Stencil Esba 5 is a bold, normal width, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Benton Sans' by Font Bureau, 'Peridot Latin' and 'Peridot PE' by Foundry5, 'Harmonia Sans' and 'Harmonia Sans Paneuropean' by Monotype, and 'Kommon Grotesk' by TypeK (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, branding, packaging, signage, industrial, tactical, modern, assertive, utilitarian, stencil marking, impact display, industrial tone, technical labeling, all-caps friendly, blocky, geometric, high-impact, notched.
A heavy, block-built sans with clear stencil breaks that slice through stems and bowls. The letterforms are compact and sturdy with predominantly straight sides, broad curves, and squared terminals; counters are generous for the weight, keeping interior spaces readable. Stencil bridges appear as vertical and horizontal interruptions (often centered), creating a rhythmic, engineered feel across both uppercase and lowercase. Curves in characters like C, O, Q, and S stay smooth and round, while diagonals (V, W, X, Y) are sharply cut and slightly angular in their joins, reinforcing a rugged, fabricated look.
Best suited to display typography where its stencil interruptions and heavy mass can be appreciated—posters, headlines, product identities, packaging, and bold wayfinding or label-style signage. It can also work for short UI labels or section headers where a rugged, technical tone is desired, but the repeated breaks may become visually busy in extended text.
The overall tone is industrial and purposeful, evoking labeling, equipment marking, and hard-wearing signage. Its stencil cuts add a tactical, utilitarian character that feels contemporary rather than vintage, projecting confidence and impact at a glance.
The design appears intended to deliver a robust stencil voice with modern, geometric construction—prioritizing instant recognizability and a manufactured, cut-out aesthetic that stays consistent across letters and figures.
The stencil pattern is fairly consistent across the set, and the numerals mirror the same interrupted construction, making mixed text and numbering feel cohesive. In longer sample lines the strong vertical cuts create a distinctive texture, so spacing and line breaks become part of the visual effect.