Best Fonts and Font Sizes for a Resume (With Examples)
Your font will not get you the job, but a poor choice can make your resume harder to read. The goal is simple: a typeface that is clear on screen and in print, at a size nobody has to squint at.
Sans-serif or serif?
Sans-serif fonts such as Inter, Helvetica, Open Sans and Source Sans look modern and read well on screens. Serif fonts such as Times, Garamond, Lora and PT Serif feel traditional and read well in print.
Neither is wrong. Choose serif for law, finance, academia or publishing and sans-serif for tech, marketing and startups, if you want to match the field.
Font sizes that work
- →Name: 20 to 28 points.
- →Section headings: 10 to 12 points, often bold or in capitals.
- →Body text: 9.5 to 11 points. Below 9 it becomes hard to read.
- →Contact line: 9 to 10 points.
Spacing and margins
Margins of 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) are standard. Use slightly larger line spacing than the default if you have space, and consistent gaps between sections. If you are running out of room, trim content before shrinking the font.
Consistency matters most
Use one font family, with bold and italic for emphasis. Two families is the maximum. Keep dates, job titles and company names formatted the same way throughout.
Fonts to avoid
- →Decorative, script or handwriting fonts
- →Very thin weights that print faintly
- →Fonts that are not embedded in your PDF and may be replaced on someone else's device
Try different fonts and templates on your own resume
Get started freeFrequently asked questions
Is Arial or Calibri OK?
Yes. They are clear and widely available, though a font like Inter or Source Sans gives a more current look.
Does font choice affect ATS?
Not as long as the text is real text and the font is embedded. A standard font is the safest choice.