Cinzel is a serif font by Natanael Gama, released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1. Roman inscriptional capitals; the classic choice for a formal block monogram. Below are monograms made with it in the styles it suits best; open the monogram maker with Cinzel selected to make your own with any initials and download SVG, PNG or PDF.
Cinzel monogram examples
Using Cinzel for monograms
Cinzel is based on Roman inscriptional capitals, which makes it the natural font for a formal single initial in a laurel wreath and for two-letter monograms on stationery. It is also the default text font for names and dates in the tool.
About Cinzel
Cinzel was designed by Natanael Gama and is based on Roman inscriptions of the first century and their classical proportions. It has capitals only (the lowercase positions hold small capitals), which is why it is so often used for monograms, titles and engraved names.
Because Cinzel is capitals-only, names set in it look formal and even. It is our default text font for wedding and split monograms, paired with a script for the initials.
Cinzel measured from the font file
| Designer (Google Fonts record) | Natanael Gama |
| Added to Google Fonts | October 2012 |
| Copyright line in the file | Copyright 2020 The Cinzel Project Authors (https://github.com/NDISCOVER/Cinzel) |
| File version we measured | Version 2.000 |
| Characters in the file | 367 (368 glyphs) |
| Thinnest strokes (10th percentile) | 4.4% of the capital height |
| Main strokes (90th percentile) | 21.6% of the capital height |
| Thick-to-thin ratio | 4.9 : 1, high stroke contrast |
| Typical capital width | 106% of its height (widest 187%) |
| Deepest capital below the baseline | Q, 40% of the capital height |
| Outline points in A to Z | 1,525 (most: R, 94; fewest: J, 33) |
Worked example: how small can a Cinzel letter be cut?
Thin stroke = 0.044 x letter height. A 3 inch Cinzel capital therefore has strokes down to 3.35 mm. Taking 1 mm as a cautious minimum for weeding adhesive vinyl: 0.044 x H = 1 mm gives H = 22.7 mm, or 0.89 in per letter (1.12 in for heat-transfer or glitter vinyl, about 25% more). Monograms shrink letters to fit frames and stacks, hence our 1.5 in overall minimum for Cinzel.
Outline points: 1,525 across A to Z; R has 94, J only 33. A moderate outline that cuts at normal speed on any machine.
For names in the split and wedding styles, the file includes é ñ ø Ł ő ș ß, so names such as René, Muñoz, Søren set correctly, but it lacks ễ (as in Nguyễn); use a different text font for those names.
For the name in a split monogram or the date under a wedding monogram, pair Cinzel with Montserrat; the tool’s “Text font” control sets it.
Licence and download
Licence: SIL Open Font License 1.1 (commercial use allowed; the font may not be sold on its own). Files: Google Fonts and google/fonts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinzel free for commercial use?
Yes. Cinzel is released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1, which allows you to use it commercially, including on products you sell, and to share the font file itself.
What is the smallest size Cinzel cuts well at?
About 1.5 inches wide in standard adhesive vinyl. Add about 25 percent for heat-transfer or glitter vinyl. Serifs cut well from about 1.5 to 2 inches; the thin hairline serifs on Bodoni-style faces are the only fragile part.
Which monogram styles suit Cinzel?
Single initial monogram, Two-letter monogram, Circle monogram. Cinzel is based on Roman inscriptional capitals, which makes it the natural font for a formal single initial in a laurel wreath and for two-letter monograms on stationery.
Where do I download Cinzel?
From Google Fonts. Our maker loads it for you, so there is nothing to install.
More serif fonts
- Cinzel Decorative
- Playfair Display
- Cormorant Garamond
- Bodoni Moda
- Abril Fatface
- All monogram fonts
- Monogram maker
Styles to try
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. The fonts are open-licensed (SIL OFL or Apache 2.0); see the font list for each licence. The frames are drawn by our own code. Something not working? Please let us know.