The Best Resume Fonts (and Which to Avoid)

The best resume fonts are clean, professional and easy for screening software to read: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, Garamond, Cambria, Times New Roman, Lato, Verdana, Tahoma and Book Antiqua — set at 10–12pt for body text. Avoid anything decorative, handwritten or ultra-thin. A resume font's job is to disappear so your content does the talking. Here's the shortlist.

Serif vs. sans-serif: does it matter?

Both are fine. Sans-serif fonts (Calibri, Arial) read as modern and clean; serif fonts (Georgia, Garamond) read as traditional and elegant. Pick one family and use it consistently — you can pair a serif heading with a sans-serif body, but sticking to one font is the safest choice.

11 best resume fonts

• Calibri — the modern default; clean, friendly and ATS-safe.
• Arial / Helvetica — neutral, universally readable sans-serif.
• Georgia — elegant serif that stays legible at small sizes.
• Garamond — classic, space-efficient serif (great when you're tight on space).
• Cambria — a serif designed for on-screen reading.
• Times New Roman — traditional and safe, if a little expected.
• Lato — warm, professional sans-serif.
• Verdana / Tahoma — wide and highly legible, ideal at smaller sizes.
• Book Antiqua — a serif with a touch more character.

Font size and spacing

• Body text: 10–12pt. Your name: 18–24pt. Section headings: 12–14pt.
• Line spacing: 1.0–1.15 for a tight, professional look.
• Keep it consistent throughout — one font, one size system.
• Spilling onto a second page? Drop body text to 10.5pt before you change fonts or shrink margins.

4 fonts to avoid

• Comic Sans — instantly reads as unprofessional.
• Script / handwriting fonts — hard to read and unfriendly to screening software.
• Ultra-thin or "light" weights — they vanish when printed or viewed on some screens.
• Novelty / display fonts — save them for posters, not your career.