Best Resume Fonts and Layout

Design will not replace strong content, but poor formatting can hide it. A clean layout helps recruiters find what they need within seconds.

Best fonts for a resume

Calibri: modern and highly readable
Arial or Helvetica: clean and universal
Cambria or Georgia: slightly more traditional, good for headings
Garamond or Times New Roman: classic, though they can look dense at small sizes

Use one font family, or at most two, throughout.

Recommended font sizes

Body text: 10 to 12 pt
Section headings: 12 to 14 pt, bold or small caps
Your name: 16 to 24 pt

Margins and spacing

Margins of 0.7 to 1 inch on all sides
Line spacing of 1.0 to 1.15
Consistent space between sections
Left-aligned text for best readability

Layout that works

A single-column layout is the most reliable for both humans and ATS. Place your name and contact information at the top, followed by a summary, experience, education and skills.

Using color and bold

One subtle accent color for headings or lines is fine. Use bold sparingly for job titles and section headings, and avoid underlines, italics overload and all-caps paragraphs.

If your resume looks crowded, cut content. Shrinking the font below 10 pt or squeezing margins makes it harder to read.

Check before you send

Print or view it at 100% zoom
Make sure alignment and bullet styles are consistent
Export to PDF so layout does not change
Test copying text to confirm it reads in order

Is Times New Roman acceptable?

Yes, it is readable and traditional, though newer fonts like Calibri look more modern.

Should I use a two-column layout?

Only for creative roles and when ATS is not a concern. A single column is safer.

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Best Resume Fonts and Layout: A Practical Guide