- Sharon Hafuta
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
The design of your resume plays a key role in telling your story. Among the elements shaping that narrative, typography often goes unnoticed, but it may be one of the most critical aspects. The right choice of font can subtly communicate professionalism, clarity, and creativity, or it can make your resume difficult to read and diminish your impact.
This article will help you discover the best resume fonts and share essential insights to help you effectively select, size, and format your text. Whether you’re a job seeker creating a resume for your dream job, a designer helping others visually tell their story, or simply someone leveling up their graphic design skills, understanding resume fonts is key.
Understanding what is typography and its impact can help you make better design choices and elevate your design project.
Why font choice matters in your resume
Imagine your resume as a handshake. You’d want it to be confident and memorable, not limp or overwhelming. Fonts work in the same way—they convey tone, readability, and intent, often before a recruiter has even read the first word. According to career experts, recruiters spend only about 6-7 seconds scanning a resume. That doesn’t leave time for hard-to-read fonts or overly playful typography to get in the way.
Your font choice has to balance professionalism with your personal brand. It should help guide the reader’s eyes effortlessly through sections like work experience, education, and skills.
Think of clean, well-chosen typography as the silent wingman for your resume—it won’t steal the spotlight but will make sure you shine.
10 resume fonts and when to use them
01. Arial
Arial might get a bad rap for being a default choice, but that shouldn’t overshadow its utility. This sans-serif font offers simplicity without sacrificing professionalism. Its even strokes and clean appearance make it a workhorse font for resumes in any industry.
Best for: Arial’s neutrality allows your content to take center stage, making it especially effective for job seekers who want their qualifications to shine without font-related distractions.
02. Book Antiqua
Book Antiqua brings a classic feel with its elegant serif design, but compared to some of its peers, it carries a softer, slightly more unique presence. Its wide, open characters make it highly legible without feeling overly stuffy or traditional.
Best for: If you’re in an industry where a subtle touch of creativity is valued, Book Antiqua is a wonderful way to merge clarity with personality.
03. Calibri
Calibri became the go-to font when Microsoft adopted it as its default for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. It’s a modern, sans-serif option known for its smooth, rounded edges. The result? A font that’s approachable, yet undeniably professional.
Best for: Its uncluttered design translates beautifully to resumes, making Calibri a natural fit if you’re applying for office-based roles. It sends the message that you’re up to date with modern professional standards.
04. Cambria
Cambria falls into the serif family, designed specifically for readability in both print and on-screen contexts. Its proportions and spacing feel slightly more contemporary than other serif fonts, offering a clean and polished aesthetic.
Best for: This font works especially well in resumes where detail is paramount. Its straightforward design keeps the focus on the content while adding a subtle touch of prestige.
05. Century Gothic
For those seeking a modern, sans-serif font with a touch of flair, Century Gothic is an excellent choice. Its geometric letterforms feel sleek and contemporary, particularly well-suited for creative industries such as design, tech, and advertising.
Best for: However, its bold aesthetic means you need to use it sparingly. Pair it with minimal design elements to avoid overwhelming the reader.
06. Garamond
Classic and sophisticated, Garamond is the trusted font of scholars and traditionalists. Its timeless appeal lies in its elegant serif design, which evokes a sense of formality and refinement. Whether you’re applying for an academic role or a position where tradition holds value, Garamond’s understated charm speaks volumes.
Best for: Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Garamond excels in readability. Its proportions and spacing create a seamless reading experience, letting your achievements and skills shine without visual distractions.
07. Georgia
Georgia is a serif font that combines the classic appeal of serifs with a slightly less formal, more approachable style. It was designed with digital readers in mind, making it an excellent choice for resumes sent electronically.
Best for: The thick strokes and well-defined letters feel sturdy yet inviting, ideal for candidates entering fields like communications, education, or media. Georgia strikes that perfect balance between tradition and warmth.
08. Helvetica
Helvetica is synonymous with modernity and clarity. This sans-serif powerhouse has been a designer’s favorite for decades, and for good reason. Its clean, straightforward lines convey confidence and professionalism, while its balance of boldness and simplicity lends itself to a broad range of industries.
Best for: If you’re looking to portray precision and professionalism—while avoiding a font that feels too elaborate—Helvetica is a no-brainer. It’s also highly versatile, whether showcased on a printed resume or an online PDF.
09. Tahoma
Tahoma is a clean sans-serif font that prioritizes function and flexibility. With narrow spacing and straightforward strokes, it feels equally at home in technical, corporate, or administrative resumes.
Best for: One of Tahoma’s standout features is its adaptability to heavy text. If your resume includes granular details like statistics or complex job descriptions, Tahoma ensures that everything stays visually organized and digestible.
10. Verdana
Verdana was crafted for readability on digital screens, making it an outstanding option for electronically submitted resumes. With wider letterforms and generous spacing, Verdana ensures clarity even when viewed on small or low-resolution displays.
Best for: Its casual yet neat appearance makes it adaptable to a variety of industries. If you’re aiming for a font that feels friendly without sacrificing professionalism, Verdana hits the mark.
What makes a font a best font for resumes?
Not all professional fonts are created equal when it comes to impactful resumes. To identify the best options, you should consider the following factors:
Readability
Job applications may involve busy recruiters skim-reading dozens (or even hundreds) of resumes a day. A well-chosen font ensures they can read your resume quickly and without strain. Crisp letters free of excessive flourishes or ornamentation make resumes easier on the eye, helping your information stand out.
Professional aesthetic
Fonts for resumes should exude professionalism while reflecting your personality. Successful typography strikes that careful balance. For example, a font like Helvetica conveys neutrality and simplicity, while Georgia exudes authority with a creative twist.
Appropriate tone
Each industry has unwritten rules about creative flexibility. For corporate positions, you're better off with conventional serif or sans-serif fonts like Garamond or Arial. Meanwhile, positions in tech or design might benefit from subtler personality markers like Century Gothic.
Learn more: Serif vs sans serif
Resume font selection tips
Selecting the perfect font means finding harmony between style, legibility, and brand alignment. Here’s how to make the best choice:
Match your industry
For corporate or traditional fields like law or finance, it's best to use serif fonts such as Times New Roman or Cambria. For creative or startup roles, such as marketing or design, modern fonts like Montserrat or Lato are a better choice. Choosing the right font can even be part of your overall marketing strategy, reflecting the tone and professionalism of your brand.
Stick with standard fonts
Fancy fonts might look great in theory but can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Stick with well-known fonts that ensure your resume remains ATS-compatible.
Limit font variations
Keep your resume design simple by sticking to one or two font styles—one for headings and another for body text. For example, pair Helvetica (headings) with Georgia (body text) for a structured yet approachable look.
Explore more font pairings to create a polished, professional resume that stands out.
Optimize for both print and digital
A recruiter might review your resume on a printed page or digitally on a screen. To account for both print design and digital design, choose fonts known for readability across platforms, like Calibri or Tahoma.
Pay attention to white space
Your choice of typography interacts with other elements, such as margins and spacing. Balanced white space between lines and sections improves readability while signaling professionalism.
Resume formatting tips
Your font is just one part of the puzzle; the formatting of your resume plays an equally important role. Here are some tips to bring it all together:
Use clear headings: Organize sections like “Work Experience” or “Education” using bold headings in a slightly larger font size.
Leave space: Use consistent line spacing (1.15 or 1.5) to ensure your resume looks neat and readable.
Limit length: Stick to one or two pages max, unless applying for an academic or research-heavy role.
Maintain constraints: Avoid making text too narrow or overly wide. Aim for one-inch margins to keep content balanced.
Stick to standard formats: Hiring managers tend to prefer resumes with clear sections, consistently aligned text, and easy-to-understand highlights. Vertical layouts with left-to-right alignment are the most commonly accepted format.
Use visual hierarchy: Ensure your name, contact details, and section headers are immediately noticeable by varying font size or styling. A subtle bold header, followed by lighter subheaders and text content, creates a clear reading experience.
Be consistent: Uniformity across your resume matters. From spacing to alignment to styling, maintaining consistency improves the overall aesthetic appeal and professionalism of your document.
Ideal resume font sizing
Choosing the right font size ensures your resume is legible without appearing crowded. Remember to always view your resume at 100% zoom to ensure it's easy to read on screens and in print.
Here’s a quick guide:
Job descriptions: Stick to 10-12 points for the main content of your resume. Smaller sizes may strain the reader’s eyes, while anything larger can look unprofessional.
Headings: Headings can be slightly larger at 12-16 points to create hierarchy and structure.
Name: Your full name can be 18-22 points, ensuring it stands out boldly at a glance.
Explore these fonts for more design inspiration:
Resume font FAQ
Can I use multiple fonts in my resume?
Yes, but limit this to two fonts—one for headers and another for body text. This approach creates visual contrast without overwhelming the reader.