare
• Variable Fonts database
• Commercial foundries (Dinamo, Grilli Type, etc.)

Recommended Variable Fonts:

• Inter (excellent for UI)
• Roboto Flex
• Source Sans Variable
• Work Sans
• Amstelvar

3. Adding Variable Fonts to WordPress

Option 1: Use Google Fonts Plugin

1. Install “OMGF | Host Google Fonts Locally”
2. Search for variable fonts (e.g., “Roboto Flex”)
3. Select desired variations
4. The plugin handles hosting and enqueueing

Option 2: Manual Implementation

1. Download variable font file (usually .ttf or .woff2)
2. Upload to WordPress media library
3. Add to your theme’s CSS:

@font-face {
  font-family: 'MyVariableFont';
  src: url('/wp-content/uploads/fonts/MyFont-Variable.woff2') format('woff2-variations');
  font-weight: 100 900; /* Range supported */
  font-stretch: 75% 125%;
  font-display: swap;
}

4. Using Variable Fonts in Your Theme

Basic Implementation:

body {
  font-family: 'MyVariableFont', sans-serif;
  font-variation-settings: 'wght' 400, 'wdth' 100;
}

h1 {
  font-variation-settings: 'wght' 700, 'wdth' 110;
}

Advanced Animation Example:

@keyframes text-weight-pulse {
  0% { font-variation-settings: 'wght' 300; }
  50% { font-variation-settings: 'wght' 700; }
  100% { font-variation-settings: 'wght' 300; }
}

.animated-text {
  animation: text-weight-pulse 3s infinite;
}

5. Optimizing Variable Font Performance

• Always use WOFF2 format (smallest file size)
• Preload critical fonts in header:
  <link rel=“preload“ href=“/path/to/font.woff2“ as=“font“ type=“font/woff2“ crossorigin>
• Set proper font-display: swap to avoid invisible text
• Subset fonts when possible to reduce size

Best Plugins for Variable Fonts in WordPress

1. OMGF – Hosts Google Fonts locally with variable font support
2. Use Any Font – Upload custom variable fonts easily
3. Fonts Plugin | Adobe Fonts (Typekit) – For Adobe variable fonts
4. Custom Fonts – Add variable fonts via theme customizer

Advanced Techniques

1. Dynamic Responsive Typography

:root {
  --text-weight: 400;
  --text-width: 100;
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  :root {
    --text-weight: 350;
    --text-width: 90;
  }
}

body {
  font-variation-settings: 'wght' var(--text-weight), 'wdth' var(--text-width);
}

2. Mouse-Interactive Text

document.addEventListener('mousemove', (e) => {
  const weight = Math.min(900, Math.max(100, e.clientX / window.innerWidth * 900));
  document.body.style.setProperty('--text-weight', weight);
});

3. Scroll-Based Font Variations

window.addEventListener('scroll', () => {
  const scrollPercent = window.scrollY / (document.body.scrollHeight - window.innerHeight);
  const width = 75 + (scrollPercent * 50);
  document.body.style.setProperty('--text-width', width);
});

Final Thoughts

Variable fonts offer WordPress developers and designers unprecedented control over typography while actually improving site performance. By implementing the techniques in this guide, you can create more engaging, responsive, and visually dynamic websites that stand out from the competition.

Ready to revolutionize your WordPress typography? Start experimenting with variable fonts today and watch your designs come to life with fluid, adaptable text that enhances both aesthetics and user experience.