ATS-Friendly Resume Fonts
Definition: ATS-friendly fonts are standard, widely-supported typefaces that parse reliably across all ATS platforms. Safe choices: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman, Garamond, Helvetica.
Why Font Choice Matters
Decorative or uncommon fonts can break ATS parsing if the system doesn't have the font installed. Characters may be replaced with boxes or symbols, making your resume unreadable.
Safe Font Choices
- Sans-serif (modern, clean): Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana
- Serif (traditional, formal): Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond
- Font size: 10-12pt for body text, 14-16pt for name, 11-13pt for section headers
Fonts to Avoid
Comic Sans, Papyrus, decorative script fonts, condensed fonts, unusual weights (ultra-light, heavy black), custom downloaded fonts.
Mixing Fonts
Using two fonts (one for headers, one for body) is acceptable: Calibri for body + Georgia for headers, or Arial for body + Times New Roman for headers.
What is the best font for ATS resumes?
Calibri (modern, clean) or Georgia (traditional, readable) are the safest choices. Both are universally supported across all ATS platforms and highly readable. Use 10-12pt for body text, 14-16pt for your name.
Can I use custom fonts on my resume?
Not for ATS applications. Custom fonts may not be installed on the ATS server, causing parsing errors or character replacement. Stick to standard system fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Verdana.
Does font size affect ATS parsing?
Not directly, but extremely small fonts (below 10pt) or large fonts (above 12pt for body text) can signal formatting issues to human reviewers. Stay within 10-12pt for readability and professionalism.