You’re presenting an amazing Power BI report filled with insights, but it feels like something’s missing. The visuals are great, but the default font? Meh. It’s like wearing flip-flops to a black-tie party.
That’s where custom fonts in Power BI come in to elevate your report and add that personal touch. Fonts do more than look good—they set the tone, show off your brand, and make your reports more engaging and easier to read. In short, they help your reports stand out.
But custom fonts aren’t without their challenges. Handle them wrong, and your sleek design could turn into a frustrating mess.
So… can you use custom fonts in Power BI?
Short answer: YES!
But should you? And how do you avoid the pitfalls if you decide to dive in? Let’s break it down, step-by-step.
Why Use Custom Fonts in Power BI?
Fonts might seem like a minor detail, but trust me—they can make or break your report. Here’s why custom fonts are worth considering:
First Impressions Matter: Fonts are the first thing your audience notices—before they even dive into the data. A polished font sets the tone and says, “This report means business.” A generic default? Not so much.
Brand Consistency: Your company or personal brand has a unique look and feel, and fonts are part of that visual identity. Why not let your reports reflect your unique vibe?
Readability & Engagement: Fonts guide your audience’s eyes. The right font makes data easier to read, which means your insights shine brighter.
Creative Expression: Custom fonts give your reports personality! They allow your creativity to shine in ways the default fonts simply can’t. Perfect for personal projects, dataviz challenges, or even that quirky holiday gift tracker you’re designing.
The Challenges: Why Custom Fonts Are a Nay
Not so fast! Custom fonts have their quirks, and diving in without a plan could leave you frustrated. Here’s what to watch out for:
Font Installation for Everyone: Power BI doesn’t embed fonts. If your audience doesn’t have the font installed locally, Power BI will default to a fallback font—and trust me, it won’t look good.
Pro Tip: Stick with Power BI default fonts for large audiences or external stakeholders.
Compatibility Issues: Not all fonts play nice with Power BI. Some won’t render at all, and others might look fine in Desktop but break in the Service or on mobile.
Pro Tip: Always test your fonts across platforms!
Accessibility Concerns: Fancy fonts can be hard to read for users with visual impairments. Keep decorative fonts for titles or headers, and stick to clean fonts (like Arial or Verdana) for body text.
Technical Setup: Custom fonts require JSON theme files, which can be a bit of a time investment. Worth it? Maybe. Tedious? Definitely.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Custom Fonts in Power BI
You've read this far and you decided to take on the challenge of adding some flair to your Power BI report? Follow these steps:
Skip to Step 4 if you already have the font installed on your machine. And skip to Step 5 if you are already working with a JSON file.
Step 1: Download the Font
Find a reputable source (Google Fonts is always a solid choice) and download your font file—it’ll usually be a .ttf or .otf format. Just make sure it’s licensed for your project. Nobody wants a copyright problems over a font, right?
Step 2: Install the Font
Right-click the font file.
Select Install or Install for all users (recommended for Power BI compatibility).
Step 3: Restart Power BI
I know, I know—nobody likes restarting. But trust me, this step is crucial. Save your work and restart Power BI so it recognizes your new font. Skipping this step might make you panic when the font doesn’t show up later (been there, done that).
Step 4: Create a JSON file of your current theme in Power BI
Already working with a JSON file? Skip to Step 5. If not, here’s how to create one:
In the Power BI ribbon, go to View > Customize current theme and set the font to something simple like Arial. Hit Apply.
A screenshot from Power BI showing how to Customize current theme 
A screenshot from Power BI showing how to change the font Go back to View > Save current theme. This will generate a JSON file that you can open in Notepad++, Visual Studio Code, or your favorite text editor.
Step 5: Modify the JSON file
Here’s where the magic happens! Add your custom font to the JSON file:
{
"name": "Give a unique name to your Custom Theme",
"textClasses": {
"label": {
"fontFace": "Your custom font here"
}
}
}Pro Tip: To make a font available for Text Visuals, you need to assign it to the label property in your JSON theme. However, this will also apply the font to axes and tooltips, which may not be ideal for highly decorative fonts. Balance your design choices by manually updating axes and tooltip fonts in the Format Pane in Power BI or restricting decorative fonts to only titles and headers.
Step 6: Import the JSON file
Go back to your Power BI report, head to View > Browse for themes, and upload your edited JSON file. Voilà! Your custom font is now part of your report.
Step 7: Test Your Report
Before celebrating, open the report in Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, and mobile devices to make sure the font renders correctly everywhere. Trust me, nothing kills the vibe faster than realizing your masterpiece looks clunky on mobile.
One More Thing: Festive Fonts for the Holidays 🎄🎁
Feeling festive? Why not add some holiday magic to your reports! Create a fun, personalized gift tracker or enter a dataviz challenge! Custom fonts can add that festive flair to make your visuals pop. Just make sure they’re readable and test them across devices.
Here's my example using the font "Mountains of Christmas":
json
{
"name": "Custom Holiday Theme",
"textClasses": {
"title": {
"fontFace": "Mountains of Christmas"
},
"label": {
"fontFace": "Mountains of Christmas"
}
}
}And here's my Christmas card:
TL;DR The Final Verdict: Custom Fonts in Power BI—YAY or NAY?
Custom fonts can make your Power BI reports shine, adding polish, branding, and personality. But they’re not without challenges. So, it depends!
YAY if:
You’re designing for a small, specific audience.
Brand consistency is a top priority.
You want to add some creative flair to a personal or fun project.
NAY if:
Your audience is large or external.
Accessibility and compatibility are a must.
You’re short on time or patience for JSON file edits.
Whether you’re sticking with the classics or diving into the world of custom fonts, remember: your insights deserve to shine! Let me know if you’ve tried this approach, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you encounter any issues. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy designing and happy holidays!
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to MoonStory for more tips, tricks, and dataviz fun!