---
name: "vtfontcvt"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/vtfontcvt"
---

# vtfontcvt(8)

convert font files for use by the video console

## NAME

**vtfontcvt** – convert font files for use by the video console

## SYNOPSIS

**vtfontcvt** \[**-nv**\] \[**-f** *format*\] \[**-h** *height*\] \[**-w** *width*\] **-o** *output\_file* *normal\_font* \[*bold\_font*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **vtfontcvt** utility reads source font files in either BDF or Unifont HEX format and outputs a file in one of the available output formats.

HEX format files (*normal\_font* and *bold\_font*) must have the file extension *.hex*.

The following options are available:

- **-f** *format*

  Specify the output format. Available formats are:

  - **compressed-source**

    C source with font data compressed by using LZ4 compression method.

  - **font**

    A binary font file (default).

  - **source**

    C source.

    The output in C source is intended to be used to embed the font into program binary.

    The binary font file is for use by [vt(4)](/vt/4.md).

- **-h** *height*

  Set font height. The default is 16. Font height is set automatically for BDF files and for HEX files that have a

  \# Height: *height*

  comment before any font data.

- **-n**

  Do not apply output filtering with C source output.

- **-o** *output\_file*

  Specify the name for the output file.

- **-v**

  Display verbose statistics about the converted font.

- **-w** *width*

  Set font width. The default is 8. Font width is set automatically for BDF files and for HEX files that have a

  \# Width: *width*

  comment before any font data.

## SEE ALSO

[vidcontrol(1)](/vidcontrol/1.md), [vt(4)](/vt/4.md)

## HISTORY

The **vtfontcvt** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 10.1.