Arial Narrow vs Helvetica Condensed: How to Tell Them Apart
Last reviewed by the ArialNarrow.com editorial team
Short answer
They look alike at a glance, but Helvetica Condensed finishes its curves flat while Arial Narrow cuts them at an angle. Check the capital R and G to tell them apart. Arial Narrow comes with Microsoft Office. Helvetica Condensed is a paid font from Linotype, now part of Monotype.
The letters that give them away
| Letter | Arial Narrow | Helvetica Condensed |
|---|---|---|
| R | The leg kicks out on a diagonal from the bowl. | The leg drops almost straight down with a slight curve. |
| G | No spur. The curve simply ends. | A small vertical spur at the bottom right. |
| t | The top of the stem is cut at an angle. | The top is cut flat and horizontal. |
| a, c, e, s | Curved strokes end in angled cuts. | Curved strokes end in flat, horizontal cuts. |
Two fonts, one rivalry
Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann drew the typeface that became Helvetica in Switzerland in 1957, and condensed versions followed as the family grew. By the 1980s, Helvetica was a standard font in PostScript printers, and licensing it cost money.
Monotype answered with Arial in 1982. It matched Helvetica's widths, so documents kept their layout, but it used Monotype's own letter shapes. Microsoft later chose Arial for Windows, which is why most people have Arial Narrow today while Helvetica Condensed stays a design-studio font.
| Feature | Arial Narrow | Helvetica Condensed |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Monotype, 1982 (Arial family) | Linotype / Haas, Helvetica family from 1957 |
| Character | Slightly softer, angled cuts | Flat, even, more rigid |
| Weights | Regular, Bold + italics | Light to Black in Neue Helvetica |
| Cost | Included with Microsoft Office | Paid license |
| On a Mac | Only with Office or a license | Condensed Bold and Black built in |
Which should you use?
- Arial Narrow if you live in Microsoft Office and need something everyone on your team already has.
- Helvetica Condensed if your brand guide is built on Helvetica, or you need more than two weights.
- Neither if you want it free on the web. Try Roboto Condensed or Archivo Narrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arial Narrow a copy of Helvetica Condensed?
Not a copy. Monotype gave Arial the same character widths as Helvetica so printers could swap one for the other, but drew the letters from its own older grotesque designs. The letter shapes differ in many small ways, as the table above shows.
Does macOS include Helvetica Condensed?
macOS includes Helvetica Neue Condensed in Bold and Black weights, but no regular condensed weight. So a Mac can stand in for Arial Narrow Bold headings but not for regular body text.
Which is better for print?
Both print cleanly. Designers often prefer Helvetica Condensed for its more even, flat-cut finish, but Arial Narrow costs nothing extra if you already have Office. In small table text, most readers cannot tell them apart.