Best Resume font (2026)

Your resume font influences readability and perceived professionalism, which affects the time a reviewer spends on your page.
A clear font helps your most relevant skills stand out and reduces the chance of formatting errors when the file is uploaded to an employer system.

Most hiring teams scan resumes quickly, so letters should be distinct and spacing should be consistent.
Fonts with open shapes and moderate x-height improve scanning and reduce reader fatigue during a short review.

Use widely available fonts that render consistently across systems to avoid substitution issues.
Good sans-serif choices include Calibri, Arial, and Helvetica; good serif choices include Georgia and Times New Roman.

Stick to one or two fonts for headings and body text to keep your layout clean and focused.

Sans-serif fonts look modern and read well on screens, making them a safe choice for most roles that value clarity and a contemporary style.
Serif fonts can feel more traditional and may work well for roles in law, academia, or publishing where a classic tone suits the field.

Create visual hierarchy by using a slightly larger size for section headings and a consistent weight for body text.
Avoid switching fonts for emphasis, and prefer size, bold, or small caps to indicate headings and section separators.

Set body text between 10 and 12 points depending on the font; denser fonts like Times New Roman can sit at 11 points while more open fonts like Calibri may work at 10.
5 or 11 points.

Use 1.
0 to 1.

15 line spacing for compactness and add a bit of extra spacing before headings to help sections breathe.

Keep margins between 0.
5 and 1 inch to balance content and white space while ensuring no information is cut off in printing.

White space helps readability, so avoid shrinking margins too far just to fit more content.

Save your resume as a PDF to preserve fonts and layout when you send it, unless an employer specifically requests a DOCX file.
If you must submit DOCX, use standard system fonts so the document displays correctly on other machines.

Most ATS parse plain text well when standard fonts and simple formatting are used, so avoid unusual or decorative fonts that may break parsing.
Use standard section headings like Experience and Education so the ATS can locate key fields reliably.

Choose fonts with clear letterforms and avoid very light weights that reduce contrast for readers with low vision.
Use 11 point or larger for body text when possible and ensure contrast between text and background is high.

Open your resume on at least two different devices and print a copy to check for any spacing or wrapping problems.
Paste your resume into a plain text editor to see how content flows without formatting and confirm headings and contact details remain clear.

If you are applying for a visual design or branding role, tasteful typographic choices can showcase your skills, but keep legibility as the primary concern.
Limit decorative fonts to headings only and ensure the file also works as a readable PDF for non-design reviewers.

For resumes that include non-Latin scripts choose fonts that support the needed characters to avoid substitution and layout issues.
Test each language section in the final file to ensure consistent line breaks and alignment across scripts.

Many employers prefer simple, professional fonts that match their industry norms and make scanning faster.
Research company culture and mirror the tone in your resume by using a more traditional or a cleaner modern font accordingly.

Typography should enhance readability not distract from your achievements, so prioritize clear communication over visual flair.
Use font choices to support your narrative while keeping the resume focused on results and relevant skills.

Confirm that your chosen fonts render correctly in PDF and DOCX, maintain consistent sizes for headings and body text, and preserve spacing when viewed on multiple screens.
Test the file in plain text to spot parsing problems and print a copy to ensure no layout issues appear in hard copy.