Compare Fonts → Sans Serif → Saira vs Instrument Sans
Saira vs Instrument Sans
Both are sans serif faces on Google Fonts. Instrument Sans has the larger x-height, so it looks bigger at the same size. Saira takes more horizontal space.
Saira
Handgloves & Quartz Jockeys
Handgloves & Quartz Jockeys
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs, then ship it to 1,842 Grove Street by 9:30 AM.
Instrument Sans
Handgloves & Quartz Jockeys
Handgloves & Quartz Jockeys
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs, then ship it to 1,842 Grove Street by 9:30 AM.
Measured differences
| Measurement | Saira | Instrument Sans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| x-heightHeight of lowercase letters, as a share of the font size. Higher reads larger at the same point size. | 51.0% | 51.0% | 0.0% |
| Cap heightHeight of capitals, as a share of the font size. | 68.8% | 72.0% | 3.2% |
| x-height to cap ratioProportion of lowercase to uppercase. Higher feels more modern and open. | 0.74 | 0.71 | 0.03 |
| Stroke weightMeasured thickness of a vertical stroke. Higher is heavier on the page. | 8.2% | 8.2% | 0.1% |
| Stroke contrastHorizontal stroke divided by vertical. 1.0 is even; below 0.5 means strong thick-thin modulation. | 0.85 | 0.83 | 0.02 |
| Average character widthMean lowercase advance. Higher takes more horizontal space. | 52.6% | 52.5% | 0.2% |
Where they diverge most
- x-height to cap ratio: Saira measures 0.74, Instrument Sans measures 0.71. Proportion of lowercase to uppercase. Higher feels more modern and open.
- Stroke contrast: Saira measures 0.85, Instrument Sans measures 0.83. Horizontal stroke divided by vertical. 1.0 is even; below 0.5 means strong thick-thin modulation.
- Average character width: Saira measures 52.6%, Instrument Sans measures 52.5%. Mean lowercase advance. Higher takes more horizontal space.
At a glance
| Saira | Instrument Sans | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Sans Serif | Sans Serif |
| Weights | 9 | 4 |
| Variable axes | 2 | 2 |
| Language subsets | 3 | 2 |
| Designer | Omnibus-Type | Rodrigo Fuenzalida |
See fonts similar to Saira or fonts similar to Instrument Sans.