Key takeaways
- Both colors and fonts are controlled in the Theme Editor under Theme settings - no code required for standard changes.
- Colors live under Theme settings → Colors. Fonts live under Theme settings → Typography.
- Modern themes use color schemes you can assign per section, giving you more control over visual rhythm.
- For colors and fonts not exposed in theme settings, custom CSS or Fudge handles the override.
To update colors and fonts in Shopify, go to Online Store → Themes → Customize → Theme settings: colors are under Colors, fonts under Typography.
Why you can trust us
Jacques has 15+ years of Shopify development experience. We build Fudge, the AI operator for Shopify stores, with a 4.9 rating on the Shopify App Store.
Where to find color and font settings in Shopify
Step 1. Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize.
Step 2. In the left sidebar, scroll to the bottom and click Theme settings.
Step 3. You’ll see settings grouped by category. Look for:
- Colors (or “Color schemes”) - for brand palette settings
- Typography (or “Fonts”) - for font family and size settings
These two sections control the global appearance of your entire storefront.
How to change colors in Shopify
Click Colors in Theme settings. You’ll find color pickers for:
- Background colors - page and section backgrounds
- Text colors - headings and body copy
- Button colors - primary and secondary button fills and text
- Border and accent colors - dividers, input outlines, badges
Click any color swatch and enter your hex code (e.g., #1A1A2E). Changes apply globally across your store.
Color schemes (modern themes). Themes like Dawn and Horizon use named color schemes rather than single global colors. Each scheme is a coordinated set of background, text, and button colors. You define the schemes in Theme settings, then assign them to individual sections. This lets you alternate light and dark sections without setting colors element by element.
How to change fonts in Shopify
Click Typography in Theme settings. You’ll see font pickers for:
- Headings - H1 through H3 across your store
- Body text - paragraphs, labels, product descriptions
Click Change next to either font role. Shopify’s font library opens, showing Google Fonts, system fonts, and Shopify’s curated picks.
Browse or search by name, click to preview, then click Select. Save when done.
For heading sizes, see How to Change Heading Font Size in Shopify.
How to change font colors in Shopify
Font colors are part of the Colors settings, not Typography.
In Theme settings → Colors, look for the Text color field. This controls body text color globally. Heading text color may be a separate field - look for “Heading color” or “Heading text” in the same panel.
For individual section overrides, click the section in the Theme Editor → look for a Color scheme selector in the section settings. Switching the section to a different color scheme changes both its background and text colors together.
How to override specific colors and fonts with CSS
If a color or font isn’t exposed in Theme settings, use custom CSS.
Go to Theme settings → scroll to Custom CSS. Add your overrides:
/* Custom heading font color */
h1,
h2,
h3 {
color: #1a1a2e;
}
/* Custom link color */
a {
color: #e63946;
}
/* Custom button background */
.btn-primary,
.button--primary {
background-color: #e63946;
color: #ffffff;
}
Find the correct CSS class by right-clicking an element on your live store → Inspect.
For each topic in more depth, see How to Update Brand Colors in Shopify, How to Update Fonts in Shopify and How to Change Link Color in Shopify.
How to apply custom fonts not in Shopify’s library
For purchased or proprietary brand fonts, the process involves uploading font files to your theme assets:
- Upload
.woff2and.wofffiles to the assets folder: go to Online Store → Themes, then the three-dot menu (…) next to your theme, then Edit code - Add a
@font-facerule in your CSS - Apply the font to heading and body elements
This requires CSS knowledge. The alternative is describing it to Fudge: “Implement our brand font [font name] for headings and [font name] for body text. The files are uploaded to the assets folder.” Fudge writes the declarations and applies them as a draft.
Making brand changes consistently
When updating colors and fonts, check these locations to make sure changes are consistent:
- Email notifications - Shopify Admin → Settings → Notifications uses separate branding settings from your theme
- Checkout - Shopify Admin → Settings → Checkout → Customize has its own branding panel
The Theme Editor controls your storefront only. Checkout and email branding are configured separately.
Using Fudge for a full brand refresh
If you want to apply a new color palette and typography system across your entire theme - including elements the Theme Editor doesn’t expose - describe the full change to Fudge, the AI operator for Shopify stores:
“Apply our new brand: primary color #1A1A2E, accent #E63946, background #FAFAFA. Headings in Canela Display, body in Inter. Apply consistently to buttons, hover states, section backgrounds, and badges.”
Fudge generates the complete CSS updates as a draft. You review everything before anything goes live. Your team can see who published the change and when, and the previous styles are kept in case you need to roll back.
FAQ
Will changing fonts slow down my Shopify site?
Yes, slightly. Each custom font family adds a font file to load. Two families (heading + body) typically add 60–200KB combined and ~50–200ms of LCP impact. System fonts (-apple-system, Arial) load instantly with zero overhead. Use font-display: swap so text renders in a fallback font while the custom font loads.
How do I match my Shopify checkout colors to my storefront?
Settings → Checkout → Customize has its own branding panel separate from the theme. Apply the same hex codes (background, accent, button color) you used in Theme settings → Colors. Mismatched checkout/storefront colors break the perceived brand continuity at the highest-stakes moment.
Can I use brand-licensed fonts on Shopify?
Yes — upload .woff2 and .woff files to your theme's assets/ folder, then add a @font-face declaration in CSS. Confirm your font license permits web use (most modern foundries do, but some restrict to specific domains). If you'd rather not write the @font-face block yourself, upload the files and describe what you want to Fudge ("use GT Walsheim for headings and Inter for body") and it writes the declarations and assignments across your theme.
What's a good font pairing for Shopify?
Common pairings: Inter (body) + Playfair Display (headings) for editorial brands; Inter throughout for SaaS-feel; DM Sans + DM Serif Display for modern editorial; system fonts throughout for fast/casual brands. Pair contrasting personalities (one serif, one sans-serif) to create visual hierarchy.
Should I use serif or sans-serif for Shopify headings?
Depends on positioning. Serif headings (Playfair, Canela, Tiempos) read as editorial, premium, considered — works for fashion, beauty, lifestyle. Sans-serif (Inter, DM Sans, Söhne) reads as modern, direct, technical — works for SaaS-like products, electronics, sportswear. Test both with your audience.