best resume font size 2022

Finally! The Answers to All Your Questions About Resume Fonts and Sizes

Writing a resume involves a lot of decision-making. There are the major choices like what information to include, how to include it , and what resume format is best for you. But sometimes the minor details can trip you up too. What font and font size to use on your resume are decisions that feel like way bigger a deal than they probably should—as anyone who’s ever spent 45 minutes agonizing between Arial and Helvetica can attest. The good news is, the choice is relatively straightforward.

The goal of your font and font size choices is to present your resume information in a way that is both readable and aesthetically pleasing. Here’s what to consider, plus the best fonts and font sizes for your resume according to The Muse’s expert career coaches.

Why Does Your Resume Font Matter?

There are two reasons your resume font matters, according to Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky , founder of Shatter & Shine . “The first is your human resume reader,” she says. “The aesthetics of a resume are important because it gets your reader to focus on the actual content and your experience rather than being hung up on poor font choice.” So you want a font that is very readable and isn’t distracting.

The second reason your font choice matters? The applicant tracking system (ATS). ATSs are programs that help recruiters and hiring managers organize and search resumes, but they “read” some fonts better than others. “The goal is to have your resume pass seamlessly through an ATS so, like the human resume reader, it can focus on the content of the document,” Yurovsky says.

What Are the Best Resume Fonts?

What kinds of fonts fit both these considerations? Put simply, the classics: the fonts that come standard across a range of programs and aren’t overly flashy or designed. These fonts became standard because they’re easy on human eyes, and since they’re standard, ATSs are programmed to read them.

Here are the best fonts according to our experts:

• Times New Roman

Arial is the font most commonly recommended by our experts. Times New Roman was the go-to font for so long that some of our experts now say it appears dated, but it’s still a safe choice in terms of readability.

How Do You Pick a Resume Font?

So how do you know which of these more traditional, easy-to-read fonts you should pick? That depends on your personal preference and what you think sends the right message for your resume. “The saying, ‘Dress for the job you want’ applies to font choice too!” Yurovsky says.

You might want to consider whether a serif or sans serif font is best for you. If you want to make your resume look more modern (if, for example, you work in tech) you might choose a sans serif font like Arial or Calibri, and avoid serif fonts like Times New Roman and Georgia, says Muse career coach Debra Boggs . But if you work in higher education or the medical field, a serif font like Georgia would be appropriate.

To figure out which type of font you’re looking at, check the capital Ts—if the top has short lines hanging down on either side, those lines are serifs. But if the top of the T is a single line straight across, you have a sans serif font.

Once you’ve decided between serif and sans serif, choosing a font comes down to which one looks best to you!

What Kinds of Fonts Should You Stay Away From?

Now that you have a sense of the classic fonts and basic considerations, you should also know there are a few things you should avoid:

• Heavily stylized fonts: “Although pretty and design-oriented, stay away from heavily stylized fonts like modern cursive fonts,” since ATSs can’t read them, Yurovsky says, and humans might have trouble, too.
• Narrow, condensed, or light fonts or versions of fonts: These fonts can be harder on human eyes, especially when you’re reading on a screen.
• Non-standard, downloaded, or custom fonts : Fonts that aren’t standard to most operating systems may be converted inaccurately by an ATS, says Muse career coach Tina Wascovich .
• Gimmick fonts: Your resume is a professional document, so your font choice should also be professional. Stay away from fonts like Comic Sans, Papyrus, and, of course, Wingdings.

How Do You Keep It Interesting?

These suggestions and guidelines might sound boring, but don’t worry, “You can still have an aesthetically pleasing resume by using the good old fonts we’ve seen over and over again,” Yurovsky says.

For example, you can use bold and italics for job titles or company names to add to the visual appeal, Muse career coach Jillian Lucas points out. You can also use color and underlines, in moderation—too many colors will look unprofessional and underlining should be reserved for headings since people (and ATSs) tend to read underlined text as hyperlinks.

You can also choose to use multiple fonts on your resume, but make sure to keep it simple. Pick one font for your name and section headings and another, complementary font for the rest of your content, Yurovsky says. More than two fonts will start to distract the reader.

How Do You Choose a Font Size?

When choosing font sizes, you want to find a balance: “Too large a size and your resume is likely to be more than one page without necessarily having the years of experience to back up that resume length,” Yurovsky says. But if you go too small, Lucas says, “the recruiter will be squinting to read your resume. This is the last thing you want and will likely land you in the no pile.”

Your font size doesn’t need to be uniform across your resume. You can change it up to help make your important information—like section headings—stand out. Just be sure to use the same font size for each type of information across your resume and make sure the relative sizes are logical. For example, if you’re using Calibri, Boggs recommends 10.5 point font for bullets and 12 or 14 for company names, dates, and past job titles.

“I always say to build your resume with the sizes you want and see where you land.” Yurovsky says. If you’re spilling onto the second page, consider decreasing one or more of the font sizes while still keeping it readable. But be careful, Muse career coach Leto Papadopoulos says: “I see a lot of people trying to cram in their info with a small font size.” You’re better off looking for other ways to get your resume down to one page .

On the other hand, if you have a lot of white space at the end , you might consider making your fonts a bit bigger. But don’t go overboard and set your bullets to size 16 just to take up more of the page. Recruiters will see right through that.

What Are the Best Resume Font Sizes?

Which exact font sizes are best for your resume will vary based on the font you’ve picked and your situation. So choose your font first and use your own judgement to determine which font sizes are most appropriate.

Here are some general guidelines from our experts to get you started:

• Your Name: 20-24 point
• Headings and Subheadings: 11-14 point
• Body Text and Your Contact Info: 10-12 point

Ultimately, the most important component of your resume is the content. Your font and font size choices should be about making sure your content is clear so you can convince the reader you're right for the job.

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Which font should you use on a resume?

If you are struggling with this question, you have landed on the right platform.

Here we will guide you in choosing the best fonts for your resume to ensure that you craft your language with a durable visual form.

A resume without a legible font is almost not worthy to the recruiter. So should be of primary concern to improve the readability of the text.

A resume follows the same line as writing a research paper for your school. You put together a cohesive story with no spelling or grammatical errors and a readable resume font size .

Always remember that a hiring manager must go through many resumes in a day.

Hence, it becomes very crucial to present your resume with a professional yet appealing approach. You can do it by selecting the best resume fonts 2022 based on the answers to the following questions:

What's the Best Resume Font & Size?

• What are the best 14 fonts in a resume in 2022?
• What fonts to avoid adding to a resume in 2022?
• What are the differences between Serif vs. Sans Serif fonts?

Should You Use Pairing Fonts in Resume?

It's an open secret that hiring managers take 7.4 seconds to review a resume. And within this limited time, you have to pursue the hiring manager to read your resume.

The font you pick for the resume dramatically impacts how the recruiters will perceive your resume.

Font Size of Resume

Ideally, the font size of a resume must be within 10 - 12 points.

If you are writing the resume header, then the font size can be 14-16 points , but not more than that.

If you can fit your resume content on one page, then you can use sans-serif font at 10 points, but not less than that.

Characteristics of Best Font on Resume

Different fonts can effectively change the perception of a recruiter about a candidate. Here are some of the characteristics of an ideal font for a resume and cover letter.

• Bold : Boding is helpful if you want to draw the attention of the reader to some specific words or phrases.

For example, if you have a work experience section, you can use the bolding to highlight statistics specifically.

Brainstormed sales strategy while improving conversion rate by 20%

Italics are suitable for supporting text, such as dates and names of honors.

For example:

summa cum laude & magna cum laude

• Underline: It's advisable not to use any underline in your resume or cover letter.

However, you can underline hyperlinks such as your LinkedIn profile, GitHub link, or email Id.

• Font Color:

For consistency and professionalism, it's best to use a primary color as the font color, such as black.

However, if you have a duel-tone design in your resume, you can use other complimentary colors in the resume font.

• Line Spacing:

Make sure to keep the line spacing between 1.0 - 1.5 points. No less than that.

Top 14 Best Resume Fonts

Here are the top 10 best resume fonts in 2022

1. Helvetica

This is a Swiss sans-serif font licensed by Linotype. A lot of professionals rank Helvetica as the most beautiful sans-serif font. Thus, making it the best sans-serif font 2022 as it is sure to divert the recruiter's attention to your resume.

Why use it?

• This typeface has clean lines and exceptional clarity.
• It gives a contemporary look to your resume.
• It has a neo-grotesque typeface.
• Even prominent corporate logos like (BMW and Microsoft) use it.

Roboto is a less-similar resume font alternative to Helvetica created by Google and available for use openly!

This is a classic serif font choice. It does not compromise on modern digital formatting.

• It uses thicker strokes.
• Designed to create more clarity on a computer screen.
• Looks the same whether you are viewing a Word document or a PDF.
• The New York Times uses this font, and many big corporations, such as Yahoo, Amazon, and Twitter too!

Georgia's popularity may make it difficult for your resume to stand out.

It has been the default Microsoft Word font since 2007. Calibri even won the Type Directors Club's TDC2 2005 Type System award.

• Calibri is an excellent choice because of its familiarity.
• It is easy on the eyes.
• Reader can swiftly read through it.
• It has a warm and soft character.
• Renders correctly when opened.

Calibri's widespread use makes it a ' lazy ' option. But it maximizes relatability, skipping dated serif fonts. It is not as decorated as others.

Google created Carlito as a metrically compatible font match to Calibri. It is open source!

Lato is a sans-serif corporate font! This is a dual-natured font with some unique traits at larger sizes.

• It was created to look neutral in body copy.
• It comes in a wide range of weights and styles.
• It is called a serious but friendly font!

Lato is not a standard Microsoft Word font. It might not load in some systems.

Open Sans is a great alternative for Lato. It is one of the most popular fonts on the web. It is openly available and can be used commercially!

5. Gill Sans

A sans-serif typeface which is London's corporate font!

• Makes your resume look both classic and modern.
• It is used widely across the British Railways system, by the BBC, and elsewhere in the UK.

Cambria is one of the most popular resume fonts used in the industry. It's a serif counterpart to the Calibri font.

Why it's used?

• It looks clean and professional
• It's available on both Microsoft and Google Docs
• Source Serif Pro and ITC Charter font can be used as an alternative to Cambria font.

Noto is created to be used in every available language out there. And since it's clean and easily available, it's a great choice for adding to a resume, especially if you want to add a non-Latin alphabet.

8. Garamond

A Garamond font is a mix between traditional serif font and modern designs. On top of that, this font looks elegant and professional and is a great choice to add to a formal resume.

The Verdana font is elegant yet soft font. Microsoft created it to be a counterpart of the Georgia font.

Why is it better?

• It has a soft feel to it, making the reader feel very comfortable.
• The size of the font is also very small, which makes it good for resumes with a lot of content

10. Trebuchet MS

The trebuchet MS font is created for Microsoft. It's not an all-purpose font. You can get the most out of this font if you add it to the resume header since these are sharp fonts.

If you are looking for alternatives, you can use Fira Sans and Allerta instead of Trebuchet MS.

11. Book Antiqua

This is one of the traditional fonts you can find out there, which is still in use widely in professional documentation.

• Book Antiqua font is classy, professional, and easy to read
• Book Antiqua font is free to use.
• It's easily available on most platforms

Tahoma font was released from Windows 95, and since then, it has become a favorite for professionals in the last 25 years.

Why it is used?

• It has a technical vibe, making it best for technical and senior resumes.
• It's now available for most platforms.
• It can be used as an alternative to Ariel and Verdana.

Didot is a serif font with a classy and professional look. Because of its upscale look, it's best to use in fashion and photography-related resumes.

It's good for the resume body, but the delicate Didot font shines at the large size. So it's best to use the Didot font in the resume headings.

13. Constantia

Constantia resume font is designed to look good on a computer monitor while remaining applicable on paper.

So if you are applying online and sending your resume via email, you can use the Constantia font to impress the recruiters.

Avenir is a very clean and crisp font that gives a resume a modern look. It has multiple weights that you can use to differentiate between headings and body or highlight some parts of your experience.

Also Read: How to choose a Cover Letter font in 2022?

Serif or Sans-Serif for resume?

Many people confuse between a Serif font and a Sans-Serif font. To keep it simple, Serif and Sans-Serif are twins with the former one with little spikes coming out of his head.

Here we are going to give you a group of best fonts for resume which will help you in selecting the best font for resume to make your resume stand out.

What is a serif font?

Serifs are the little lines at the end of each stroke in a letter. They originated in Roman antiquity and are comparably out-dated from similar sans-serif counterparts.

What is a sans-serif font?

Sans-serif fonts do not have the lines at the end of each stroke. They appear fresh, modern, and good for resumes.

What are the best resume fonts 2022?

Which are the best resume fonts 2022 in serif? Which is the best font for resume in sans serif?

Serif fonts are easier to read. The little brush strokes on each letter help our brain in faster reading.

But, sans-serifs are used as best resume fonts for their contemporary look. They integrate seamlessly with modern resume designs.

Also Read: What are the most common resume mistakes in 2022?

Fonts to Avoid in Your Resume

Some resume fonts must be avoided at all costs. They leave a wrong impression on the employer. You should not risk your job for the sake of a wrong font choice!

Here we discuss top 5 worst fonts for resume 2022:

1. Comic Sans

This font is too comical to be put in a resume. It destroys the seriousness of the resume.

This is the most overused font. Choosing it is a lazy choice. This might mean that you did not put much thought or effort into your resume.

3. Times New Roman

This is the most surprising font on the list. It is simple because it is used so widely! It will not help your resume stand out. It will make it boring and safe .

This is a big and bold font. The font is simply too much for a professional document. It is not easy on the eyes!

This font simply replicates the look of a typewriter . Also, it has a monospaced typeface which looks absurd for the whole page of text.

Now the problem here is which font with the best resume font size 2022 to choose out of a serif or sans serif for resume. To make your resume appear visually stimulating , you can pair two fonts on a resume.

The best font pairs agree with each other. They work together in harmony and do not fight the recruiter for attention.

Pair fonts on your resume using this checklist:

• Differentiate headings and sections from the main resume content.
• Increase the text size, use bold, and pair the fonts together.
• Choose two contrasting typefaces like a standard script with a cursive script, or sans-serif with serif.
• Use one for the main content , and the other for larger elements, such as the name and section headings .

Use the best serif font 2022 along with the best sans serif font 2022 Example: Georgia and Calibri, Helvetica and Calibri.

Frequently Asked Questions

How small should font size be on resume.

Hiring managers and recruiters typically spend only a few seconds glance at each resume before shortlisting or rejecting it. So choose a font size between 10 and 12 to ensure that he/she does not have to squint to read the information on a resume.

How to Choose a Resume Font?

Choose one of the fonts mentioned above and print out a copy of your resume to ensure that the font style and size you have chosen is apt and making the document look tidy. If it doesn't suit try to change the font style.

Key Takeaways

Selecting a suitable font for your resume is not an easy task. Your selected resume font must be easy to read and look elegant to grab the recruiter's attention.

You can follow these guidelines while selecting your resume fonts and outlining your resume in 2022:

• Choose Helvetica, Georgia, Calibri, Lato, or Gil Sans fonts for your resume
• Adjust the resume font size based on the headings and details
• Avoid using Arial, Times New Roman, Courier, Impact, and Comic Sans fonts in your resume
• Always choose Bold over Italic to highlight information in your resume

These points will help you use the best resume fonts 2022 appropriately to grab the recruiter's attention.

You can use Hiration's 360-Degree Career Platform with 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related requirements.

You can also write to us at [email protected] and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.

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9 Best Resume Fonts in 2024 [+ Size, Color, Fonts to Avoid]

Fonts like Calibri, Cambria, and Georgia are great fonts to use on your resume. Fonts like Times New Roman and Arial should not be used on your resume.

Some of the best resume tips include tips on the best resume font to use.

The font you use on your resume affects the look of your entire resume.

And since the average recruiter only spends 6 seconds reviewing a resume, it’s never been more important to choose your resume font strategically.

You’ll need to use a font that is ATS friendly and easy to read.

Not only is the font type important, but the size and color of the font are equally important.

In this article, we will share the best resume fonts, the worst resume fonts, the best font sizes, and the best font colors for 2022.

Mike Podesto (Founder & CEO – Find My Profession):

Not every resume font is created equal. When it comes to your resume font… stick to the basics! This is NOT the place to show off your “ creativity”.

What Are the Best Fonts for Your Resume?

According to Quora, there are roughly 300,000 fonts in the world that fall into 60,000 font families.

Narrowing down the 9 best fonts for a resume was not an easy task.

Our team of resume experts collectively has more than 20 years of resume writing experience allowing us to present to you the tried and proven resume fonts for 2022.

Here are some of the best fonts for your resume:

• Trebuchet MS
• Book Antiqua

Why aren’t Times New Roman and Arial on this list?

It’s a common misconception that Times New Roman and Arial are great resume fonts. While they are some of the most popular fonts in general, they are not the best for your resume.

Times New Roman is a compact font and can be difficult to read. Arial is overused and won’t capture anyone’s attention!

What about serif vs. sans serif?

There are four major types of fonts: serif, sans serif, script, and decorative.

For purposes of a resume, both serif (small lines off the sides of letters) and sans serif (no lines) can be used. These fonts are the most professional and easiest to read.

Sans serif fonts are considered modern and simple. Serif fonts are elegant and professional.

Examples of the Best Resume Fonts

We have taken all 9 of the best resume fonts mentioned above and provided samples of what these fonts look like on a resume.

Each sample follows a precise uniformity which allows you to see the font in its standard form, bold, and bold + italic. Use the resume font key directly below for reference.

Resume Font Key

3. Garamond

4. Helvetica

8. Book Antiqua

9. Trebuchet MS

What Are the Worst Fonts for a Resume?

Maybe you have a font in mind that you like that didn’t make our list of best resume fonts above.

That’s ok. While we believe our top nine fonts above are the best, there are other fonts that will still get the job done. But avoid the fonts below.

Here are some of the worst fonts for a resume:

• Times New Roman  (overused, hard to read)
• Courier (typeface, outdated)
• Comic Sans (playful, unprofessional)
• Papyrus (playful, unprofessional)
• Impact (too bold, hard to read)
• Futura (bubbly, unprofessional)
• Lucida Console (hard to read, unprofessional)
• Arial (overused, boring)

Despite the opinions of many bloggers (who are not professional resume writers), common fonts like Times New Roman and Arial are not great when it comes to your resume.

As a general rule of thumb, you want to avoid script and decorative fonts that are italic, bold, cursive, or overly playful (see samples below).

Avoid Italic Font

Avoid Bold Font

Avoid Cursive Font

Avoid Playful Font

What’s the Best Resume Font Size?

Adjusting your resume font size can be crucial to making a neat, compact, and fully optimized resume.

• The ideal resume font size is between 10 and 12 pt.

You might notice that some fonts take up more space than other fonts, even if they are the same font size. This is one of the reasons that resume font size is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you choose to go with a font like Helvetica, Georgia, Tahoma, Verdana, or Trebuchet MS, you may want to reduce your font size since these fonts are naturally larger.

If you choose to go with a font like Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Book Antiqua, you may consider using a larger font size since these fonts are naturally smaller.

In any case, do what you can to play around with font sizing on your resume so that everything fits concisely on either one or two pages.

If your resume does not fill up at least ½ of the second page, your goal should be to fit it all on one page.

Font size does not have to be consistent throughout the entire resume.

It is perfectly acceptable for your resume to use, for example, size 11 font for the main body and size 10 font for less important sections such as your address, email, phone number, etc.

If you are going to use various font sizes, make sure the most important resume sections (work experience, education, etc.) use the larger font size.

The headings on your resume are a great place to use a larger size font as well.

Should You Use Color On Your Resume?

The short answer is….yes!

While you don’t have to use color on your resume, it’s something that we definitely recommend to add interest and highlight sections.

Should I use color for my entry-level resume?

Should I use color for my executive-level resume?

Should I use color for my federal/government resume?

No. The one exception would be for federal or government jobs. For these types of positions, you can throw just about all the best resume font standards out the window.

Besides fed/gov jobs, regardless of the type of job you are going for, industry, or your seniority, color on a resume is generally preferred.

Of course, there is a difference between a CFO resume and a graphic designer resume. Match the boldness of the color you use with your position and industry.

Consider coordinating the colors of your resume with the company’s preferred color palette.

Resume font colors should remain consistent throughout your resume and we recommend never using more than two unique colors (i.e. red and blue).

Below are some good and bad colors to use on your resume:

Where to Add Color to Your Resume

If you are thinking about adding color to your resume, it’s important to have some consistency with the places you are adding color.

The purpose of adding color to your resume is to help key sections stand out.

Job titles, company names, headers, and subheaders are the most common places that people add color to their resume.

You might also consider adding color to the bullet points on your resume to match the overall theme (see sample below).

Take a look at Find My Profession’s resume samples for more ideas on adding color to your resume.

What About the Cover Letter Font?

Your cover letter design should match your resume design.

It’s best for your cover letter to use the same color schemes, font sizes, and font types as your resume.

This creates a uniformity that hiring managers appreciate and also makes it easier to know that your resume and cover letter belong together.

Use any of the recommended font sizes, colors, and types mentioned above and your cover letter will be a cut above the rest.

Key Takeaways

When it comes to resume font, size, and color, there is no one size fits all. You can use a variety of resume fonts and still have an amazing resume.

Here’s what you should remember:

• Acceptable resume fonts include Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, Helvetica, Georgia, Tahoma, Verdana, Trebuchet MS, and Book Antiqua.
• Bad resume fonts include Times New Roman, Courier, Comic Sans, Papyrus, Impact, Futura, Lucida Console, and Arial.
• Add professional colors to your resume to help key sections stand out.

If you don’t want to worry about any of this, you can use a professional resume writer. They know the ins and outs of resume formatting and can take care of it for you! Check out Find My Profession’s resume writing services  for more information.

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10 Best Fonts for Resume: Complete Guide for 2024

Your resume is the first impression recruiters have of you. It is your chance to showcase your experience, qualifications, and personal brand. However, did you know that the font you choose can affect the readability and overall impression of the document?

Choosing the right font for your resume is essential. It can mean the difference between your application being noticed, or overlooked. Different fonts can affect the readability of your resume and may impact your chances of securing that dream job.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the importance of selecting the right font for your resume. We’ll explore how different fonts can affect readability and provide key considerations to help you choose the best font for your resume.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a good understanding of why font selection is critical and how to choose the right font for your resume to make it stand out from the crowd. So, let’s get started!

Serif Fonts

When it comes to creating a compelling and professional-looking resume, the choice of font can make or break your chances of getting noticed. Serif fonts, characterized by small lines or flourishes at the ends of their strokes, are often regarded as a classic and traditional choice for resumes.

Definition of Serif Fonts

A serif font is a typeface that features small lines, stems, or projections at the ends of characters. These lines are usually at a 90-degree angle to the main vertical or horizontal stroke of the letterform. Serif fonts are often used in printed materials, such as books, newspapers, and magazines because they tend to be more legible at smaller sizes than sans-serif fonts.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Serif Fonts in Your Resume

One of the advantages of using a serif font is that it can give your resume a classic and professional-looking appeal. It also has better readability and is great at guiding the reader’s eye through the text on a page.

On the other hand, a disadvantage of using serif fonts is that they’re often seen as outdated and boring. They also tend to be less readable when used at smaller font sizes, and can take up more space on a page than a sans-serif font.

Top 3 recommended Serif Fonts for Your Resume

Times New Roman : A classic serif font that has been a standard in the industry for decades. It’s a great choice for conservative or traditional industries such as law or finance.

Georgia : A modern take on a classic serif font that’s a great choice for creative industries such as design or advertising.

Cambria : A versatile serif font that can be used for a wide range of industries and professions. It’s a great choice if you want to give your resume a modern touch.

Sans Serif Fonts

Definition of sans serif fonts.

Sans Serif Fonts are a type of font style that do not have the small lines or strokes at the end of each letter, unlike their Serif counterparts. They often have a cleaner and more modern aesthetic and are generally easier to read on screens.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Sans Serif Fonts in Your Resume

One of the biggest advantages of using Sans Serif Fonts in a resume is that they can make the document look more modern and professional. They are often easier to read, particularly on digital devices, and can help make your resume stand out from the crowd.

However, there are also some potential disadvantages to using Sans Serif Fonts in a resume. First, they can sometimes come across as cold or impersonal, particularly if the rest of your resume style is more traditional. Additionally, some hiring managers may still prefer a more traditional Serif font style.

Top 3 Recommended Sans Serif Fonts for Your Resume

Calibri  – This is a classic Sans Serif font that has been a popular choice for resumes for many years. It is clean, modern, and easy to read, which makes it a great choice for any resume.

Helvetica  – This is another classic font that has been used in a wide range of contexts, from print advertising to branding. It has a clean and modern feel that makes it a great choice for a resume.

Open Sans  – This is a newer font that has gained popularity in recent years due to its clean and modern aesthetic. It is available in different weights, which makes it a versatile choice for a resume.

Example of Sans Serif Fonts in Action

Using Sans Serif Fonts in a resume can help make the document look more modern and professional. For example, you could use Calibri for your resume heading and section headers, and then use Helvetica or Open Sans for the body text. This would create a clean and modern look that would be easily readable on screens or in print.

Sans Serif Fonts can be a great choice for a resume, particularly if you want to create a clean and modern aesthetic. Just be sure to balance this style choice with the rest of your resume design and be aware of potential personal preferences from hiring managers.

Script Fonts

Script fonts are a type of font that imitates handwriting. They are characterized by their flowing and curved lines that vary in thickness. They are elegant, stylish, and often used in invitations, greeting cards, or logos. Script fonts come in various styles, from classic to modern, and are a popular choice for adding a personalized touch to your documents.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Script Fonts in your Resume

Using a script font in your resume can be beneficial in certain situations but also has some drawbacks. The main advantage is that they can make your resume look more creative and sophisticated. They can showcase your personality and creativity while highlighting your professionalism. However, using a script font in your resume can be risky, as it may not be easy to read or scan by resume screening systems. Moreover, some employers may not appreciate the use of a script font in a professional document, depending on their industry or job requirements.

Top 3 Recommended Script Fonts for your Resume

When choosing a script font for your resume, it’s essential to consider legibility, readability, and compatibility with the rest of your resume design. Here are the top three recommended script fonts for your resume:

Lobster  – a popular script font that’s modern, elegant, and easy to read. It’s perfect for headings or titles in your resume.

Alex Brush  – a beautiful, handwritten script font that’s perfect for conveying a personal touch. It’s ideal for highlighting your name or contact information.

Allura  – a sophisticated script font that’s easy to read and gives a modern touch to your resume. It’s versatile and can be used for both headings and body text.

Example of Script Fonts in Action

Imagine you’re applying for a job in a creative industry that values design and originality. You want your resume to stand out and showcase your skills and personality. You decide to use a script font for your heading and name, paired with a clean and modern sans-serif font for the rest of the text.

Using a script font for your name creates a unique and elegant look, while the clean sans-serif font for the rest of the text ensures readability and legibility. By combining these two fonts, you create a balance between creativity and professionalism, making your resume stand out among others.

Using script fonts in your resume can be a great way to showcase your creativity and add a personal touch to your application. However, it’s crucial to choose the right font that balances legibility and originality and complements the rest of your resume design. Following these tips and recommendations can help you create a standout resume that impresses employers and lands you the job you want.

Display Fonts

Definition of display fonts.

Display fonts are fonts that are meant to be used in large sizes, such as headlines and titles. They are decorative in nature, making them ideal for catching the eye and drawing attention to specific elements of a design or document.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Display Fonts in Your Resume

Using display fonts in your resume can help make it stand out and create a sense of personality and style. However, it is important to balance the use of display fonts with legibility and readability. Overusing them can make your resume difficult to read and distract from the content.

Top 3 Recommended Display Fonts for Your Resume

Roboto Slab : A modern, stylish font that balances legibility with personality. It is a popular choice for headings and titles.

Bebas Neue : A bold, sans-serif font that is perfect for making a statement. It is ideal for headlines and titles.

Abril Fatface : A decorative, serif font that is elegant and unique. It is a great choice for creating a sense of style and personality in your resume.

Example of Display Fonts in Action

When using display fonts in your resume, it is important to use them selectively and sparingly. For example, you could use Bebas Neue for your name and section headings, while using Roboto Slab for the body text. This will help create a sense of hierarchy and organization, while still maintaining a professional and legible appearance.

When using display fonts in your resume, it is important to consider the purpose and audience of your document. Use them strategically to add personality and style, while still maintaining readability and clarity.

Combination Fonts

Combination Fonts are a mixture of two or more different font types. This technique of mixing and matching fonts helps to create a professional and visually appealing resume. The combination can be of serif and sans-serif or cursive and bold fonts.

Using Combination Fonts in your resume has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• They stand out in comparison to the typical Times New Roman or Arial fonts.
• They can be used to highlight important information such as headers, skills, or job titles.
• Combination Fonts can help to create visual hierarchy and provide a clear flow of information.

Disadvantages:

• Overuse or misuse of this technique may lead to a cluttered and incoherent resume.
• Too many fonts may cause visual discomfort, thus making it difficult to read the resume.

Here are the top three recommended Combination Fonts for your resume:

Garamond and Helvetica:  This is a perfect combination of a traditional serif with a sans-serif font. Helvetica’s clean and modern feature complements Garamond’s elegant and classic style.

Roboto and Lato:  Roboto is often used in technology and modern-day design, while Lato is a sans-serif font that has been tailored for the web. This pairing provides a professional, readable, and modern feel.

Baskerville and Franklin Gothic:  This combo lies somewhere between traditional and contemporary. The pairing of Baskerville’s timeless serifs with Franklin Gothic’s bolder sans-serif creates a resume that looks elegant, modern, and professional.

Now let’s look at an example of Combination Fonts in action. Our candidate, John, decided to use Garamond and Helvetica throughout his resume. He uses Garamond only for the headings, while Helvetica is used for the body text.

In the header, John used a 16pt Garamond font for his name, followed by a 12pt Helvetica font in bold for his job title. For the body paragraphs, John used an 11pt Helvetica font. In addition, he used Garamond in bold for his section headings.

John’s resume stands out because of his use of Combination Fonts. The combination of the two fonts helps to create a professional and visually appealing resume, which is easy to read and navigate.

Therefore, Combination Fonts can be an excellent way to differentiate your resume from others, but always ensure that you use the right mix of fonts and pay utmost attention to readability.

Font sizes and spacing

When it comes to creating a resume, it’s important to pay attention to font sizes and spacing. These elements can greatly impact the overall look and readability of your document. Here are some tips on how to determine the appropriate font size and spacing for your resume, as well as recommended measurements for various sections.

How to Determine Font Size and Spacing

The font size you choose will depend on the font you select and the amount of space you have available. In general, use a font size between 10-12 points, with a slightly larger font for section headings. Additionally, consider setting your resume margins to approximately 1 inch on all sides to create a clean, professional look.

Spacing is also important. You want to make sure there is enough white space between lines to make your resume easy to read, but not so much that it looks sparse. A good rule of thumb is to use 1.15 or 1.5 line spacing to ensure readability.

Ideal Spacing for Various Sections

Different sections of your resume should have different levels of spacing to create visual hierarchy and make it easy for employers to find the information they need. For example, you may want to use wider spacing in your contact information section to make it stand out, and narrower spacing in your experience section to make it more compact. Here are some ideal spacing recommendations for each section:

• Contact Information: Wider spacing between lines and margins to make it stand out
• Objective or Summary: Slightly wider spacing than body text, but not as much as contact information
• Education: Similar spacing as body text
• Experience: Slightly narrower spacing than body text, but not so narrow that it looks crowded
• Skills: Similar spacing as body text

Recommended Font Sizes for Different Sections

Just like spacing, font size can also be used to create visual hierarchy on your resume. Here are some recommended font sizes for different sections:

• Name and Headings: 14-16 points
• Objective or Summary: 12-14 points
• Body Text: 10-12 points
• Section Headings: 11-12 points

By following these guidelines for font size and spacing, you can create a clean and professional resume that’s easy to read and visually appealing. Remember, your resume is often the first impression you make on potential employers, so it’s important to make it count!

Font Pairing

Font pairing refers to the practice of using two or more fonts in a design to create a harmonious and visually appealing composition. It involves selecting fonts that complement each other in terms of style, weight, and legibility while also conveying the desired tone and message.

In your resume, font pairing plays a crucial role in setting the right tone and highlighting your skills and achievements effectively. The fonts you use can convey your personality, level of professionalism, and attention to detail. By choosing the right font combinations, you can make your resume stand out from the competition and leave a lasting impression on hiring managers.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when pairing fonts for your resume:

• Limit your fonts : Stick to using no more than two or three fonts in your resume, as too many fonts can create visual clutter and distract from the content.
• Choose contrasting fonts : Pair fonts that have contrasting styles or weights, such as a serif and a sans-serif, to create interest and hierarchy in your resume.
• Consider readability : Make sure the fonts you choose are easy to read and legible at various sizes, especially if your resume might be scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Be consistent : Use the same fonts consistently throughout your resume to create a cohesive and polished look.

Some popular font pairings for resumes include:

• Roboto and Open Sans : Both sans-serif fonts, Roboto has a more futuristic feel, while Open Sans is more traditional. This pairing is a good choice for tech or design roles.
• Georgia and Helvetica : Pairing a serif and sans-serif font creates contrast and hierarchy. Georgia is a classic serif font, while Helvetica is a timeless sans-serif. This pairing is best suited for traditional or conservative industries.
• Lato and Merriweather : Lato is a clean and modern sans-serif font, while Merriweather is a warm and approachable serif font. This pairing works well for creative or customer-facing roles.

Ultimately, the fonts you choose will depend on your personal style, industry, and the message you want to convey. By following these tips and exploring different font pairings, you can craft a resume that stands out and leaves a positive impression on potential employers.

When it comes to creating a standout resume, font choice and formatting aren’t the only factors to consider. Font color is also an important element that can help catch the eye of a potential employer and emphasize key information.

Importance of font color in your resume

Font color plays a crucial part in determining the overall look and feel of your resume. It can help create a hierarchy of information, highlight important sections, and make the document easier to read. Using color strategically can also help your resume stand out from the stack of black-and-white applications.

Best colors to use for your resume

The colors you choose for your resume should complement the overall design and branding of your application. In general, it’s best to stick to neutral colors like black, gray, and navy blue. These colors are professional, easy to read, and won’t distract from the content of your resume.

If you are applying for a creative role, you can consider using brighter, more vibrant colors like red, green or blue. However, be sure to use them sparingly and in a way that enhances the readability of your resume, rather than detracting from it.

How to use font color to highlight key information in your resume

When using font color in your resume, it’s important to do so strategically. Here are some tips to help you use color to your advantage:

• Use color sparingly:  Stick to one or two colors at most, and use them to highlight key information rather than overwhelming the entire document.
• Create a hierarchy:  Use color to create a visual hierarchy of information. For example, you could use a brighter color to draw attention to your name and contact information, and a darker color for the body text.
• Use color consistently:  If you choose to use color in your resume, make sure you use it consistently throughout the document. This will help create a cohesive and professional look.
• Consider your audience:  Keep in mind the company or industry you’re applying to when choosing font colors for your resume. Some industries may be more conservative, while others may appreciate more creative approaches.

While font choice is important, font color can also play a big part in creating a professional and eye-catching resume. By using color strategically and thoughtfully, you can highlight key information and make your application stand out from the crowd.

Font Accessibility

Font accessibility is an often overlooked but crucial aspect of resume design. While aesthetics should certainly be considered when selecting a font, it’s important to ensure that the font you choose is also accessible for all readers, including those with vision impairments.

Understanding the Importance of Font Accessibility

Individuals with visual impairments often use screen readers to read text on a page. However, certain fonts can be difficult for screen readers to recognize and parse properly. Fonts with particularly thin or intricate lettering may be particularly difficult to recognize, causing confusion or making it difficult to navigate through the information presented.

In addition to being practical, font accessibility is simply good design practice. Making your resume accessible to a wide range of readers ensures that your experience and qualifications are communicated as effectively as possible, increasing your chances of securing an interview.

Guide to Selecting Accessible Fonts for Your Resume

When selecting a font for your resume, it’s important to choose one that is both aesthetically pleasing and accessible. Here are a few tips:

Stick to common fonts : Common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Verdana are more likely to be recognized by screen readers, increasing the accessibility of your resume.

Avoid fonts with thin or ornate lettering : Fonts with thin or intricate lettering may look stunning to the eye but can be difficult for screen readers to decipher.

Consider font size and spacing : Ensure that your font size and spacing are appropriate for readers with visual impairments, as larger fonts and increased spacing can make text easier to read.

Use bold or italic formatting sparingly : While bold and italic formatting can be used to draw attention to important information, these styles can be difficult to recognize for screen readers. Use these formatting options sparingly and only for necessary information.

Recommended Accessible Fonts for Your Resume

Here are a few fonts that are both commonly used and easily recognized by screen readers:

• Times New Roman

By selecting one of these accessible fonts for your resume, you can ensure that your experience and qualifications are communicated as effectively as possible.

Best Practices for Using Fonts in Your Resume

General guidelines for using fonts in your resume.

When it comes to creating a visually appealing and professional resume, the font you choose can play a significant role. Here are some general guidelines to follow when using fonts in your resume:

• Stick to standard fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are safe bets.
• Use a font size of 10-12 points for the body text and 14-16 points for headings.
• Keep it simple: Avoid using too many different fonts, styles, or sizes.
• Make sure your font is legible and easy to read.
• Use bold or italicized text sparingly and uniformly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Fonts for Your Resume

While choosing the right font may seem like a small detail, it can make a significant impact on your resume’s overall impression. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing fonts for your resume:

• Don’t use a font that is difficult to read or too ornamental.
• Avoid using too many fonts, styles, or sizes, as this can make your resume look cluttered and unprofessional.
• Don’t use fancy or cursive fonts for the body text, as this can make it difficult to read.
• Avoid using font sizes that are too small or too large, as this can make your resume look unprofessional.

Tips for Enhancing the Visual Appeal of Your Resume Using Fonts

In addition to following general guidelines and avoiding common mistakes when using fonts in your resume, here are some tips for enhancing its visual appeal:

• Use a bold or italicized font for headings and section titles to make them stand out.
• Experiment with font size and weight to create hierarchy and visual contrast within your resume.
• Use a sans-serif font for online resumes, as it is easier to read on screens.
• Use color sparingly and uniformly to add visual interest, but not too much that it becomes distracting.

By following these best practices, you can create a professional and visually appealing resume that is sure to catch the eye of potential employers.

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More from ResumeHead

Top 10 ATS-Friendly and Readable Resume Fonts in 2024

There are thousands fonts you can choose from, but how do you know which are the most suitable for your resume?

Fonts cheatsheet (free infographic)

These 10 fonts will always be a good safe choice for any resume:

• Times New Roman

Continue reading below to see why these fonts will help potential employers and Applicant Tracking Systems be able to find and correctly parse the text in your resume.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

The importance of legible fonts on your resume

The font you select for your resume can impact your employers perception of you. Employers will look for something beyond your words, and having a well-selected font is one way you can express your professional presence. If it's unreadable, it could be the first thing someone may notice and the reason why your resume gets skipped. Choosing a font that is clean, crisp, and well-defined can show the reader that you have style, are professional, and have a personal touch. If your resume is using a hard-to-read font, it tells the reader that you don’t care about presentation or looking unprofessional.

A font that is too cluttered, too big, or too small makes it difficult for the hiring manager to read your resume—and sends a message to them that you are disorganized, sloppy, or do not sweat the details.

While there is no perfect resume font, there are fonts that are better than others. It is important that you select a font that works for you and presents the best possible image for the type of resume you are creating. ‍

What is an ATS-friendly font?

The ATS-friendliness of a resume is based on whether the ATS can correctly parse out the text on your resume. Of course your resume’s content counts for much more than your font choice, but choosing a font that’s easy to read on any screen is a great way to make your resume more accessible to recruiters, hiring managers and ATS systems. If you’re wondering what the difference is, it’s important to know that an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is the primary application that’s developed to track hiring processes for new candidates. When you apply for a job online, chances are that the employer is using an ATS of some kind to accept and process all job applications. To make an ATS-friendly resume, you need to make it easy for the computer to read .

This means making it easy for the computer to parse your text and pull out the information it needs from your resume without having to ask you for help. Computer programs like an ATS can handle simple formatting like tabs and spaces, but they can be confused by larger and more complex changes to your text, like decorative texts. See the example below:

In the incorrect example above —when the computer wants to parse your text, it can miss the letters in a decorative font, making your content difficult to parse and possibly missed. ‍

Choosing a font and size for your resume

It’s important to make sure that your font is clear and easy to read, both in print and on the screen. What happens if you choose a resume font that’s not very clear? Well, you’re going to run into problems when the hiring manager or recruiter can’t read your resume. If your resume looks like a jumbled mess, they won’t bother with it. At best, you’ll get passed over for a more readable resume. At worst, you’ll get a rejection letter because the hiring manager or ATS won’t be able to make sense of your resume.

One of the most important aspects when choosing a font is how it looks. Your potential employer won’t be impressed by a resume that looks like it was typed by a teenager.

TIP: We also recommend trying to mix and match Heading & Body fonts like in the example below to help your resume stand out even more.

You can use our template editor to quickly change fonts for any resume template that we offer. We have a mix of professional fonts, commonly used ATS-friendly fonts, and even a selection of decorative Google Fonts for more creative industries and professions. To change fonts, just open up any template in our resume builder and select fonts from the Heading Font and Body Font dropdown menu as seen in the example below:

When choosing a font size, make sure to keep it large enough to read. At minimum, it should be 12pt. A font size no smaller than 10pt should be used on the name of the company and your contact information at the top of your resume. This will help ensure it is easily readable and that the reader will be able to understand your content. ‍

Deciding on spacing and margins

As far as spacing goes, the easiest way to decide how much spacing you should have is by following the 1-inch rule.

You should have to at least 1-inch of whitespace and margins across all sides of your resume.

If your resume has a lot of content, then you can try to decrease your margins by a quarter-of-an-inch at a time. Ideally never less than 0.5 inch margins. We also suggest a good range of line spacing, this is the spacing in-between each of line of text in a paragraph. Somewhere between 7-8pt of line-spacing should be good. If your font size is bigger, you can increase the line-spacing between text relative to your font size. That being said, you should also be aware of what is known as a generous line spacing. When we say generous, we mean to create a more readable resume that utilizes whitespace. The exception to this is if you have experience, education, or awards that can’t be combined. In this case, the spacing needs to be generous so it doesn’t overlap and mess up the formatting. ‍

Here are the Top 10 ATS-Friendly fonts

Times New Roman (serif) ‍

Perhaps one of the most popular and classic fonts that gets used on resumes— and college essays . It's a default choice as a serif font in many applications and has been a solid go-to for many types of documents including resumes. We'd recommend using Times New Roman when choosing a more professional style resume like our Wakefield template.

Times New Roman should be available as a font on most Windows & Mac computers. ‍

Tahoma (sans-serif)

‍ Tahoma was created by the team at Microsoft and initially shipped with early releases of Windows 95. It has a similar feel to the font Verdana (below) and can often be a suitable substitute given it's more tighter character spacing. Tahoma should be available as a font on most Windows & Mac computers. ‍

Verdana (sans-serif) ‍

Verdana, has similarities to Tahoma, and is another clean and crisp font designed by Microsoft. The main difference is Verdana's more generous character spacing (whereas Tahoma is more tighter). It feels professional, works great on screens and is very legible at smaller sizes, making it ideal for resumes that may contain a lot of body copy. Verdana should be available as a font on most Windows & Mac computers. ‍

Arial (sans-serif) ‍

Arial is everywhere. It has similarities to both Helvetica (below) and Verdana (above). You'll likely have seen or used Arial at some point in your career or even just browsing the web. Arial was also the default font for Microsoft Office applications, before being replaced by the introduction of Calibri in 2007. Arial should be available as a font on most Windows & Mac computers. ‍

Helvetica (sans-serif) ‍

Helvetica is one of the most enviable fonts of the modern era. The grotesque and Swiss style typeface is widely used and beloved amongst many designers. Using Helvetica will instantly make your resume feel more modern, easier to read and feel sophisticated all at the same time. Helvetica is available as a font on most Mac computers. For Windows users, we'd recommend using Arial as a fallback or downloading Roboto from Google Fonts which can also be a suitable replacement. ‍

Calibri (sans-serif) ‍

As mentioned earlier, Calibri was introduced with Microsoft Office in 2007. It's commonly used amongst many as a replacement for more classic sans-serif typefaces such as Arial, Tahoma, and Verdana. It works for a variety of use-cases, and offers familiarity and flexibility to your resume. You can use Calibri as both heading and body copy. Calibri is available as a font on most Windows computers. For Mac users, we'd recommend using Helvetica or Verdana as an alternative. ‍

Georgia (serif) ‍

Georgia is a great classic serif font for resumes. Created by the same inventor as Verdana, Tahoma and Arial—Matthew Carter of Microsoft. It is a serif font, which means that the characters are more fluid and the letters have little tails that serif fonts often have. This works well for resume fonts because it is easier to read in small sizes, which you want in a resume. It is a good font for longer job descriptions because it can be easily read in the small space. It is still easy to read, but is not as distracting as other fonts. This font is perfect for resumes and will help your resume stand out without being too flashy. Georgia should be available as a font on most Windows & Mac computers. ‍

Cambria (serif) ‍

Cambria is a beautiful serif font that is a bit more blockier than what we normally see. This makes the font ideal for body text and is readable at smaller sizes. The font itself is very sturdy and can stand on it's own very well. We'd recommend using Cambria as an alternative to Times New Roman if you're looking to emphasize more parts of your work experience or resume in general. Cambria should be available as a font on most Windows computers. If you don't have access, we'd recommend using Source Serif Pro from Google Fonts as a free alternative. It possesses similar characteristics, most prominently its blocky serif style. ‍

Gill Sans (sans-serif) ‍

Gill Sans has a rich history, mainly being introduced as one of the first prominent sans-serif fonts that gained wide popularity across parts of Europe in the early 20th century. Gill Sans still remains one of the most popular and widely distributed typefaces as of today. It has a large x-height, a wide range of weights, and a classical appearance. It is often used to convey a sense of trustworthiness and prestige, and has been found in  corporate branding, logos and signage. Gills Sans should be available as a font on most Windows and Mac computers. ‍

Garamond (serif)

‍ Garamond is a beautiful and classic font that represents old-style fonts extremely well. Use Garamond if you're applying to a more professional industry, and you want to stand out as someone who cares about the details which is what Garamond is primarily known for. Garamond should be available as a font on most Windows and Mac computers.

Video Summary

Here's a video summary of all the best resume fonts we've recommended above, in under 30 seconds.

Browse more resume templates that fit your role

Ed is a co-founder of Easy Resume. His background in scaling teams at tech startups over the last decade has given him extensive experience and knowledge around how to hire top talent and build successful teams. He enjoys mentoring, coaching, and helping others reach their career goals. When he's not writing about career-related advice, he's playing with his dog, Lilo, or going on long hikes in upstate New York.

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15 Best Fonts for a Resume in 2024 Curated by Hiring Experts

By Sheila Kravitz

16 min read

You created an outline for your resume, and you definitely have a good design template in mind. All that is left is to choose the best font for a resume, and you can start writing. While this might seem like a minor choice, it’s actually crucial for making a good first impression.

Understanding the basics will make you find the best font to use for a resume much easier. Serif fonts (with their decorative “tails”) are traditional and sophisticated. Hence, they are a good choice when applying to a law firm, an accounting company, or similar.

On the flip side, sans-serif fonts (without “tails”) are modern, clean, and minimal. Some companies (like Google in 2015) stopped using serif fonts and continued with sans-serif. These are usually a smart choice when applying to tech companies, startups, etc.

So, what is the best font for a resume , and how to know which ones you should avoid when applying for a specific job? We can solve this dilemma for you! Read this guide and check out the list of top-tier fonts based on their design, readability, and ability to be eye-catching.

Key Takeaways

The best sans-serif fonts to use on your resume are Arial, Helvetica, and Gill Sans, while the best serif fonts are Georgia and Garamond.

The right font for your resume will look serious and professional, grab the recruiter’s attention in the first few seconds, and pass the ATS scan.

The best font size for a resume is 10–12 for the body, 12–16 for headings, and sometimes 20–24 for your name.

When formatting, you should use bold and italic to emphasize important parts, avoid underlining, skip highlighting, and use black text on a white background.

15 Best Fonts to Use for a Resume

Without further ado, let’s check out which fonts are the best choice for your resume!

We’ve prepared a list of the 15 best fonts for a resume in 2024 . Study them, and then pick the one that suits your needs.

Arial is a sans-serif font, and it’s most commonly known as the default Google Docs or Microsoft Word font . It’s clean, easy to read, and modern, which is why many website and mobile designers choose it as the best option for their projects. That also makes this font perfect for resumes related to the tech, IT, and marketing fields .

Many recruiters say that Arial is the most common font they find on resumes, so it might not be the most daring option on the list. But, if you’re looking for a safe pick that will work in most cases, this is the one you want to use!

#2. Calibri

Speaking of smart and play-it-safe fonts, Calibri is another great sans-serif choice which belongs to ClearType fonts. Alongside its serif counterpart, Times New Roman, Calibri is considered the norm when it comes to resumes. After all, it was designed as a substitute for Times New Roman in Microsoft Office , which speaks volumes about its versatility.

It’s a professional and readable font, recommended by experts worldwide. The fact that it’s so common also means it will likely display correctly on most devices.

#3. Verdana

Verdana was released in 1996 with the goal of being legible on smaller, pixelated screens . Slightly wider letters with clear spacing are what make this font readable. Verdana is the best font to use if you have a lengthy resume but not enough space to use some of the other fonts on the list.

This font also remains one of the top choices in a professional setting. As with previous fonts, there are bolder choices, but this is a safe, classic pick that has withstood the test of time.

Tahoma was designed by the same person who created Verdana. The two fonts are very similar, with Tahoma having a narrower structure and much tighter spacing between letters . That made it popular with programming environments—it was even used by operating systems such as Windows 2000 or XP.

All that makes this font perfect for technical resumes . It can also make your resume look a bit punchier than the previous fonts on the list.

#5. Georgia

Speaking of fonts similar to Verdana, Georgia is its serif counterpart. Just like Verdana, it was designed to be readable on smaller screens or when printed . It’s strikingly similar to classic Times New Roman, except it’s wider.

The New York Times uses Georgia as their standard font, which means it's been tested in a professional environment. It can easily be the best font for a resume if you’re looking for a serif variant that exudes a friendly tone.

#6. Times New Roman

The three words that describe Times New Roman best would be traditional, classic, and recognizable . After all, it’s one of the most popular fonts of all time! Times New Roman is a smart choice if you want a serif font that will work on any occasion.

This font is slightly narrower than Georgia and is also the most common font used on resumes.

#7. Helvetica

Ask any established designer what their go-to font is—no matter the circumstance—and the majority will say it’s Helvetica. When creating it, Swiss designers wanted to develop a neutral font that would have a wide variety of uses . For this reason, it’s also the perfect font for a resume.

Helvetica is a clean and minimalist sans-serif font, ranked by many as one of the most beautiful typefaces. The downside to it is that you need to pay for using it unless you have a Mac. Other than that, you can use Arial as a substitute.

#8. Cambria

Like Calibri, Cambria belongs to the ClearType font group . Such fonts were made to be readable on LCD and low-resolution screens, as well as on smaller prints. Cambria, for example, was specifically designed to be a body text.

This font is a great choice for online resumes, as it’s the default font for typing software. On top of that, its strong look makes it appear just as good when printed, which makes it an amazing all-rounder among resume fonts.

#9. Trebuchet MS

Trebuchet MS is a sans-serif font that succeeded Tahoma as the default Windows XP font. It’s a widely used font that has a lot of web use and comes free with the Windows OS and Microsoft Office package .

The main characteristic of Trebuchet MS is that it’s thicker than other fonts on the list. That makes it take a bit more space. As a result, it’s ideal if you’re creating your first resume and you have fewer details to put in.

#10. Garamond

If you’re looking for a classic and traditional font for your resume but you find Times New Roman too common, check out Garamond. This font was inspired by a typeface from the 16th century. It’s been perfected for hundreds of years to become one of the best fonts for a resume in 2024.

Even though Garamond is not as commonly used as Times New Roman, it’s still one of the most popular fonts. On top of that, it’ss a bit more condensed than Times New Roman , which makes it a better choice if you need to fit more text on your resume.

Since we’re in the realm of older fonts, Didot originated between 1784-1811. It has been used by the likes of Vogue and Ralph Lauren since it radiates class and elegance .

So, if you need a serif font that will make your resume tasteful, Didot is the way to go. Keep in mind, however, that the complex, contrasty look of this font doesn’t make it the best choice when you’re aiming for simplicity. Yet, it’s still a great option if you’re applying for a job in the fashion or photography field.

#12. Book Antiqua

Book Antiqua is a free font that comes with the Windows OS and many Microsoft applications. It’s a clone of a famous serif font called Palatino. Palatino has larger letters to help with visibility and is incredibly popular and widely copied . Apart from a few minor details, Book Antiqua is identical to it.

As the name suggests, Book Antiqua can give off an aged feeling. One of its variants is a corporate font used by the UK Parliament. However, it comes free with many programs and it’s an excellent choice in the serif font group. It works wonderfully in the field of law, political sciences, and similar.

#13. Arial Narrow

Arial Narrow is one of many variants of the Arial font . It’s similar to regular Arial in many ways, except that it’s more condensed. So, if you planned on using Arial as your resume font but you have more text than you can fit on your resume, Arial Narrow is a way to go. It’s a bit less readable, but it will do the trick. 

Arial Narrow is also used a lot because it is one of the fonts that come with the Windows OS.

#14. Constantia

Constantia is another font in the ClearType group. Because of that, it’s similar to Calibri and Cambria when it comes to main characteristics . Just like the rest of the serif fonts in the group, it’s meant to be read both in small print and on lower-resolution screens.

On top of that, Constantia comes with rounder letters, which make it even more legible. Thanks to that, this font is a fine choice if you want something safe but less common than the rest of the list.

#15. Gill Sans

Last but not the least on our “best font for resume” list is Gill Sans—a mix of modern and classic fonts. It’s a sans-serif font designed in the 1920s. Still, regardless of its age, lots of modern companies, like Tommy Hilfiger or United Colors of Benetton, use it as their main font.

If you’re looking for the best of both old and new worlds or something clean and refined, there’s no better choice than Gill Sans. Another great thing about this font is that you can find it on MacOS, Google Fonts, Microsoft Word, and many other applications.

What is the Ideal Font Size for a Legible Resume?

Once you find the best font for a resume, the next step is to choose the ideal size . 

If your font size is too small, the text will be unreadable. Make it too big, and the content won’t look natural. People are used to the font sizes found in books and newspapers, which is what you want to replicate in your resume to grab the recruiter’s attention.

The body of your resume should have a font size between 10 and 12pt—feel free to adjust it based on how much text you have. Size 12 makes serif fonts perfectly readable, but if you have more text and need to lower the size to 10, you might benefit from a more readable sans-serif font.

The font size used for headers and section titles should range from 12 to 16pt. These font size differences create hierarchy and make it easy for the recruiter to notice distinct sections of your resume . 

Finally, if you want to make your name more prominent, you can use a 20–24pt font size.

How Should a Resume Font be Formatted?

Once you choose the best font to use for a resume and pick its size, it’s time to continue with formatting.

Bold, Italics, and Underline

When it comes to bolding, italicizing, or underlining text in your resume, less is more . All three format options are used to emphasize parts of your resume. But the more you use these options, the less impact they carry. And if you overuse them, the resume can end up looking messy.

Bolding is the most common option, as it makes parts of text truly stand out, but save it for the most important parts of your resume. Italics are the second most popular and a bit more subtle option, while underlining is becoming less common.

Font Color and Highlighting

When it comes to font color, black font on a white background is the safest and usually the best option . Certain combinations of darker colors for fonts could also work if they fit the resume’s theme and are used occasionally. You can also use a white font on a colored section of your resume, but you need to know what you’re doing or have a designer to help you out.

Save the highlighting for college books and studying sessions. Even the best font for a resume won’t look good when highlighted. It makes the resume look unprofessional and the text less readable.

Font Casing

Font casing refers to letter capitalization. Most people think of “ALL CAPS'' as yelling, which is not something you want on your resume. If you want to emphasize certain parts of the text, use bold or italics.

Uppercase letter capitalization is fine if you want to use it in headings . That way, you can discern different parts of your resume, which can, in turn, make your resume more readable.

Why Is Choosing the Right Resume Font Important?

You only get one chance at making a good first impression . The font makes up the majority of your resume, so it’s important that it looks great and matches the job you’re applying for. Some companies even use scanning software to speed up the hiring process, which can cause problems if you use a font that is hard to read.

Also, most recruiters don’t read every resume—they just skim it. You could have as little as 6–7 seconds to grab their attention. That’s not nearly enough time for hiring managers to see your skills , qualifications, and achievements. In such cases, your font will be one of the first things their attention will be drawn to.

You can use any font from the list, as their success has been repeatedly proven, but keep in mind that there are still differences between them. Depending on factors such as your field of work or the position you’re applying for, some fonts will perform better than others.

Fonts to Avoid Using for Your Resume

Our list of the 15 best fonts for a resume is not set in stone. These fonts are the best and safest choices, but they aren’t the only ones. There are, however, a select number of fonts you should avoid using in your resume under any circumstances. These include:

Fonts to Avoid

Comic Sans . It’s asans-serif font designed for comic books and content for children. As such, it has no place in a professional environment.

Courier . This font wasdesigned for a typewriter and then adapted for computers. It’s wide and clunky, takes a lot of space, and doesn’t look good in professional documents.

Script . Script fonts are unprofessional, unreadable, and the absolute worst choice for resumes.

Papyrus . This one is amost as infamous as Comic Sans. It features distinctive characteristics that are completely unfit for a resume.

Impact . Big and boxy, Impact was made for impactful headlines—not professional resumes.

Closing Thoughts

And that’s all!

At this point, you should have enough information to know what the best font for a resume is. Regardless of the job that you’re applying for, one of the 15 fonts on this list will do the trick. On top of that, you now also have enough information about font size and formatting to craft a perfect resume .

Start by figuring out what type of font is best suited for your future position. Decide whether you’ll go for a serif or a sans-serif font, and then go through the list until you find the one that fits your resume best!

Create your resume once, use it everywhere

15 Best Resume Fonts to Choose From (A Complete Guide)

The best resume fonts depend on your goals. Want more words using less space? Want the most visually pleasing CV? Merriweather and Source Sans Pro are good for…

Writing a resume is one thing. How you present it is another. 

The format of your resume has an impact on both your hiring manager and the applicant tracking system. 

Sure, the default setting on the word document you’re using is one option…

But if you want to stand out within the first few seconds and show you’ve gone the extra mile, the right resume fonts will help you make that impression. 

Some fonts could help you write more information without taking up too much space. In contrast, there are fonts that could help you fill the space on your resume. 

Ultimately, the best font depends on your goals and your situation. 

In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need to know. We’ll also go through the most common fonts professionals use as well as the font that helped more than 50% out of 245,000+ job seekers secure an interview. 

Why Should You Bother About Your Resume Font?

You have a mere 6-7 seconds. 

According to research, it was found that 24% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume. Within those seconds, they’ll already form their own impressions about professional summary . 

Besides the writing itself, the way your resume looks is a significant factor to consider. What they see first depends on what you’ve written and how it’s formatted. If this is done well, it could give your hiring manager confidence in your ability at first glance which could have an impact on how you’re perceived throughout the hiring process.

Here are a few elements candidates could use to make certain parts of their resumes stand out:

• Font choice

2 Types of Fonts for a Resume

There are two different types of professional fonts to use on a resume:

Serif fonts hold a classic look with a small stroke in their letters. Whereas sans serif fonts don’t have the same small stroke but hold a more modern look. 

Typefaces that fall into either of these categories are usually formal and suitable enough for your job application. 

Here are some popular serif font choices. All of these are appropriate for overcoming the applicant tracking system . 

Times New Roman

Old but gold. This is a timeless font to use for your resume and corporate work documents. While it’s not as modern as some of the other options, it’s easy to read for both a human reader and the ATS.

Another great example of a simple yet visually pleasing typeface. With serif fonts in general, the added stroke in each letter improves the readability level. 

Didot holds a clean and formal look. It’s elegant and a good choice to use especially if you’re applying for a job in the art and creative industries. 

This is an elegant resume font for professionals too. It’s also been used by many authors for their novels. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is a good example.

• Merriweather

Out of all the fonts mentioned in this blog post, this is the one we recommend the most. 

Merriweather is perfect for online applications where your resume is read through a screen by both an ATS and human reader. On top of being highly readable and pleasing to the eye, it’s useful for maximum content density. In other words, you can write more words in your resume without having to increase the font size. 

Sans-Serif Font

Compared to a serif typeface, sans-serif has a more modern aesthetic. Aside from these being minimal, it’s legible to use for writing your cover letter and resume.

This is a good alternative font to what most job seekers use (Arial). In the design industry, it’s widely popular for a reason. It’s a sleek and versatile typeface with a neutral feel, which is why it can be used for several different types of documents.

Georgia makes a resume easy to read even if you have a smaller font size than the average. It’s used in many modern contexts and has been described as a friendly yet formal font choice. 

It’s one of the standard fonts used by professionals. It’s also the default font choice for a Microsoft Word document. This option holds a casual look with nice spacing and readability. 

Arial is one of the most common fonts used. It’s a classic well-designed typeface that’s easy to read. 

One of the main advantages of the Verdana typeface is that each character is larger and wider. This makes it easier to read through despite having smaller font sizes. Since it’s made specifically for online documents like Georgia, it can be a good option to use if you’re submitting your resume over email resume file format .

Poppins is a neat and simple font. The minimal design allows for high readability on both desktop and mobile devices. 

• Source Sans Pro

Source Sans Pro is a modern font that’s readable even if it’s in lower font size. It’s used in Rezi’s bold and alternative resume templates . Job seekers at all levels have used this typeface to create unique resumes with a modern design that has no issue in getting past a company’s ATS. 

• Trebuchet MS

Trebuchet MS offers a professional typeface that’s easy on the eyes. It could be a good font to use if you’re looking to fill the space on your resume. 

Montserrat has a clean and modern aesthetic. It’s a simple design where each character is wider but with less weight. This makes it pleasing to the eye and easy to read through. 

The Lato typeface has a friendly feel to the reader. However, it still maintains a formal and serious look so it’s appropriate for use in corporate environments. 

What Font Should a Resume Be In? 

It depends what you’re looking for. Are you:

• Trying to fit more words in using less space? 
• Trying to fill the white space on your resume?
• Trying to make your resume the most visually pleasing?

We’ll go through a list of the most common resume fonts including our recommendations for some of the points above. Use your best judgment to decide which is most suitable for your needs. 

The only rule to follow is to ensure it looks professional. It should also be readable by both a human and the resume scanners. 

The Most Common Font Professionals Use

The most common fonts used for resumes include the following: 

• Times new roman

Some of these are the default font options in documents such as Google docs and Microsoft Word.

Resume Fonts to Fit More Words In

Reducing your font size isn’t the only way to fit more words into your application. Another way to do it is by choosing the right typeface optimized for space.  

Here are a few examples:

Resume Fonts to Fill the White Space

This time, increasing your font size isn’t the only option. Even if you have a no work experience , there are things you can do to make yourself look just as competent as the other experienced candidates. 

Here are a few examples of resume fonts that take up more space:

Professional Fonts Most Pleasing to the Eye

Here are some professional fonts that are most readable and pleasing to the eye:

Look for fonts that are minimal. It should have enough spacing between characters as well as neat strokes and a professional aesthetic. 

However, it’s difficult to categorize the answer into a one size fits all because it’s subjective. 

Are There Any Outdated Fonts for a Resume?

Arial and Times new roman is one of the most common fonts used for a resume. Followed along by a standard font size of 11 or 12 pt. Both of these fonts work for getting past the ATS and ensuring you have a readable application. 

While these are the most popular choices by job seekers, it’s the same reason why we’re against using them. 

2 of the Worst Types of Fonts to Use on a Resume

Avoid using any of the typefaces that fall into one of these categories. 

You’ll lead yourself into a dead end from the initial screening process since they’re unreadable by the ATS. If they do somehow get past the resume scanners, the style may appear inferior and unprofessional to your hiring manager. 

Script Fonts

Script fonts are derived from calligraphy and handwriting. 

It’s similar to cursive fonts because letters are usually joined up. They’re good for informal writing such as birthday cards or letters. They can also be good for marketing purposes depending on a company’s brand and the industry they’re in. 

But for writing a resume, it’s a no go. 

Here are some examples of script and cursive fonts:

Display Fonts

Display fonts are typically used for headings and titles since the typeface is large. 

They’re also known as decorative fonts. By the name itself, it’s clear why it’s not a good choice for your resume. On top of looking unprofessional in most cases, it’s distracting to the eye because of how big the typeface is. This makes it difficult for both employers and the ATS to skim through your application. 

Here are some examples of display fonts:

• Sugar boats

The Best Resume Font Size 

The highest font size for a resume should be no more than 12 pt. On the other hand, the lowest font size should be 10 pt. If you need to push it down to 9 pt to make everything fit into a single page , so be it.

And if you still want to make more room for space, try adjusting the margins. Generally, it’s one inch all around but -0.5 inches is the lowest you could go. 

However, don’t make the common mistakes on resumes of adding fluff. 

4 Quick Resume Formatting Tips 

Here are some resume formatting tips to make a strong first impression:

• Use bullet points to keep your resume concise and straight to the point
• Don’t overcomplicate the layout of your resume
• Send your resume as a PDF
• Make your career timeline transparent

Want to know how to correctly format your resume? Learn more in our guide here about ats resume format . 

5 Factors to Consider for Your Resume Font

Your resume reaches the hiring systems first before the hands of your employers. 

Besides having an ats optimized resume , there are ways to use your font to make certain points in your resume stand out. There are things you should avoid too, which we’ll go through below. 

Bold text is especially great for your resume section headers. It’s effective for highlighting parts of your resume clearly for the reader. One example is making your previous job positions from your work experience and the dates of employment clear.

Underlined Text

Double columns on resumes are quite common. It’s also common to use lines in your resume to make it more readable. 

Underlined text is only acceptable if it’s used for your section headers. But you should never underline text within the main body of your resume. Plus, it most likely won’t get picked up by the applicant tracking system. 

Italics are sometimes acceptable and can be used for certain parts of your resume. For example, the dates of employment in your work experience section. However, we don’t recommend it since it might not always be picked up on by an ATS. 

Using capitalized text can add structure to your application.

If all the font settings were the same throughout your resume, it makes it less likely to leave an impression on your hiring manager at first glance. In the resume examples later on, you’ll notice how each resume section header uses all caps and bold text to draw the reader’s attention. 

Consistency 

Don’t use bold text with all caps for writing one job position and date of employment then use normal text for another. Or don’t use one font for your summary section and then a different font for your other resume sections.

Be consistent with your formatting strategy. Otherwise, it won’t flow as smoothly as it should. 

The same rule applies to the format of your cover letter . 

Resume Examples With a Format Optimized for the ATS 

Taking into account the format settings of your font, here are some ATS-friendly resume examples designed to get your employer’s attention. 

Data Engineer Resume (Interviewed at Facebook)

Embedded Software Developer Resume (Interviewed at AMD)

Creative Producer Resume (Interviewed at Tesla)

Associate Consultant Resume

Technical Project Manager Resume

The Resume Font That Helped More Than 50% Out of 245,000+ Job Seekers Secure an Interview

The font used at Rezi is a serif typeface known as Merriweather. 

More than 245,000 job seekers have used this font for their resumes and out of all those applicants, over 50% landed an interview. 

It’s readable, sleek, and suitable for professionals at all levels. 

As hiring managers flick through the list of applications, yours is more likely going to be the one they stop an extra second for. 

Why? Because it’s different from everyone else. 

It catches the hiring manager off guard which means they could spend more time reading through your resume. Assuming it’s well written and you retain their interest, it makes you more memorable and someone worth looking into. 

Never Agonize Over Your Resume Format Again

Never worry about your resume format or font ever again. 

Only focus on the writing part. Rezi will make everything else easy so that you can complete your resume in less time and effort. 

In fact, you could complete your resume in less than 5 minutes using an AI writer. 

All you need to do is enter your job title. The description will be written by itself based on its duties and responsibilities. 

Watch the clip below to see how it works. 

Sounds good? Then, let’s not waste anymore time pondering over what to put on your resume and how to format it by getting started using the link below! 

Explore Rezi 🔥 Comes with 5,000 AI Credits, and is free forever, no credit card required.

Final Thoughts

Resume fonts are one aspect of many that influence your recruiter’s first impression. 

Although it should be readable for the ATS, it should also be easy on the eye. The best resume fonts are the ones that are simple. 

Even after you’ve edited your resume format, see how it looks in person by printing it. Is it still readable? Or is it actually harder to read through the content compared to when you read it on your laptop? 

It’s worth asking someone else for their opinion too. If you find it’s not as perfect as you thought, reconsider the typeface alongside the font size. 

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

• Resume Tips

The Best Fonts and Size to Use on a Resume (Updated 2024)

12 min read

Finding a job is tough these days, with steep competition and hundreds of applications per open job listing. That’s why your application has to stand out from the crowd. 

You want every aspect of your resume and cover letter to convey that you’re the best fit for the job. After you’ve considered your experience, skills, education, and qualifications, you have another choice to make: what is the best font to use for your resume?

Your resume font is one of those things that can either support your message (I’m perfect for this position!) or send the wrong message (I’m too old/too young/too out of touch for this job). In this guide, we share the inside secrets. We’ll give you the 8 best fonts to use on your resume and how you can choose the right fit for your resume.

Times New Roman

The best fonts for resumes ( video )

Font selection is an important part of your resume creation because it sets a tone for your whole document. You can use different fonts for the body and the headings, but you don’t want to use more than two. 

The fonts listed above – and detailed below – are all good, clean font choices. Of course, any font with too many flourishes risks being illegible to the ATS ( applicant tracking system ). So you want to avoid them at all costs. In short, you want your ideal resume font to come across as professional, not detract from your message. Luckily, we have you covered. Let’s take a look at the best fonts for a resume below.

ZipJob's blog includes hundreds of articles on career resources, resume writing, and the job search written by career experts.

Calibri takes number one on our font list and has really gained popularity lately. It’s one of the best fonts for resumes as it’s clean and clear. This one is professional and more modern-looking than some other fonts, making it a great font to use on both a resume and cover letter.

Lucas de Groot, the creator of the Calibri font, described it as having “a warm and soft character.” Microsoft also has Times New Roman with Calibri as the standard font for Word and other applications.

Calibri is clear and easy-to-read. That means that it’s ideal for your next resume. The hiring manager will have no problem quickly scanning the content of your application.

Arial is another great font to use on your next resume. It’s part of the popular sans-serif font family. Many people have said that Arial is one of the easiest to read. As if that wasn’t enough, it also has a more modern look to it than other fonts.

Looking for some more information? Here is a good description of Arial from Wikipedia :

“Arial contains more humanist characteristics than many of its predecessors and as such is more in tune with the mood of the last decades of the twentieth century.”

Arial is one of the best fonts for resumes. The sans-serif typeface is simple yet effective. If you don’t want your font to detract from the content of your resume, use this font.

3. Helvetica

Next up, it’s one of the most popular fonts in the world. Helvetica is an excellent sans-serif font you can use for your resume. Helvetica is very similar to Arial and requires close inspection to really tell the difference. It, too, offers a clean and modern look that’s easy on the eye. It also comes in a variety of weights and styles.

Also a sans-serif font, Tahoma has a more modern look than the rest of the fonts listed. It was used by Microsoft for many years for a variety of different programs. While it is not as popular as the likes of Arial and Helvetica, it’s still one of the best fonts for a resume.

Tahoma is a great option that gives your resume a kick while still appearing professional. Try this one when you want your application to stand out.

5. Trebuchet

Trebuchet is another san-serif font, created by Vincent Connare. His goal with Trebuchet was simple: to create a font that appeared well on a screen and also provided a contrast in texture to Verdana, which is next on our list.

Trebuchet is a great option since it was designed to appear well on a screen which is how most employers will view your resume. It also provides a modern kick compared to other traditional fonts on our list. 

Verdana is another sans-serif which looks ace on a resume. It was designed in 1996 by Mathew Carter, who worked for Microsoft. Verdana was created to appear well on a small screen as well as screens with low resolution.

Verdana is a good font choice to use on applications. It is a simple typeface that is spaced perfectly, making it super easy for anybody to read.

7. Garamond

Garamond is a collection of old-style serif fonts created by 16th-century French engravers. Although it is a good choice, it may seem a bit stale and outdated to some. If you have a lot of experience, it may be a good choice.

Example:  Garamond is a classic font that is suitable for some types of resumes. If you are applying for a highly traditional role, you may find that this font style gives your application a classic look. 

8. Times New Roman

This is probably the most debated font when it comes to resume writing. Times New Roman is a classic serif typeface that may be a bit too overdone for a resume. Although no hiring manager will dismiss your resume because you used Times New Roman, it may not stand out as well as the other fonts on our list.

Times New Roman may be a bit too “classic” when it comes to making your resume stand out. It is still an acceptable font to use, especially for those who want to go with a traditional look.

Times New Roman is a classic for print that you see in many types of media, including newspapers and books. However, resumes are now often viewed on computers or mobile devices. Sans serif fonts (such as the one we use on this website!) are easier to read on a computer screen. it may help you make your font decision if you know whether or not your resume will be read on paper or on a screen.

8 best fonts to use on a resume (graphic)

Bold and italic font: When to use it 

Now that you know what the best fonts to use are, let’s talk about one crucial point. When should you use bold and italic fonts? You don’t want to go wild when it comes to adding extra character to your text. Here’s a breakdown of when you can use each of them: 

It’s not wise to bold any text within the main body of your resume. That includes your summary and any bullet points you include. However, you may want to use the bold feature when you are adding information, such as your contact details in the header.

Italic font 

Resist the urge to italicize words that you want to emphasize. That can look chaotic. Instead, you can use italic font when you’re including certain details, such as your years of employment or the year you graduated. When and where you use this font will depend almost entirely on the overall style of resume that you choose to use here.

How to choose the font for your resume

Trying to decide which font to use? Let’s go over some factors to keep in mind when choosing a resume font for your next application.

1. Resume readability

Readability is, far and away, the most important thing to consider when choosing a font. It sounds obvious but you’d be surprised how many people completely mess up on this one.

If readability is your only concern, any basic serif or sans serif font will do the trick. It’s also extremely important to avoid those comic-looking childish fonts at all costs.

Some fonts were designed to look better on a screen, while others look better when printed out. Think about who is viewing your resume and how they are likely to view your resume. You should be able to use your own judgment to determine readability.

2. Resume font size

We’ve been so intrigued by font styles that we almost forgot to talk about the size. But it matters more than you might imagine. Too big or too small, and you could ruin your chances of success. Generally, you should use a font size between size 10 and 14.

However, it is very important to realize that some font styles run bigger and some run smaller. For that reason, it’s important to make a judgment on the font size after you’ve already decided on a style. That way, you can make sure that it’s legible.

Your goal is to maximize the ease of reading your resume without making the text look overly bloated. Of course, you’ll have to use your best judgment when deciding if it looks bloated. But, if you stick to fonts smaller than 14 points, you will be fine in nearly every scenario. 

There’s one exception: your name. Your name is often the largest font size on your resume, with good reason – you want it to stand out and stick in your readers’ minds! This part can be about twice as big as the other section headings of your resume .

Another important thing to keep in mind is the font size effect on resume length. Obviously, the size of the font can dramatically change the length of your resume – you should always use this to your advantage.

For example, say your resume is just a line or two over a single page or just a few lines away from filling a full page. Adjusting the font just one-tenth of a point can make the text fill out the rest of a page or prevent it from spilling over into the next one. These slight adjustments can work wonders in making your resume more aesthetically pleasing.

3. Purpose of a resume

Font styles can change the entire feeling of a resume. Remember the message you want to convey with your resume. When you take a quick glance at it, does it convey the purpose you want it to? Does it suit the field to which you’re applying?

Does it look like the resume of an old, seasoned veteran? Or, does it look like it is representing a young professional? A recent college grad?

We don’t mean to suggest your resume font is going to manipulate people into thinking you are something you are not. Just like a piece of art can induce certain feelings, so can a good resume. A great font selection will pop out immediately. It should give hiring managers and recruiters an idea of who you are and what your purpose was for writing the resume they see before them.

Compare these versions of the same resume:

Fonts you should never use on a resume

We hope it goes without saying but absolutely do not use Comic Sans or any similar “fun” font on your resume. It will make you stand out, but not in a good way. It’s so childish that it will convey to the employer that you’re out of touch with the professional world.

Just in case you’re not sure what font-type we’re talking about, here are a few examples:

Wingdings (Wingdings)

Avoid using the above under any circumstances. Not for headings, not for symbols, and definitely not for your name. Keep it professional. Just for comparison’s sake, here is the resume we used above with a Comic Sans font.

As you can see here, the font looks immature and the content doesn’t fit on a single page anymore. The work experience is completely overridden by the unprofessional font choice. This will most likely get your resume tossed out of hand. Say it one last time: You should never use Comic Sans for your resume, cover letter, or any professional communication.

Can you combine fonts on your resume?

The short answer is yes! Most resume templates include a couple of font styles. However, you need to ensure that these fonts work with one another. As a general rule, it is safe to choose one font (perhaps a serif font) for headers and one (maybe a sans-serif font) for the finer details. There are many exceptions to this rule, though. When you are creating the design of your resume, you have to consider how the entire document looks, after all. 

The font you choose for your resume is important. You want to strike the perfect balance of uniqueness, class, and professionalism. Keeping these things in mind when choosing a font can be the difference between a call-back and radio silence.

Remember that the “perfect” resume font is subjective. While you should certainly select a font that doesn’t distract from your message, having a well-written resume is more important. While drafting your resume, keep these factors in mind. You’ll be on your way to the next interview in no time!

Ready to take the next step in your career? To make sure the content and format of your resume are ready for online applications in 2024, check out our free resume review tool . It’s always worth giving yourself the competitive edge. 

Recommended reading: 

3 fonts to never use on a resume

How to choose the right font

Resume font size

Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer, Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer

Charlotte Grainger is a freelance writer living and working in Sheffield, UK. She has a passion for career development and loves sharing tips and advice. Follow her on Twitter

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• What Makes a Font a 'Best Font for a Resume?'

12 Best Fonts for a Resume

Will an applicant tracking system (ats) rule out my resume based on font , what is the best font size for a resume, what are the worst resume fonts, can you use multiple fonts on a resume, how much does your resume font matter, 12 best fonts for your resume (and 8 you should never use).

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Table of Contents

First impressions matter, especially in the job search. Everything on your resume — including your font — plays an essential role in what kind of impression you make on the hiring manager. Unsure what the best font for your resume is? Here’s what you need to know. 

What Makes a Font a ‘Best Font for a Resume?’

The best font for a resume is one that is professional, readable, clear, and representative of your personal brand.

You want the hiring manager to read your achievements, experience, and contact information without squinting or guessing what words are on the page.

You also want your font to represent your brand. For example, people looking for a creative career might use fonts that are slightly more decorative, while someone applying for analytical jobs might use a more straightforward font. 

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Now that you know what makes a good resume font, which one should you use? There are typically two types of fonts you can use on a resume: serif fonts and sans serif fonts. 

Best Serif Fonts for a Resume

A serif is often called the “feet” of a font. It’s a small feature at the end of letters that makes them appear more decorative and ornamental. Major brands like The New York Times, JPMorgan , and McKinsey & Company use serif fonts for their logos.

Serif fonts are often considered more stylized and elegant. These are particularly effective if you’re applying for more of a creative role.

While many serif fonts are readable on computers, experts recommended using these fonts if you’re printing application materials.

“Their tiny details on the letters make it easier for the eye to recognize quickly on paper,” Chris Lewandowski, recruiter and president of Princess Dental Staffing, says.

Times New Roman

Times New Roman is a traditional font that you might see as a default for various computer programs. This is a font you’ve likely encountered while in school — some teachers might even prefer it when you’re submitting essays. 

Because this font is so commonplace and traditional, it’s good for applying to jobs in more traditional fields like law, finance, and academia. In creative or tech fields, some might consider Times New Roman a bit outdated.

If you’re looking for something a little more original compared to Times New Roman, Georgia is a great serif font to use. It offers a similar level of professionalism while offering a modern look. 

Georgia was designed specifically for readability on low-resolution computer screens, which makes it a good choice when submitting a resume digitally. The bold version of Georgia is particularly bold, which is also helpful when trying to emphasize specific parts of your resume and make information stand out. 

Like Times New Roman, Garamond is a timeless serif font, one that follows the model for a typeface cut leading back to the late 1400s. This font is traditional and sophisticated, making it a good choice for conservative fields.

This font tends to be smaller than its other serif counterparts. This means you’ll be able to fit more information onto the page at the same font size; however, be sure the information is easily readable without any eye strain. 

Cambria is a modern font designed to be readable on both computers and in print. The even spacing and proportions make it a clear, straightforward font that’s a versatile option for a variety of fields. This font offers a good balance between a classic serif style (like Times New Roman) and a more modern feel. 

Keep in mind that Cambria is a very neutral font and its bold version is not as visually distinct as other fonts. 

Palatino offers a professional and elegant look that’s slightly more decorative than Times New Roman. It’s a great choice for resumes in creative fields like design, marketing, or media.

This font is less common than the other best serif resume fonts, so it might not be available on all computer systems — I had to click “add more fonts” to Google docs in order to use it, but it was still available for free. It’s also a bigger font; for example, a size 11 Palatino fits less information on the page than size 11 Times New Roman. 

Best Sans Serif Fonts

Sans serif fonts are considered clean, modern, and simple. They don’t have any “feet” or decorative elements to them. Brands like Bank of America , Chipotle, and Meta use serif fonts for their logos.

Sans serif fonts are the best if you’re submitting a resume digitally, whether via email or directly to a company’s application site.

“Since most people are job hunting and processing their applications online, I highly suggest using sans-serif on digital resumes,” Lewandowski says. “This is because fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Tahoma, and Verdana, or those that don’t have intricate details on the letters, are much easier to read on computer screens.”

Arial is probably the Times New Roman equivalent of sans serif fonts. It’s one of the most popular sans serif fonts and comes pre-installed on most operating systems. 

Arial is clean, simple, and easy to read at a variety of sizes — especially on different computer screens.

Calibri is a second generation font celebrity; it replaced Times New Roman in Word in the late 2000s and replaced Arial in PowerPoint, Excel , Outlook, and Wordpad. This sleek font with subtly rounded edges remains clear at smaller font sizes. 

Like Arial, it’s a neutral font without much character, which works well for more traditional fields. 

You might recognize Open Sans from some of Google’s web pages. It’s a neutral and open-source font, meaning it’s free commercially. 

Open Sans has a wide variety of weights, meaning it’s a good choice if you’re looking to vary emphasis on your resume while maintaining font consistency. Keep in mind that this is a larger font that takes up more space in smaller sizes.

Verdana is a simple, clean font that’s particularly readable at small sizes and on low-resolution computer screens. It has tall lowercase characters and wider proportions. 

Verdana is a safe font choice for both printed and digital resumes and a good font choice for traditional fields. Its straightforward design can lack personality, but it offers a professional aesthetic. 

Similar to Verdana, Tahoma offers slightly narrower characters and tighter letter spacing. Its bold version stands out significantly because it’s closer to double the pixel width of the non-bold option. Tahoma is a good option if you’re trying to emphasize specific elements of your resume. 

Helvetica is a widely popular sans serif font. Originally developed in 1957, the font now has a wide range of variants in its font family — this gives you more flexibility if you’d like to use a combination of variations on your resume. 

Helvetica is known for its high character heights and small space in between letters. 

Roboto is an open-source font that offers both a professional and contemporary aesthetic. It features some curves that make it more distinct from other serif fonts; it also spaces letters based on their natural sizing, which makes it a bit more natural to read. This is a great font choice for resumes in technology or design fields.

An applicant tracking system, often referred to as an ATS, is a way for recruiters to track and easily parse resumes. There are a lot of myths about what an ATS can and can’t do, including that they can rule out resumes if they’re not formatted correctly. Does this apply to fonts?

>>MORE: What Is an Applicant Tracking System? Your Questions Answered by the People Who Use Them!

Yes and no. An ATS will not rule out your resume if it doesn’t have a specific font, and these systems can actually read most fonts. However, there’s always a chance that a certain company’s ATS can’t read a particularly “fancy” or stylized font.  

So while there’s a good chance an ATS can read any font, it’s better to stick with a more simple font — a serif or sans serif font — that’s easily readable and clear. 

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The best font size is readable and allows you to fit all of your resume information efficiently. A resume generally shouldn’t be longer than two pages ; ideally, it should be one page if you don’t have many years of career experience.

Best Size for Resume Job Descriptions

Generally, 12pt is the best size for descriptions, with no item on your resume less than 10pt.

“Keep in mind that some fonts are wider or taller than others, so it may be advisable to stick to larger than 10pt or smaller than 12pt, depending on which font you use,” Daniel Lorenzo, marketing director of resume writing service Let’s Eat, Grandma, says.

Best Size for Resume Headings

Headings can be in a larger font than your experience sections; however, they shouldn’t take up much more space on the page. The best size for section headings is 14-16pt.

Best Size for Your Name

Arguably, your name is one of the essential identifiers on your resume — which means it should visually stand out.

“Your name should be the largest text on the resume,” Lorenzo advises. “It can be 20pt or even a little higher (within reason, though — don’t waste space with a huge name).”

The same rules apply to font size as font choice: readability matters most.

“For the font size, you should always aim for an option that makes the content readable, no matter on which device the resume is read,” Felix T. Web, CEO and founder of Resume OK, says. “Most recruiters will use their work laptop to review resumes, but in rare cases some are checking applications from tablets or even mobile phones.”

Unfortunately, the best way to show your personality in a job application isn’t on your resume with fancy or creative fonts.

“Any unconventional or fancy font that you don’t typically see on documents is a bad idea, especially if it’s cursive or highly decorative like Lobster, Papyrus, or Impact,” Lorzeno explains. “You are not going to score any bonus points with your recruiter if your font is fun or fancy, and you will in fact lose their attention if it’s hard to read.”

You should try to stay away from using fonts with cursive, extra space between letters, or ones that look like handwriting.

Other fonts you can consider avoiding on your resume include:

• Lucida Console
• Bradley Hand ITC
• Brush Script

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Yes! If you’re looking to make different resume elements stand out, using multiple fonts is OK. For example, you may use one font for your name and section headings and another for your experience descriptions. However, you should use no more than two different fonts.

If you use two fonts, be mindful about which fonts you choose. The fonts should pair well together.

“My go-to is a contemporary combination of Century Gothic for the name and the section headers, and Veranda for the body copy,” Lauren Hamer, CPRW and founder of Launch Point Resume, says. “Choosing two font types helps differentiate your resume format and organize your content in a new, more interesting way.”

A font generally can’t make or break whether you get hired for a role (unless you use an illegible one). Yet your font choice affects how your resume appears to a hiring manager and how easily they can read it.

The golden rule is to pick a clear and readable font. While some might format better on your resume than others, what matters most is that a hiring manager can read your experience, accomplishments, and all other information that will show you’re the best person for the role.

“Don’t overthink your font,” Lorenzo advises. “Pick the option that most speaks to your personal brand from among the simple, common choices.”

The best resume font isn’t one that draws attention to your font choice. Instead, it’s the one that allows your accomplishments to stand out.

Do you have the perfect font in mind but still need to build out your resume? Learn how to create an entry-level resume from start to finish with our ultimate resume guide .

Image credit: Brooke Cagle / Unsplash

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The Best and Worst Fonts for Resumes (and Font Sizes)

Have you ever found yourself wanting your resume to be absolutely perfect to increase your chances at earning an interview with your dream employer?

No doubt you spent hours making sure the substantive content of your resume aligned with the job itself, such as including keywords from the job description , blending soft and hard skills , and making sure your work experience tells the proper career story .

But what about the appearance of your resume? Have you considered that there are certain fonts and sizes you should (and should not) utilize to further increase your success rate? If not, you may want to review the following best and worst fonts and sizes for your resume.

The Top Three Resume Fonts

There was a time when Times New Roman was Microsoft Word’s default font. But if you boot up the application now, you will see that Calibri owns that honor.  Calibri is a modern, refined, and professional font that reads well. It is also a sans-serif font , which renders out more clearly on a screen, thereby increasing legibility.

Cambria is another popular and professional-looking font. Though it is a serif font, it was specifically designed to perform well on-screen and look good when printed out.

3. Garamond

For many, Times New Roman is the default – which is exactly why you should avoid it.  Garamond is a great alternative.  Not only does it provide a classic, polished look, but it also helps fit more text on a page without compromising readability.

The Three Worst Resume Fonts

Right away you should be able to tell why you should avoid this font at all costs. It is bold, which makes for a better personality trait than font. Keep this one off your resume.

2. Lucida Console

As you can tell, this font has a fixed width, which makes it appear boxy and computer-like. Even if your resume will be read on a screen, there are much better alternatives to this one.

3. Times New Roman

In all fairness, there are many fonts worse than Times New Roman. You could scroll through Word’s options and find a host of terrible fonts ill-suited for resumes. But the point here is to emphasize commonly used fonts that you should not be using.  And as previously stated, Times New Roman is overly used and not unique, which will work against your efforts to stand out.

Let’s Talk Font Sizes

Once you have picked the right font, your next thought should be how big or small to make the font size.

The simple and straightforward answer is this: the best resume font sizes are 11 to 12 for normal text and 14-16 for section titles and headers.

You may be tempted to use smaller font sizes so you can fit all of your content onto a single page. Do not do that. Instead, experiment with font types or limiting content before resorting to smaller font sizes.

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• Best Font for Resume

The Best Font For Resume - style and size

What is the best font for resume and most importantly, for your specific resume? We look at the best font types for resumes and how to select the right one for you.

Your resume will have about 7 seconds to make the right impression and convince the hiring manager or recruiter to continue reading.  Your resume font should be appealing, easy to quickly scan and accessible. The wrong font could see your resume get passed by.

Serif and Sans Serif Font Styles - what's the difference?

Every font belongs to a family of fonts - the 2 main being serif font and sans serif font.

Serif fonts have little "tails" or lines, called serifs, at the end of each stroke in a letter. Sans serif fonts do not have these little decorative tails and are made up of clean, simple lines that are the same throughout. 

Serif fonts are more traditional and help convey a formal and serious message. Some consider these fonts as being easier to read as the little tails on each letter can help you to compute what you're reading a little bit faster.

Sans serif fonts are considered more modern and contemporary-looking,  providing your resume with a fresher look. They are generally less formal than serif fonts and provide a minimal and simplistic look.

The 10 best fonts for resumes fall into both serif and sans serif categories. When selecting the right resume font the main criteria are legibility and accessibility.

The reader experience is all important -  your resume should be easy to read to survive the seven-second scan. Further considerations when selecting the best font for resume are :

• whether your resume is going to be read in a print version, on a computer screen or on a mobile device - certain fonts read better on different devices or in print.
• the industry you are in and the type of job you are applying for - different professions may be best reflected by different resume fonts.

The top 10 best font types for resumes are listed with the advantages for each style clearly and concisely outlined. Find the most appropriate font for your resume from the many font styles on offer.

Top 10 Best Fonts for Resumes

Calibri, a sans serif font, replaced Times New Roman as the Microsoft Office default font which makes it familar to the eye.

Why it's a good choice:

• professional- looking
• easily readable
• renders correctly and well on computer screens when your resume is opened
• its tight layout means it works in a range of text sizes and helps keep your resume to a manageable length
• modern, clean and simple
• described as a warm and gentle font by its designer, Lucas de Groot

Calibri works well for most resumes and particularly for jobs in:

• nursing and care-related professions
• social work and other support-type jobs
• engineering and jobs that have a lot of technical detail as it is functional and familiar and allows more text on the page while still looking clean.

Calibri may be a little too safe and familiar for highly creative jobs or for a more quirky company.           

Cambria is a serif font and was designed by Microsoft for easy on-screen reading and to look good when printed at small sizes.

• performs well on computer monitors and for on-screen reading including smaller screens
• the sturdy letter construction means it is easy to read in smaller text sizes 
• designed to be easy to read when printed out
• slightly less formal and considered more "friendly" than other serif fonts such as Times New Roman

Cambria works well for jobs in:

• finance and accounting

Although considered less formal than some serif fonts it is still a traditional font and may not be the best font for a resume and job applications in more contemporary and unconventional industries.

Georgia is another serif font that is recommended for its easy on-screen reading and is available on almost all computers.

• it has the classic serif elements but also contains contemporary elements
• clean and crisp looking
• created for clarity on computer screens and reads well even on low resolution screens and a variety of screen sizes including mobile devices
• considered a little more "fun" than other traditional fonts
• allows you to create a resume look that is professional and elegant but also trendy

Georgia works well for jobs in:

• writing, blogging and editing

Georgia's strokes are a little thicker than other fonts and so it may not be the best font for a resume if you are struggling to keep your resume to a certain size.

Verdana was created for Microsoft as the sans serif sister to Georgia. The font was designed so that it is easy to read in small print on screens.

• a clean and modern font, it's easy to read because of its wider spacing
• renders well on a small screen such as a mobile device

Helvetica font is a modern, sans serif favorite considered by many to be the king of fonts! However, it only comes preloaded on Apple computers so you have to purchase it if you don't use a Mac. Arial is a good alternative as it very closely resembles Helvetica. Arial is the default font for Google Docs and a standard font for MS Word and will display correctly on most computers.

• modern and clean lines
• clear, simple and easy to read
• renders well on computer screens

Arial is a safe choice for most resumes and particularly for :

• administrative jobs

It is one of the most used fonts and its generic quality may be considered too bland for jobs in creative industries or trendy companies.

A good sans serif alternative to Arial, Trebuchet renders well on screens and is not as over-used.

• a friendly and rounded font with a modern look
• described by Microsoft as having "energy and personality"
• easy to read
• designed for use on screens and renders well on smaller screens such as mobiles
• works well at both header and body copy sizes

Trebuchet is a good resume font choice for jobs in:

• entry level jobs where its wider body helps fill up the resume page and its style conveys enthusiasm and energy

It is a wider font than Calibri and others and may not be suitable if you are struggling to manage the length of your resume and need a tighter layout.

Tahoma is another san serif font that has a more modern look.

• professional yet a contemporary and trendy style
• strong lines make for easy reading
• renders well on screen
• narrow body and tighter spacing allows for more text on a resume page without losing readability

Tahoma is a good resume font choice for technology-focused jobs as it is works well with detail-heavy resume copy.

Lato and Roboto are two sans serif fonts that are not resume classics but are worth exploring as more modern and less-used resume fonts.

Lato and Roboto have the following advantages:

• professional and serious looking but the semi-rounded details convey warmth and a friendly feel
• easy to read and approachable
• not as over-used as some of the more common fonts
• different enough to stand out but sufficiently corporate to still be professional

Lato and Roboto won't be installed on all computers and your resume might not show up properly as a Word file. If you use these fonts make sure you send your resume to PDF format.

A traditional font that may be considered outdated and over-used but still works as a classic and professional resume font. It is a safe and formal font that conveys seriousness.

Times New Roman is best used for jobs in more traditional and conservative industries.

Times New Roman does not display as well on small screens .

Fonts to Avoid 

The main consideration in selecting the best font for resume is that it is easily scanned and read.

Some resume fonts are a definite no, and recruiters and hiring manager are unanimous in describing the resume fonts to avoid.

• thin or light fonts can be difficult to read on screen
• fonts that look like handwriting such as Brushscript or Segoe are difficult to quickly scan and read and look unprofessional
• "funky" fonts like Comic Sans look childish and distract from the serious content of a resume
• heavy and bold fonts like Impact are almost impossible to read quickly and accurately and are not recommended even for headings
• font types that mimic type-written letters such as Lucida Console are considered inappropriate and your resume will not be taken seriously

Best Font Size for Resumes

What size should your resume font be?

• the regular font size for resumes is 12 points - this is easy to scan and read in different formats.
• if you are having difficulty keeping your resume to a manageable length (1 to 2 pages for most job applications) you can try making your font 11 points or even 10.5 points. Depending on the resume font style, this should still be sufficiently legible
• if your resume exceeds the maximum length by just a few words or sentences try editing your resume by using synonyms, rewriting sentences and removing unnecessary words to make it shorter rather than using a too-small font size (usually anything less than 10.5 pts)
• avoid increasing your font size to over 12 just to fill up empty space on your resume page.
• larger font sizes are acceptable for headings or subheadings.

To achieve the right balance between resume length and legibility, select a font type and adjust the size to allow the reader to scan your resume quickly and enjoy a good reader experience.

Best Font for Resume - getting past the ATS

Many employers use  Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software to record and sort resumes and job applications. These ATS programs do not read certain font types well and using them puts your resume at high risk of being ignored.

Avoid intricate and unusual fonts and stick to the tried and tested resume fonts including those listed in our top 10 above.

The best font for a resume is one that is widely used and will keep your resume as intact as possible as it gets processed through an ATS, and circulated among recruiters and hiring managers on different computers.

Find out everything you need to know about how to create a resume that gets past the ATS.

Best Font for Resume 2023

Consider the 3 main selection criteria when deciding on the best font for a resume today.

• easy to scan and read
• how is your resume going to be read - print, laptop, desktop or mobile
• the position and industry for which you're applying

Certain resume fonts are considered more contemporary and modern-looking including Calibri, Georgia, Verdana and Tahoma. They work well on screens and are less formal than some of the more traditional fonts like Times New Roman.

The modern resume fonts work well in our digital world and in less formal professions and industries. Traditional fonts may be considered more appropriate for conservative professions and industries that expect a high degree of formality.

If the job opportunity is in a creative field than it is acceptable to go with a more unconventional font. However it still needs to be easy to read and render well on screen.

Everyone viewing your resume on a computer will have different fonts installed so it is important to use a universal font that most computers have today. You don’t want your resume font automatically replaced with a substitute that compromises your resume's appearance, readability and formatting.

Standard Font Style for Resume and how to use fonts in your resume

The most common standard font styles for resumes are Arial, Helvetica and Times New Roman. However as long as you use a professional, widely accepted and easy-to-read font you will be safe.

There are some basic rules for how to use resume fonts:

• differentiate your headings and section titles from your body copy by tastefully increasing the font size, using bold or using a well matched second font type
• avoid using more than 2 font types in your resume. If you pair fonts, one for heading and one for text, make sure they both are easy to scan and read and do not detract from each other
• avoid multi-colored fonts - it is safe to stick to black text to optimize your resume for readability
• ensure your resume is accessible and easily scanned by including sufficient white space
• use your resume font consistently throughout your resume in terms of size, spacing and headings
• use the same font on your cover letter to keep your application consistent

Over 50 Top Sample Resumes

Everything you need to create a job-winning resume . Sample resumes, resume building tools and resume templates.

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The Best Fonts for Your Resume in 2024, According to HubSpot Recruiters

Published: April 24, 2024

Besides your content, using one of the best fonts for resumes may help you get a recruiter’s attention. Studies have shown recruiters typically scan a resume for six to thirty seconds before deciding if an applicant is fit for a role.

With only a few seconds to demonstrate your qualifications for a position, every detail counts — including the font you use. The question is, what are the best resume fonts to pass the six to thirty-seconds scan?

I asked HubSpot recruiters to reveal the seven best fonts for your resume and what they consider in terms of design ‌so your resume can stand out in a pile.

Table of Contents

What is the best font for a resume?

Expert advice on choosing the right font.

• Top 7 Best Fonts for Resumes
• Does Using The Best Resume Fonts Even Matter?
• Worst Fonts for Resumes
• Ideal Resume Font Sizes

Resume Font Tips

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Here’s a hot take — I don’t think there is one best font for a resume.

I think most folks would lean toward Times New Roman or Calibri, but there are so many factors that go into choosing a font that works best for you.

• What industry are you in? Certain industries, like law, have font standards, so it’s not a bad idea to align your resume accordingly.
• Is your resume text-heavy? Some fonts work better in smaller sizes and in tighter formats than others.
• What’s the company culture like? Times New Roman might be a great fit for lawyers, but it might not be the best choice if you’re joining a company with more of a relaxed vibe.

So, my non-answer is … it depends.

If I absolutely had to pick my favorite, I’m going with Helvetica because it’s clean, simple, and easy to read (even in smaller sizes). Plus, it’s available on most, if not all, devices.

But don’t take my word for it. Let’s hear what the experts have to say.

To evoke a sense of style, professionalism, and uniqueness, you must put effort and consideration into your font choice. When speaking with recruiters, it quickly became apparent that classic fonts are still the best options.

“I’m a big fan of the 'classics' for resumes — Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, and Cambria. I’m a little old school, but I think they are the cleanest and exude professionalism,” said Johanna Fleming , a former senior recruiter at HubSpot.

Riley Kundtz , the former senior MBA campus recruiter at HubSpot, agreed.

“I find the classic formatting and Times font helpful when reading a dense resume from an experienced MBA candidate.”

Times New Roman has become a bit controversial lately. It was the go-to font for many years because it’s traditional and recognizable, but lately, some are opting against it.

“For me, it’s all about legibility and cleanliness. I prefer sans-serif fonts like Helvetica, which is modern and elegant, over serif fonts like Times New Roman,” says Glory Montes , a technical recruiter at HubSpot.

“Overall, I would just stay away from a font like Times New Roman; it’s overused and reminds me of long nights writing course papers in college,” adds Glory.

Georgia is one font The New York Times uses and is similar to Times New Roman. It’s a bit wider, making it easier to read.

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Paulina Valdez Franco, former executive recruiter at HubSpot, agrees with this take.

“My two favorite fonts are Helvetica if you're looking for a clean and classic look, and Georgia, if you want a more modern and fun look,” she said. “The latter is also designed to read well on screens.”

Helvetica is widely used in advertising and works equally well for text-heavy pages and documents.

A lesser-known font that’s a great option for your resume is Garamond, recommended by our former team lead of engineering recruiting at HubSpot, Rich Lapham .

“Recruiters have an idea of the skills they are looking for on a resume, so if you try a new style or format, it can be tougher for recruiters to find the information they are looking for,” he said. “Keep it clean and simple.”

Franco added that Arial and Calibri are great choices to play it safe.

Bridget LeMon , HubSpot's global emerging talent and university recruiting senior manager, echoes this.

“It's totally acceptable – and becoming more common – for candidates to stray away from the resume norms of Times New Roman and Calibri,” she said. 

“Avenir Next and Muna are two excellent font options if you are looking to break the status quo.”

Ultimately, you‘ll want to consider the position you’re applying for when choosing a font. To Glory Montes’ point, certain more creative roles might benefit from a unique font than Times New Roman.

The Best Resume Fonts

• Times New Roman
• Avenir Next

Best Fonts for Resume

1. Times New Roman

Times New Roman font has been popular for resumes for decades.

This serif option is easy-to-read and communicates formality. Online, the font is uniform and accessible across various platforms and operating systems.

Best for: Word documents. PDFs can host unique fonts. However, a standard font will be helpful if your resume is uploaded as a Word document.

• It has a classic and professional look, making it an excellent choice for applicants targeting corporate positions.
• It’s a standard font used in most word processors, making it an accessible option for any device.
• It’s easily readable in print and on-screen.

Disadvantages

• Times New Roman’s outdated look may not appeal to all industries, and some may consider it bland or generic.
• This font may make your resume blend in with the rest due to its ubiquity.
• It’s a heavy serif font, taking up more space than other options.

Arial is a sans-serif font that has become popular for its clean and modern look. 

Arial's straightforward and minimalist design has made it a popular choice for applicants targeting creative positions.

Best for: Resumes submitted online, where readability is essential for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used in recruitment.

• Arial offers simplicity, which allows your content to stand out. 
• It has strong legibility in small font sizes, even in print.
• It’s ideal for applicants trying to fit all the necessary information in their resume on a single page.
• The font's overuse in branding and design has led to its association with a non-innovative style. 
• Arial's uniformity may not suit industries such as graphic design or creative writing seeking to showcase creativity and flair.
• It may make the text appear less formal and inappropriate for specific job applications.

3. Avenir Next

Avenir Next is a modern typeface gaining popularity among designers and recruiters. Avenir Next's appearance is characterized by its geometric shapes, open contours, and strong lines.

Its clean, contemporary look has become a popular font choice for resumes.

What I love: Avenir Next is a scalable font. It maintains its readability even at small sizes, and its geometric shapes make it a perfect choice for digital resumes.

• Avenir Next's sleek and modern design makes it an excellent choice for applicants targeting creative industries.
• Its clear, simple lines offer a sense of elegance, while its legibility gives recruiters a sense of professionalism.
• Avenir Next may not be as widely recognized.
• It could be difficult to read on some computer systems without the font installed.
• It’s a premium font with a higher price tag.

4. Helvetica

Helvetica is a widely recognized and popular font used on resumes, particularly in the design industry.

It’s clean, classic, and timeless. This font is popular with professionals, design enthusiasts, typographers, and Wes Anderson.

What I love: The font is available in multiple weights, making it easier to differentiate headings and sections in the resume.

• Helvetica is easy to read and has a professional, straightforward appearance.
• The font‘s popularity means that job recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with it.
• Helvetica’s clean lines give the resume a structured and well-organized look, making it ideal for those in finance, law, and business management.
• The font's ubiquity in resumes may make it feel overdone and uninspired. 
• With so many applicants using the font, your resume may struggle to stand out.
• Helvetica‘s minimalist design can also work against you if your resume has limited content.

Calibri is a contemporary design, making it a popular choice for creating a visually appealing and easy-to-read resume.

What I like: Calibri offers a sense of uniformity across different platforms, making it an accessible and reliable option for applicants.

• The font has been designed with legibility in mind, making it an excellent option for resumes.
• Calibri's modern look creates a sleek appearance, making it ideal for job seekers looking to highlight their contemporary skills.
• Calibri is also lighter than other font options, making it an ideal choice for single-page resumes.
• Calibri is one of the default fonts available in most word-processing programs, so it’s not unique or personal.
• The font can be perceived as informal, making it less than ideal for formal industries, like law or finance.

Cambria's classic design features elegant serifs, making it a perfect choice for job seekers. You can easily create a traditional, professional-looking resume that stands out.

What I like: Cambria's generous spacing between characters and lines makes the resume much easier to read and stands out from other fonts.

• Cambria has a classic yet modern appearance.
• The font‘s serifs give it a timeless look that is perfect for job seekers in more traditional industries such as finance or law.
• It’s  highly readable, even in smaller font sizes, which makes it an excellent choice for information-heavy resumes.
• Some recruiters and hiring managers might view the font as old-fashioned or generic.
• Cambria's heavy serifs may be problematic for those trying to keep their resume to a single page.

Georgia is a traditional serif font that has been a popular choice for resumes due to its elegant and classic look.

Georgia's unique design features distinguishable serifs that give it a professional appearance.

What I like: The font's design combines traditional and modern aesthetics, making it a versatile option for job seekers applying for a wide range of positions.

• Georgia's design is easy to read even in smaller font sizes, making it a perfect choice for resumes with limited space.
• It can be customized, which makes it an excellent option for applicants looking to add their personal touch.
• The font's traditional appearance may not be suitable for applicants targeting creative or non-traditional fields.
• It’s a serif, making it difficult to read in small sizes on a digital screen or in online applications.

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Does using the best resume fonts even matter.

Most recruiters I spoke with were hesitant to offer a font. Instead, they focus on the content.

“I rarely pay too much attention to fonts,” said Heta Patel , a former HubSpot recruiter. “I'm more concerned to see a resume that’s formatted neatly – submitting a PDF is helpful with this, so your formatting doesn't shift.”

Sales Recruiting Manager Kelsey Freedman agreed.

“Honestly, I care little about the font of a resume, as long as it's clear and in PDF format," Freedman said. "I typically review a resume for 20 to 30 seconds, so a traditional font is good."

Freedman continued, "I would advise avoiding script font or bubble font, or similar fonts that are distracting.”

Ultimately, and as expected, your content still matters most. However, a clear font will help avoid any irritability you might cause a recruiter with a distracting, messy design.

“What I get most excited about is the content. Depending on the role, I look to see that candidates are sharing direct and compelling snapshots of their work,” said Ashley Hodder , a global recruiting manager at HubSpot.

“I look for indicators that show data orientation, autonomy, and thoughtfulness about business impact,” she said.

Worst Resume Fonts

While some recruiters may not have suggestions for the best fonts, many can agree on some of the worst ones.

“Anything that is cursive or too bubbly is too hard to read. For instance, I'd stay clear of Comic Sans,” says Holly Peterson , team lead for management and research recruiting HubSpot.

Another resume font type to avoid is Script.

With text-heavy documents, Scripts, and any of their derivatives make text hard to read because they look like they’re written by hand.

They’re generally used in hand lettering and calligraphy for artistic projects and shouldn’t be present anywhere near your resume.

Ideal Resume Font Size

When asked which font size is best, Fleming said 12 is ideal. Most recruiters would agree.

Your text should be large enough to read comfortably without straining but small enough that there’s space to include all key elements, such as your objective, contact information, skills, and experience.

You can use larger font sizes for headings containing your name and section titles.

If your font is extensive, you can scale to 10.5 — but never go below it.

The critical takeaway is to make your resume clear and easy to read, which means keeping the font size around 12, sticking to classic fonts with modern twists, and forsaking your favorite script font.

1. Choose a font that’s best suited for your industry.

It’s important to keep industry nuances in mind as you’re writing. 

For example, a seasoned graphic designer wouldn’t dare use Comic Sans. And the standard font for most legal documents is Times New Roman.

This is not to say your resume font will make or break your chances of getting the job. But this small step can help demonstrate your attention to detail and your experience in the field.

Pro tip: Whenever I’m refreshing my resume, I like to browse examples in my industry for inspiration. It helps me make sure that I’m aligning the overall style with the position I’m applying for.

This is especially useful when I’ve been out of the job market for a while.

2. Keep the font consistent throughout.

Font consistency is just as important as font type and size. It can be confusing for recruiters if you’re switching back and forth between fonts.

And as I mentioned, you have about 30 seconds tops to make an impression. Make your resume scannable and easy-to-read at a glance.

Pro tip: If you’re going to mix fonts, at least make sure all text levels are the same throughout. For example, all titles and headers should be the same, and all paragraph fonts should match.

3. Be mindful of contrast and colors.

It’s fun to introduce colors into your resume — whether it’s background colors or adding some flare to your titles and headers.

But the most important part is readability. Don’t get carried away with bright or busy colors. You’ll end up taking away from the content on the page.

Pro tip: You can use a color contrast checker to make sure your resume is accessible and legible.

4. Pay attention to formatting.

Similar to font consistency, you’ll want to make sure your resume is well-formatted and organized.

Use headers to break up your sections, make sure your margins are at least half an inch on all sides, and use a font type with optimal clarity.

Recruiters get thousands of resumes per job listing. Make sure your resume catches their eye for good reason — not bad.

Pro tip: Just because your resume looks good on your computer, doesn’t mean it’ll look good on all computers. Save and send your resume as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays constant wherever it goes.

1. Should I choose a serif or sans-serif font for my resume?

This decision largely depends on the type of job you’re applying for and the contents of your resume. 

While there’s no right or wrong answer, here’s a helpful cheat sheet:

• Serif fonts are classic and professional. They work best for multi-page or light-text resumes and traditional fields (e.g., law, finance, business).
• Sans-serif fonts are modern and sleek. They work best for single-page or text-heavy resumes and creative fields (e.g., marketing, design).

2. What size should my resume font be?

Size 12 is the ideal font size for a resume.

You can go as low as 10.5 if you have a lot of information to include, and I wouldn’t recommend going larger than font size 14.

However, you can go larger than 14 for headers and section titles to help organize your sections (i.e., Education, Experience, etc.).

Happy Resume Writing

Editor's note: This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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