How to Turn any Font into a Stencil and How to Care for Your Custom Stencil

As custom stencil makers, we often get asked: How do you create a spray paint stencil using fonts that actually work? And can you turn a logo into a usable stencil? The answer is yes to both, and we’re here to walk you through how it’s done.

Whether you’re using spray paint, an airbrush, or brushing by hand, the same basic principles apply. Just about any font or logo can be turned into a stencil, as long as the design isn’t too detailed or full of tiny, intricate elements. On this page, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started with your own custom stencil.

How Fonts can be turned into a stencil using bridges and gaps

To turn a font into a stencil, you need to modify the letters so that all parts of the design stay connected after cutting. This is done by adding bridges, small uncut gaps that connect the inner parts of letters (like the center of an “O” or “A”) to the rest of the stencil. Without these bridges, the enclosed areas (often called “counters”) would fall out once the stencil is cut.

For example, in the letter “B,” the two inner shapes need to remain attached. By placing narrow gaps (bridges) between the inner sections and the outer shape, you create a stencil-ready version of the letter. These adjustments can be made manually using vector design software, or by choosing a stencil font that already has built-in bridges. For more detailed fonts, we recommend a minimum 1 inch letter height in the stencil.

Stencil-Friendly Fonts to Consider

If you want to skip the editing and use a font that’s already designed with stencil bridges, here are some great options:

• Stencil – A classic and widely available font.
• Stardos Stencil – Stylish and modern, great for signs and branding.
• Army Stencil / Military – Rugged, bold, and easy to read.
• Roboto Stencil – Clean and minimal, great for modern looks.
• Capture It – Industrial style with built-in stencil gaps.
• Overpass Stencil – A professional, contemporary stencil font.
• Nasalization Stencil – Sleek and futuristic.

These fonts maintain legibility while ensuring all parts of the letter stay intact after cutting, making your spray paint or airbrush project that much easier.

What is the best spray paint stencil font?

You can use any font – we will even turn a non-stencil ready font into a stencil-approved font for you! Our experienced custom stencil makers will add “bridges” to any text to make it work. We handle all the hard work for you when you have us make your custom stencil.

There are some things to consider – if your font is not a stencil ready font, it will have “doughnut holes” that will fall out if it is not turned into a stencil ready font with bridges added.

See the graphic below to see a visual of how this works when turning your font into a stencil.

To make it easier, just choose the STENCIL font when ordering as this is already ready for stencils.

What about my logo, can you make my logo into a custom stencil?

Yes, we certainly can!

Just email us your logo or upload when ordering your stencils online and we’ll take a look to ensure it will work well with a spray paint stencil, and there are not too many small intricate details that will not transfer well.

The same principle applies to custom logo stencils as to stencil fonts – doughnut holes will fall out.

So our experienced, talented and stencil-passionate custom stencil makers will add bridges to your logo to make sure it will work.

What do I do with all those bridges after I spray paint, brush paint or otherwise paint over my custom stencil?

You can touch them up with a small brush, or leave them – it adds to the effect. If you don’t want the stencil look, a personalized decal instead of personalized stencil could be in order for you – though these add up fast. Custom stencils are lower cost over dozens, hundreds or thousands of uses, using the same stencil.

What are the different types of stencils I can purchase?

We offer four different custom stencils:

• 10 mil Stencil – Most versatile, recommended custom stencil material for logos and details and great for larger custom stencils
• 7 mil Reusable Adhesive Backed Stencil
• Magnetic Stencil
• Metal Stencil

Here is a comparison of each stencil type.

How long will my custom stencil you made for me last?

It depends on how well it is taken care of!

This is the most important factor in ensuring a long, useful life of your stencil. To care for your custom stencil, we recommend

• washing your stencil with warm water, soapy water or paint thinner after each usage to keep paint build up from happening
• You do not need to make your custom stencil look perfect – just get the build up of paint off, especially around the edges.
• store custom stencils flat for long term storage or carefully roll it up for short term storage or travel

A durable custom stencil (one without too many tiny tiny parts sticking out to get caught while you clean it or use it) should last dozens of uses at least. Many of our customers use their stencils for hundreds of uses.

Any other stencil related questions you’d like to ask our custom stencil makers? Check out our custom stencils, email us or call us – we are here to help.

If you are ready to make your custom stencils now, click here to start the process.

What people have to say:

“I had a great experience no problems whatsoever. The customer service was a really good they were attentive listened helped me answered my questions. The product I received was excellent, looked exactly how I had designer, no issues whatsoever with the product.”

“They came quickly and were exactly what we wanted. They were custom made for our company logo. Would 100% buy again.”