Thai font · PAID
DB Nongkhai
ดีบี หนองคาย
Information verified as of July 2026
Get DB Nongkhai from the foundry →
How to install & use
- Windows — Download the .zip, unzip it, then right-click the .ttf/.otf file → “Install”.
- macOS — Double-click the .ttf/.otf file, then click “Install Font” in Font Book.
- Web — A webfont license from the foundry is required before embedding on a website.
Preview DB Nongkhai
DB Nongkhai is a foundry/desktop font, so it can’t be embedded as a free webfont for a live preview here. See the specimen above for the real letterforms, or load your own text into the Thai Font Tester to compare it against the free Google Fonts alternatives.
What DB Nongkhai is
DB Nongkhai is a cultural Thai display face from DB (Dear Book) that styles the Thai script to evoke the look of Lao letterforms, shipping in three weights from Regular to Bold. The DB catalogue describes it plainly as “ฟอนต์ ไทย เสมือนลาว” — a Thai font resembling Lao.
The name (ดีบี หนองคาย) references Nong Khai, the Thai province on the Mekong across from Laos, and the face is built for regional, cultural, and heritage design that wants that cross-border identity. It sits in the decorative-display corner of the DB range rather than among the text workhorses.
DB (Dear Book), founded by Parinya Rojarayanond, is credited as Thailand’s first digital type foundry, established in the late 1980s.
Character design and tone
DB Nongkhai borrows the rounder, more looped and slanted rhythm associated with Lao writing and applies it to Thai consonants, giving the script a distinct regional, handcrafted flavour. It is a display face for headlines and titling, not for body text.
The catalogue notes the strokes range “จากเส้นบางเบาจนถึงหนัก” — from light and thin to heavy — across the three weights, and tags the design with culture, serif-like detailing, and slant. Consonants like ก, ถ, and ภ take on softened, tilted forms that read as warm and vernacular rather than modern-neutral. The face is Thai-focused; treat Latin support as absent unless a specimen confirms it.
The tone is cultural and evocative — a face chosen to signal Isan and Lao-Thai identity.
Weights and availability
DB Nongkhai ships three weights — Regular, Medium, and Bold — as a desktop font. Licence it from the DB Font catalogue under DB’s commercial terms.
The font is commercial and not distributed free. As a display face, reserve it for titles, logos, and short cultural headlines.
Best use cases
DB Nongkhai suits regional, cultural, and heritage design that wants a Thai-Lao visual identity. Strong briefs:
- Isan and Mekong-region tourism and festival branding
- Cultural event posters and titling
- Restaurant and product branding evoking Lao-Thai heritage
- Book covers and editorial headlines with a regional theme
- Logos needing a vernacular, handcrafted Thai voice
Where it doesn’t fit: body text, corporate identity, and open-licence projects — use Srisakdi or Charm for decorative Thai character under other licences.
Pairings
DB Nongkhai is a titling face; pair it with a neutral Thai body font. Three pairings:
- DB Soda — a DB companion for playful supporting text
- Srisakdi — an open-licensed decorative Thai display for a second accent
- Ayuthaya — a traditional-flavoured Thai face for heritage layouts
Licensing
DB Nongkhai is commercial proprietary software from DB (Dear Book), licensed per-user, per-application, or under site agreements. Redistribution needs separate terms. Confirm pricing on the DB Font catalogue page. For open-licensed decorative Thai alternatives, see Srisakdi and the display category.
Frequently asked questions about DB Nongkhai
Is DB Nongkhai free to use?
No — DB Nongkhai is a commercial typeface. You need to buy a license from DB (Dear Book) before using it in a project. Check the license tiers for desktop, web, and app use separately.
How many weights does DB Nongkhai have?
DB Nongkhai ships in 3 weights: Regular, Medium, Bold. Pick a heavier weight for display and headlines, and a Regular or lighter weight for body text and long-form reading.
Does DB Nongkhai support Latin and English characters?
DB Nongkhai is a Thai-only typeface with limited or no Latin coverage. For bilingual Thai/English work, pair it with a matching Latin face — see the pairings below.
Where can I download DB Nongkhai?
Get DB Nongkhai from DB (Dear Book). Use the download/license button at the top of this page for the official source — avoid third-party font sites, which often ship outdated or unlicensed files.
What fonts are similar to DB Nongkhai?
The closest alternatives to DB Nongkhai are Srisakdi, Charm, Ayuthaya. They share a similar style and use case, so they’re the first faces to compare if you need a different weight range, license, or price.
Who designed DB Nongkhai?
DB Nongkhai was designed by DB (Dear Book Design) at DB (Dear Book). Full designer credit and the primary source are listed at the bottom of this page.
Information verified as of July 2026
Sources
- DB Nongkhai is a commercial cultural Thai display face from DB (Dear Book) in three weights (Regular, Medium, Bold) styled to resemble Lao script, ranging from light to heavy strokes.—DB Font official catalogue page for DB Nongkhai (accessed Jul 16, 2026)
- DB (Dear Book Design), founded by Parinya Rojarayanond, was the first Thai digital type foundry, established in the late 1980s.—Luc Devroye type reference — DB Font (accessed Jul 16, 2026)