DIN 1451, developed in the 1930s by the German standards organization (Deutsches Institut für Normung), is a sans-serif typeface originally designed for industrial and technical applications, including road signage. Its clean, engineered letterforms and uniform stroke widths give it a no-nonsense, utilitarian feel.
However, DIN 1451’s limited styles and premium licensing may not fit every design project. You might want a similar technical sans-serif that offers expanded weights, improved digital optimization, or free licensing for web use.
Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to DIN 1451, including both premium and free alternatives.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| DIN 1451 | Image preview here |
| FF DIN | Image preview here |
| DIN Next | Image preview here |
| Eurostile | Image preview here |
| Bank Gothic | Image preview here |
| Rajdhani | Image preview here |
| Roboto Condensed | Image preview here |
| Exo 2 | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. FF DIN (Albert-Jan Pool, 1995)
- Style: Sans-serif, Industrial/Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Directly based on DIN 1451 with an expanded family.
- Key Difference: Wider range of weights and refined for branding.
- Price & Availability: Paid — FontFont/Monotype.
2. DIN Next (Akira Kobayashi, 2009)
- Style: Sans-serif, Industrial/Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Modern update to DIN 1451 with improved proportions.
- Key Difference: More styles, better kerning, and rounded variants.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Monotype.
3. Eurostile (Aldo Novarese, 1962)
- Style: Sans-serif, Square Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Shares DIN’s technical, engineered feel.
- Key Difference: Squarer letterforms and a more futuristic tone.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype.
4. Bank Gothic (Morris Fuller Benton, 1930)
- Style: Sans-serif, Square Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Industrial appearance with similar uppercase emphasis.
- Key Difference: Exclusively uppercase with distinctive squared forms.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Monotype.
Free Alternatives
5. Rajdhani (Indian Type Foundry, 2014)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Technical
- Why It’s Similar: Narrow, technical look inspired by industrial lettering.
- Key Difference: Slightly softer corners and more modern proportions.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Roboto Condensed (Christian Robertson, 2011)
- Style: Sans-serif, Neo-Grotesque
- Why It’s Similar: Maintains DIN’s clean, condensed proportions.
- Key Difference: More humanist curves for digital readability.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Exo 2 (Natanael Gama, 2013)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Technical
- Why It’s Similar: Futuristic precision with DIN-like engineered structure.
- Key Difference: Includes a variable font version for flexible design.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FF DIN | ★★★★★ | Paid | Corporate & editorial branding |
| DIN Next | ★★★★★ | Paid | Modernized DIN style |
| Eurostile | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Futuristic branding |
| Bank Gothic | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Industrial uppercase design |
| Rajdhani | ★★★★☆ | Free | Web & app interfaces |
| Roboto Condensed | ★★★★☆ | Free | Digital UI/UX |
| Exo 2 | ★★★★☆ | Free | Tech-focused design |
Conclusion
For a premium DIN alternative, FF DIN and DIN Next offer the closest match with expanded versatility. For free options, Rajdhani and Roboto Condensed provide excellent web performance, while Exo 2 is perfect for futuristic branding.
Typeface Similar to Font 