Choosing fonts used to be a cosmetic decision. Today, recruiters, applicant‑tracking software (ATS), and even online scoring tools judge your document before a human ever sees it. The right face on the page can lift your Best Fonts for Resume Scores from “lost in the stack” to “top of the shortlist.”
Below is a field‑tested guide to five typefaces that routinely earn higher marks, plus three that quietly sabotage otherwise solid applications. Everything is written for quick reading and clear action. No fluff, no jargon, just practical moves you can make in under ten minutes.
Why Font Choice Holds Real Weight
- ATS readability – Bots can misread elaborate glyphs, stripping out words the algorithm needs to match you with a job.
- Eye‑tracking science – Hiring teams scan hundreds of résumés at speed. Smooth letterforms reduce eye fatigue and help them notice your best points.
- Brand signals – Fonts create an unspoken first impression, modern, classic, or amateurish. Recruiters admit they judge.
Try running last month’s résumé through a free Magical API Resume Score scan. Notice how a font swap alone can shift your ranking upward without changing a single bullet point.
How We Picked the Winners
- ATS data from 200,000 scanned résumés
- Typography research on legibility at 10–12 pt
- Cross‑platform tests in Word, Google Docs, and PDF export
- Reader polls of hiring managers in tech, finance, and healthcare
- Competitor audits, we studied leading guides from Word Cloud, Jobscan, and design blogs and then tightened the advice for 2025.
The 5 Best Fonts for Resume Scores
1. Calibri
Released with Microsoft Office, Calibri hits the “Goldilocks” zone: modern but not trendy, rounded yet crisp. It ships on nearly every computer, so line breaks stay intact when HR forwards your file.
Strengths
- Built‑in ATS friendliness, no ambiguous serifs
- Clear at small sizes; 11 pt is optimal
- Subtle warmth softens corporate tone
Use it when: Applying to large companies using automated screening or when you need rapid readability.
2. Cambria
Cambria blends old‑school serif gravity with 21st‑century pixel tuning. Designed specifically for on‑screen clarity, its generous spacing keeps dense experience sections from looking jammed.
Quick wins
- Pair 12 pt body text with bold 14 pt headings
- Works well in PDF and printed copies
- Adds academic credibility for research or legal roles
Tip: If your bullet points feel crowded, bump leading (line spacing) to 1.15.
3. Helvetica
Yes, Helvetica costs a few euros if you don’t own it, but recruiters repeatedly cite it as the “safest professional font.”Glamour The neutral geometry presents your details without drawing attention to itself, much like a well‑tailored suit.
Pros
- Universally recognized elegance
- Wide family (Light, Regular, Bold) for hierarchy
- Excellent in both Mac and Windows PDFs
Watch for: Slightly tighter kerning. Add 1–2 percent of tracking in Word if letters seem cramped.
4. Garamond
Think classic novels, Garamond’s old‑style serifs give a polished look while still reading smoothly on‑screen. It’s perfect when you need gravitas but want to avoid Times New Roman clichés.
Why it works
- Humanist curves feel friendly, not stuffy
- Balanced x‑height improves legibility at 11 pt
- Ideal for senior‑level or arts roles where craftsmanship matters
5. Avenir
Avenir (“future” in French) feels fresh without screaming for attention. Contemporary startups favor it because the font hints at innovation while staying understated.
Fast facts
- Clear numeric glyphs, great for data‑heavy achievements
- Multiple weights help you build visual rhythm
- Retains clarity on mobile screens for email‑opened PDFs
When to choose: Tech, UX, or creative roles where modern design sensibility aligns with brand culture.
Putting It All Together
- Open your current resume.
- Pick one of the five recommended typefaces; update body copy first, then headings.
- Adjust font size per the chart.
- Export as PDF with fonts embedded.
- Submit the file to a Magical API Resume Score scan.
- Aim for a score of 85 +; iterate until you hit it.
- Finally, drop the PDF into a free online Resume Checker to confirm no hidden issues remain.
Most people see their ranking jump two tiers with nothing more than these changes, proof that typography is not decoration but strategy.
3 Fonts to Avoid at All Costs
1. Times New Roman
Overuse alone is not a crime, but HR sees it as outdated, even lazy. Some ATS parsers mis‑handle tightly packed serif clusters, risking misreads of critical keywords.
2. Comic Sans
Every recruiter interview we ran included an eye roll for Comic Sans. Its playful script clashes with the professional context and may trigger instant rejection before the content is read.
Key risks
- Signals a lack of seriousness
- Wide strokes swell file size in PDFs
- Known to distort in older ATS engines
3. Papyrus
Papyrus aims for ancient elegance but lands as novelty. It prints fuzzy at sub‑12 pt sizes, and its inconsistent stroke endings confuse OCR. Most design teams blacklist it; corporate HR quietly agrees.
Bulletproof Font Sizing Guide
|
Section |
Font Size (sans‑serif) |
Font Size (serif) |
| Name & Headline | 18–22 pt | 18–22 pt |
| Section Headings | 14–16 pt | 14–16 pt |
| Body/Bullets | 10.5–12 pt | 11–12 pt |
| Footer (contact) | 9–10 pt | 9–10 pt |
Seven Rapid Tweaks to Boost Your Score Today
- Standardize emphasis – Use bold for headings only; skip italics that blur in ATS OCR.
- Limit to two fonts – One for headings, one for body; more triggers parsing errors.
- Embed fonts in PDF – Word > Options > Save > “Embed fonts” keeps layout intact on the reviewer’s PC.
- Align numbers right – Hiring managers scan metrics; right alignment lets figures line up.
- Replace symbols – Spell out bullet icons; ATS bots misread decorative glyphs.
- Check contrast – Black text on white background wins every accessibility audit.
- Run a fast Resume Checker – Spot hieroglyphs, double spaces, and rogue emojis before you click send. paste your résumé into a plain‑text editor to peel off formatting and expose stray hieroglyphs, double spaces, and rogue emojis; use Ctrl + F to hunt for non‑ASCII symbols like “•” or “✓” that can jam older ATS parsers; upload the cleaned file to a Magical API Resume Checker scan for a last‑minute health report on spacing, dates, and capitalization
FAQ: Quick Answers for Busy Job Seekers
Q: What if I love a font not on your list?
Stick to core families unless your industry prizes creative risk. Graphic designers sometimes flourish with playful display faces, but attach a plain‑text version for ATS.
Q: Serif or sans‑serif, is one better?
Neither wins universally. Sans‑serifs like Calibri and Helvetica work well on screens; serifs such as Cambria and Garamond shine in print. Consistency and readability trump style.
Q: Can I use color with these fonts?
Subtle dark gray headers (Hex #333) test well. Skip pastel shades; low contrast reduces machine accuracy.
Q: Do recruiters care about font licenses?
They won’t check, but PDF readers may substitute missing fonts. Stick with system‑installed faces or embed the file.
