The Best Resume Font: How to Choose the Right Resume Font for Your CV

Imagine this scenario: A recruiter opens your CV. They don't read the summary. They don't check your skills. They close the file immediately. Why? Because the font choice was so difficult to read that their eyes couldn't scan the page efficiently, or worse, your creative formatting turned into gibberish inside their Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

Your experience matters, but legibility is the gatekeeper. In typography terms, a resume font is the specific typeface used to present your professional history. It usually falls into two categories: a serif font (with small visual "feet" at the ends of strokes) or a sans-serif font (clean lines without feet). The font size and spacing you choose determine whether your qualifications jump off the page or get lost in a wall of text.

In this guide, we will break down the science of choosing the best font for a resume. We will cover the top 10 ranked fonts, compare the giants (Calibri vs. Arial), list the absolute "no-go" styles, and give you technical tips on sizing and ATS compliance. By the end, you’ll have a professional resume that pleases both human recruiters and digital robots.

The "best font" for a resume isn't just about aesthetics; it is about function. The criteria for a professional font are strictly defined by legibility (how easy it is to distinguish letters), readability (how easy it is to scan blocks of text), neutrality, and technical compatibility with Microsoft Word and PDF parsers.

If a font draws attention to itself, it is failing. The typeface should be an invisible vehicle for your content. Here is the definitive ranking of the top 10 fonts widely accepted by hiring managers and career experts in 2025.

While Times New Roman was once the gold standard, modern resume formatting tips suggest leaning toward cleaner sans-serif options like Calibri or Helvetica for digital applications. However, a crisp serif font like Garamond or Cambria remains a strong choice for resumes in traditional sectors.

How Recruiters Judge Typeface at a Glance

When a recruiter opens your file, they do not "read" it immediately. They scan it.

1. The 6-Second Scan: Eye-tracking studies show recruiters spend about 6 seconds on their initial fit/no-fit decision. If the typeface is cramped or low-contrast, the cognitive load increases, and they may skip to the next candidate. For more on what recruiters look for, check our perfect resume checklist.
2. The X-Height Factor: This refers to the height of lowercase letters (like 'x' or 'a'). Fonts with a high x-height (like Georgia or Verdana) appear larger and more readable at smaller point sizes, which is crucial when trying to fit a career onto one page.
3. Contrast and Spacing: A professional resume relies on white space. If your font is too heavy (bold) or too light (thin), it ruins the contrast needed for quick scanning on an LCD monitor.

Decision Tree: Pick Your Perfect Font in 30 Seconds

If you are struggling to choose from the list above, use this quick logic flow:

• Are you applying to a conservative industry (Law, Finance, Academia)?
  • Yes → Use a Serif font.
    • Do you have a lot of text to fit? → Choose Garamond.
    • Do you want high screen readability? → Choose Georgia or Cambria.
  • No → Go to the next question.
• Are you applying to Tech, Creative, or General Business?
  • Yes → Use a Sans-serif font.
    • Do you use a Mac/Design tools? → Helvetica (or Swiss 721).
    • Do you use Microsoft Word on PC? → Calibri or Arial.
    • Do you want a modern, web-native look? → Roboto or Open Sans.

The battle between Calibri and Arial is the most common debate in resume font selection. Both are safe, both are sans-serif, and both are technically "correct." However, they serve slightly different purposes depending on your needs.

Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you judge the best font for a resume:

The Verdict: For 90% of job seekers, Calibri is the superior choice for a modern CV. Its slightly condensed structure allows you to write detailed bullet points without spilling over onto a second line, which is critical for keeping your resume to 1 or 2 pages. It feels professional but contemporary.

However, Arial remains the best font choice if you are submitting to an old-school government portal or legacy Applicant Tracking System that might not render newer ClearType fonts correctly (though this is rare in 2025). Use Arial if you want the safest, most neutral "vanilla" option available.

Just as the right font can elevate your application, the wrong one can sabotage it. Some fonts convey a lack of seriousness or are technically illegible to scanning software.

Here are the fonts to delete from your template immediately:

1. 🚫 Comic Sans: The ultimate resume killer. It was designed for comic bubbles, not career documents. Using this screams clear "lack of professionalism."
2. 🚫 Papyrus: Unless you are applying for a job in Ancient Egypt or at a crystal shop, avoid this. It looks distressed, pixelated, and dated.
3. 🚫 Courier / Courier New: This monospaced "typewriter" font has massive spacing between letters. It looks like a draft manuscript, not a finished document, and makes your resume look unusually long.
4. 🚫 Impact: Far too heavy and bold. It feels like you are shouting at the recruiter. It is impossible to read in body text.
5. 🚫 Brush Script / Vivaldi: Any cursive or handwriting-style font is a nightmare for ATS readability and hard for humans to decipher quickly.

Better Alternatives:

• If you want the "friendly" vibe of Comic Sans → Use Open Sans or Verdana.
• If you want the "classic" vibe of Courier → Use Georgia.
• If you want the "bold" vibe of Impact → Use Arial Black for headers only (never body text).

Quick Definitions

• Serif: Typefaces with small decorative lines or tapers (feet) at the ends of strokes. Associated with tradition, reliability, and print. (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Sans-serif: "Without serif." Typefaces with clean, straight edges. Associated with modernity, minimalism, and digital clarity. (e.g., Arial).

Pros & Cons by Medium

Where is your resume going? The destination defines the font choice.

Hybrid Strategy (Pairing Fonts)

Can you use both? Yes, but proceed with caution. A professional resume can use font pairing to create visual hierarchy (making the document easier to navigate).

The Golden Rule of Pairing: One Serif + One Sans-Serif. Never use two different serifs or two different sans-serifs together, as they will clash.

• Strategy: Use a bold Sans-Serif (like Arial or Montserrat) for your Headers (Experience, Education, Skills) to allow them to stand out. Use a readable Serif (like Garamond or Georgia) for your Body Text (bullet points) to guide the recruiter's eye through the details.
• Example A: Headers in Franklin Gothic / Body in Cambria.
• Example B: Headers in Helvetica / Body in Garamond.

This technique adds a subtle design flair without requiring a graphic designer.

Size matters just as much as style. If your text is too small (under 10 pt), you risk the recruiter squinting and giving up. If it is too large, you look inexperienced, trying to fill space with fluff.

Technical note: In digital design, a Point (typography) is 1/72 of an inch. However, fonts render differently. A 12pt Garamond looks much smaller than a 12pt Arial.

How to Test: View your resume on a standard laptop screen.

1. Set zoom to 100%. Can you read the bullet points without leaning in?
2. Set zoom to 150% (mobile view simulation). Does the text overlap?
3. If the text looks like a dense "grey wall," increase your line spacing (leading) or bump the font size up by 0.5 points.

Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to collect, sort, and rank resumes. Before a human sees your application, a robot reads it. If your typeface confuses the robot, your resume might be discarded automatically.

Typography Rules That Beat the Robots

To ensure your resume beats the bot, follow these strict rules:

• Stick to Standard Unicode: Use fonts that map characters correctly. Standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, and Helvetica are pre-installed on virtually all systems. Custom downloaded fonts often lack the correct standard encoding. Learn more about common resume mistakes to avoid.
• No Embedded Glyphs: Avoid turning bullet points into complex icons (like arrows or logos) via a font. Use standard bullet points.
• Avoid Ligatures: Some fancy fonts join letters together (like 'fi' or 'fl'). Older ATS parsers read 'fi' as a single unreadable character, causing misspellings (e.g., "Pro?ciency" instead of "Proficiency").
• Consistent Spacing: Don't use the spacebar to align text. The ATS sees this as weird data. Use tabs or margin settings.

Real-World Test: Upload & Scan

Don't guess—verify.

1. Select All & Copy: Open your PDF resume. Press Ctrl+A (Select All), copy the text, and paste it into a plain text file (Notepad).
2. Review the Garbage: Look at the text file. Are words combined? Are there weird symbols ([] or ?) appearing in the middle of words?
3. The Fix: If you see errors, your font or specific PDF export setting is the issue. Switch to a standard font like Trebuchet MS or Verdana and re-export.

Industry Playbook

Different industries have different "visual languages." Matching your font choice to the sector signals cultural fit.

• Finance, Law, Government: Stick to tradition. Times New Roman (if you must), Cambria, or Garamond. These signal stability, authority, and conservatism.
• Tech, Start-ups, Engineering: Demonstrate efficiency. Helvetica, Roboto, or Calibri. These signal "clean code," modernity, and optimization.
• Creative, Marketing, Design: Show personality (within reason). Lato, Montserrat, or Didot. You have license to use unique headers, but keep the body text readable.

Personal Branding & Aesthetics

Your resume font, cover letter, and LinkedIn banner should align. This is your visual "tone of voice." If your personal brand is "structured and reliable," a sturdy serif fits. If your brand is "agile and innovative," a light sans-serif works best. Consistency builds trust. If your cover letter is in Arial and your CV is in Times New Roman, it looks disjointed and sloppy.

A/B Testing Your Resume Font

Not sure which one lands better? Run a test.

1. Duplicate your file. Create Version A (e.g., Garamond) and Version B (e.g., Calibri).
2. Keep content identical. Change only the font face and necessary spacing.
3. Send to 5 people. Ask peers or mentors (ideally one recruiter).
4. Ask one question: "Which one feels easier to read quickly?"
5. Measure Feedback. You will often find that older readers prefer serifs (print habit), while younger readers prefer sans-serifs (web habit). Choose the one that wins the majority.

Choosing the best font for your resume is a small decision with a massive impact. The right font ensures your experience is readable, professional, and accessible to both human recruiters and ATS software. Whether you choose the modern efficiency of Calibri, the classic authority of Garamond, or the neutral safety of Arial, ensure your text is sized between 10 and 12 points and free of clutter.

Your career story deserves to be heard—don't let a bad font mute it.

Ready to update your CV? Download our free resume template collection to get pre-formatted, ATS-friendly designs instantly. And stay tuned for our next guide, where we will dive deep into resume margins and white space strategies to maximize your layout.