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The Best Fonts for CV Headers and Text

The Best Fonts for CV Headers and Text

When crafting a CV, most job seekers focus on content: experience, education, skills. But equally important is the typography — especially the fonts you choose. The right font can make your CV more readable, professional, and impactful. Poor font choices, on the other hand, can undermine even the strongest qualifications.

So what is the best font for CV headers and body text? Let’s explore the top choices, backed by research on human reading and visual perception.

Why Font Choice Matters

Before we dive into specifics, it’s worth understanding why font choice is important. According to a landmark study by Kevin Larson (Microsoft) and Rosalie O’Neill (MIT), good typography influences mood and cognitive performance. Participants exposed to well-designed layouts with appropriate fonts performed better on cognitive tasks and reported a better mood than those reading poorly designed documents (Larson & Picard, 2006).

Sans-Serif Fonts for Headers

They’re clean, modern, and draw the eye—ideal for section titles like “Experience” or “Education.”

Top picks:

  • Helvetica – A timeless classic. Clean, balanced, and widely used in professional design.
  • Futura – Geometric and bold. Great for a slightly modernist look.
  • Montserrat – A popular Google Font with great legibility and strong personality.
  • Lato – Friendly and readable, it works well at larger sizes.
  • Oswald – Condensed and assertive, it draws attention without shouting.
  • Raleway – Elegant and light, ideal for minimal modern layouts.
  • Bebas Neue – All-caps, tall, and bold—great for high-impact section titles.

Backed by Research:

  • San serif fonts have been shown to increase reading speed at larger sizes (Bernard et al., 2002), which makes them ideal for headlines and quick scanning in resumes.

Serif Fonts or Sans-Serifs for Body Text

Serifs guide the eye from letter to letter, aiding readability in longer text. But some sans-serifs work well too—especially those designed for screen reading.

Top picks:

  • Georgia – Designed for screen reading, Georgia is legible, elegant, and professional.
  • Garamond – A classic, slightly formal serif font with beautiful proportions.
  • Calibri – Microsoft’s default for years, it’s familiar and easy on the eyes.
  • Roboto – Designed by Google for high readability on digital devices.
  • Source Sans Pro – A modern sans-serif designed for clarity in long-form content.

Font Pairing Tips for Your CV

Want to mix fonts for headers and text? Follow these rules:

  • Pair a sans-serif header with a serif body (e.g., Montserrat + Georgia).
  • Don’t use more than two fonts.
  • Use bold or large caps (not underline) for emphasis.
  • Maintain consistency in spacing, font size, and alignment.

Here are some excellent font pairings to use:

  • Montserrat (Header) / Georgia (Body)
  • Helvetica Neue (Header) / Garamond (Body)
  • Futura Bold (Header) / Lora (Body)
  • Lato Semibold (Header) / Roboto Regular (Body)
  • Oswald (Header) / Open Sans (Body)

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