Fonts by use

Free fonts for resumes and CVs

A resume font has one job: stay invisible while making every line easy to scan. This collection sticks to humanist sans serifs and quiet text serifs with clear numerals, good spacing at 10–11 pt, and nothing that reads as decorative. Each is free to download and works in Word, Google Docs (as an installed font exported to PDF) and design apps.

Export the final file as PDF so the font travels with the document; recruiters and applicant tracking systems read PDFs reliably, and the layout stays exactly as you set it.

hand-picked fonts
24
download, no signup
Free
Windows & Mac
TTF / OTF
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24 fonts for resumes and cvs

Ranked by fit for this use, then by popularity. Every font has a preview page and a free download.

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Setting a resume that reads well

Use one font family in two weights: regular for text, bold or semibold for section titles and your name. Keep body text at 10–11 pt with 1.15–1.3 line spacing and margins of at least 1.8 cm. Avoid condensed or light weights, which lose clarity when printed on an office printer, and never use a script. Check that figures align (tabular numerals) if your resume has dates in columns.

Questions about fonts for resumes and cvs

What is the best font for a resume?
A clean humanist sans serif or a classic text serif in regular weight. The specific name matters less than legibility at 10–11 pt and a consistent hierarchy.
Do applicant tracking systems have trouble with custom fonts?
Not when the resume is exported as a text-based PDF. Avoid converting text to images or using fonts with unusual ligatures that can break the character data.
Should a resume use a serif or a sans serif?
Both work. Sans serifs read as modern and are common in tech and design; serifs feel established and suit law, finance and academia. Pick one and use it consistently.
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