BENE File

What are BENE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BENE file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your BENE files.

What is a BENE file?

A .BENE file is a FontoBene Font file.

FontoBene Font files define stroke-based typefaces composed of straight lines and circular arcs, intended mainly for use in electronic design automation such as printed circuit board (PCB) design. The format stores each character glyph as sets of strokes (lines or arcs) rather than filled outlines, which simplifies exporting to PCB formats (Gerber), ensures simple geometry, and allows user-modifiable fonts within projects. It was developed to replace or extend formats like Hershey, NewStroke, LFF and CXF with clearer specification and better licensing.

LibPCB (LibrePCB) is the primary application that writes and reads FontoBene Font files. When starting a project, LibrePCB copies installed FontoBene font files into the project folder so the fonts are self-contained. Font files sit alongside other project assets and may be edited directly if needed. Strokes are used for silkscreen or text placement where minimum line widths matter.

Files begin with the ASCII signature "[format]" at offset 0. Inside the file are human-readable keyword/value entries including "FORMAT_VERSION", "LETTER_SPACING", "LINE_SPACING", "FONTOBENE", "LICENSE", "AUTHOR", and "NAME" among others.

How to open BENE files

Important: Different programs may use files with the BENE file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your BENE file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 23, 2026

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