Font and spacing are not the most important parts of a resume, but they do influence whether the document feels readable, stable, and easy to parse.

That means the goal is not to find a magical font that an ATS loves. The goal is to avoid typography and spacing choices that create friction for software or for the human reader.

This guide focuses on practical choices: which fonts are usually safe, what spacing tends to work well, and which layout habits make a resume easier to scan.

The first rule: readability over personality

Across common resume guidance, the pattern is consistent:

  • use conventional fonts
  • keep sizes readable
  • create visual hierarchy with spacing and bold, not with decorative tricks
  • make the document easy to read top to bottom

Typography should support structure, not distract from it.

A practical comparison of common resume fonts

Font Usually a safe choice? Why
Arial Yes Widely available, simple, and easy to read
Calibri Yes Common default, clean appearance, readable on screen
Times New Roman Usually yes Traditional and familiar, though visually more conservative
Garamond Sometimes Can work, but should still be tested for readability at smaller sizes
Decorative, script, novelty fonts No Riskier for readability and generally unnecessary

The safest approach is boring on purpose.

Recommended font approach

For most resumes:

  • pick one conventional font
  • use it consistently throughout
  • reserve bold for headings, job titles, or emphasis with restraint
  • avoid mixing multiple fonts unless there is a very strong reason

You do not need a font stack. You need a clean document.

Font size: what usually works

Instead of pretending there is one exact ATS-approved size, use a readable range.

Commonly workable approach:

  • body text: around conventional reading size
  • headings: slightly larger than body text
  • name at top: larger than headings, but not absurdly large

Practical rule:

  • if the text looks cramped, it is too small
  • if the page looks inflated and empty, it is too large

Spacing: what actually matters

Spacing helps the reader understand where one block ends and another begins.

That means it affects:

  • section clarity
  • job-entry separation
  • bullet readability
  • overall scan speed

Good spacing usually feels consistent and unremarkable. That is exactly what you want.

Line spacing comparison

Spacing choice Usually better? Notes
Tight but readable single-style spacing Yes Often works well when the content is still easy to scan
Slightly open spacing Yes Can improve readability when the resume has enough room
Over-compressed spacing No Makes the document feel dense and harder to scan
Over-expanded spacing No Wastes space and can make the layout feel fragmented

You do not need unusual spacing. You need consistency.

Margins and white space

Reasonable margins matter because they give the content room to breathe.

Good margin decisions usually:

  • keep the page balanced
  • prevent text from feeling cramped
  • avoid the temptation to jam content into the edges

If your margins are extremely narrow, that is often a sign the content needs editing, not compression.

Section spacing: one of the easiest wins

Many resumes become harder to read because sections are visually glued together.

Use spacing to separate:

  • contact info from summary
  • summary from experience
  • one role from the next
  • education from skills

This is especially important in experience sections, where weak spacing can make separate roles blend into each other.

Better vs worse typography choices

Better choice Worse choice
One readable font used consistently Multiple fonts competing for attention
Clean bold hierarchy Decorative styling, shadows, or visual gimmicks
Balanced spacing between sections Everything compressed into a dense wall
Reasonable margins Ultra-narrow margins used to force fit
Readable body text Tiny body text used to avoid editing

A simple format pattern that works

NAME
Phone | Email | LinkedIn | Location

SUMMARY
Short positioning statement

EXPERIENCE
Job Title | Company | Dates
- bullet
- bullet

EDUCATION
Degree | Institution | Year

SKILLS
Grouped relevant skills

Typography support for that structure:

  • one font throughout
  • modest size increase for headings
  • consistent spacing between major blocks
  • standard bullets and left-aligned text

That is enough.

Common mistakes

Mistake 1: Picking a font to look unique

Your resume is not the place to signal originality through typography. Unique fonts usually create more risk than upside.

Mistake 2: Shrinking text to save space

If the resume only fits because the text is tiny, the content strategy is wrong.

Mistake 3: Using spacing as camouflage

Some candidates use extra spacing to make weak content feel more polished. Others remove all spacing to jam in more detail. Both usually make the document worse.

Mistake 4: Over-styling headings and labels

Section headings should clarify structure, not look like branding assets.

A practical decision guide

If you are unsure what to choose, use this:

  1. Pick Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
  2. Keep body text at a clearly readable size.
  3. Use bold sparingly for headings and role titles.
  4. Keep spacing consistent between sections and entries.
  5. If the page feels cramped, edit content before shrinking typography.

That workflow is more useful than chasing fake precision.

Quick checklist

  • [ ] I used one conventional font throughout the resume.
  • [ ] Body text is readable without zooming in.
  • [ ] Headings are clear without being oversized.
  • [ ] Sections have enough spacing to stay distinct.
  • [ ] Margins are balanced and not aggressively narrow.
  • [ ] I did not use typography tricks to avoid editing weak content.

Bottom line

The best font and spacing for ATS readability are usually the choices that create the least ambiguity.

Readable font, consistent sizing, balanced spacing, and clean hierarchy make the document easier for recruiters to scan and less likely to break under parsing.

That is the goal. Not typography theater.

Want to check whether your resume layout is readable or just over-styled? Analyze your CV with Rate My CV to review how formatting, structure, and content clarity work together.