The 25 best professional fonts for your resumé, presentation or project

If you have ever wondered why some resumés or work presentations catch the eye while others are hard to read and digest, the “secret” often lies in the formatting. Formatting means how the document is laid out: paragraph breaks, negative space and importantly, the font styles. 

Fonts are more than just a personal preference – they show professionalism, personality, and attention to detail. Whether you're sending resumés to potential employers or presenting your work to clients or colleagues, the right font can take your content from average to impactful.

When choosing a professional font, you need to strike the right balance between style and readability. Here’s our comprehensive guide to 25 of the best professional fonts for resumés, presentations and projects, highlighting their unique characteristics and the best documents to use them in.

25 best professional fonts to use

Different fonts styles communicate different things, and can change the tone and impact of a document. From timeless classics to modern favourites, here are 25 professional fonts that make any written content impactful and easy to read.

1. Times New Roman

Designed in 1931 for London newspaper The Times, Times New Roman has quickly become a favourite font in newsprint, publishing, and academic writing. There’s no question that it’s now one of the most popular fonts for print.

This serif typeface (serifs are the little curls and strokes at the ends of letters) is highly legible and conveys a classic, timeless feel. You can find Times New Roman on almost all computer systems, making it suitable for PDFs, web and mobile displays.

Best used for: body text in cover letters, reports, and formal documents. Also good for web copy.

2. Arial

Developed by Microsoft in the 1990s as an alternative to Helvetica, Arial has become one of the most popular sans-serif fonts globally. (Sans-serif means it doesn't have little "feet" or curls at the ends of letter stems.)

The default font in Microsoft Windows, Arial is known for its simple, minimalist look. Its rounded corners and streamlined look give professional documents a neutral and well-organised appearance. Widely available across all platforms and devices, this font is a go-to choice for its professional yet approachable style.

Best used for: Web copy, resumés, reports – any situation where a clean, formal style is ideal.

3. Garamond

Did you know that the Harry Potter series was printed in Garamond? Garamond is a timeless serif typeface that hails back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest fonts around. It was created by Claude Garamond, a French type designer and engraver.

With its comparatively low lower-case letters, Garamond has an eye-catching flair that makes it stand out from more modern fonts. Today, it’s a popular choice for many books and brands, including Apple, which used a custom Garamond font in the 80s and 90s, and Google, who has used it as their logo font. 

Garamond is also space-efficient and readable even at small sizes, making it a good choice for your presentations and resumés. 

Best used for: Projecting an air of timeless elegance in your presentations, resumés, or cover letters. May not be suitable for use in web design or digital. 

4. Georgia

Georgia is the rounder sibling of Times New Roman. This serif font was designed by Microsoft to be easy to read on computer screens. It’s no surprise that you’ll often see it in web content, such as articles and professional documents.

Georgia has larger characters, taller lowercase letters, and wide spacing that makes it highly readable at a glance. Its enhanced legibility and bold look make it easy for potential employers to scan through on your resumé, or for your audience to quickly grasp the main points of a presentation.

Best used for: Highlighting  key information in your writing

5. Helvetica

You’ve probably seen Helvetica in many different places – this sans-serif font is famously known as the New York Times’ font of choice. But it’s also a classic option for corporate branding and professional documents.

One unique feature about Helvetica is that the top half of its letters is bigger compared to other sans-serif fonts. This means that the top and bottom halves of the letters are proportionally balanced, helping you read them easily from afar. 

You can use a bold version of the font to really make Helvetica stand out, or add emphasis with italics and drop shadows. This versatility is great for both digital and print, making it a staple for presentations.

Best used for: Corporate posters and presentations that call for readability from afar.

6. Palatino Linotype

Designed by German calligrapher Hermann Zapf in 1949, Palatino Linotype is inspired by calligraphy. In fact, the font name pays homage to the 16th-century Italian master of calligraphy, Giambattista Palatino. 

Palatino Linotype features gentle serifs, broad strokes, and a flowing structure that give it a sturdy elegance. It was designed to be highly readable on screen, it has a sophisticated and elegant look that lends a classic aesthetic. 

Best used for: Headings in slides, resumés, and websites.

7. Verdana

Verdana is a Microsoft-commissioned sans-serif font that you can find on all computer systems. It was developed specifically for readability on digital screens, so it’s suitable for any digital display.

This font has widely spaced letters with wide counters and tall lowercase letters, which makes it easy to read, even at small sizes. Its modest look may not be the most attention-grabbing for headlines, but it’s perfect for body copy and longer texts. 

Best used for: Footnotes, citations, references, and disclaimers.

8. Tahoma

Tahoma is a close cousin of Verdana. The difference is that Tahoma has more slender letters and tight spacing, which make it space efficient. Like Verdana, it’s easily readable even in small sizes – but has a more technical and formal look. 

Tahoma is one of the few sans-serif fonts where you can easily tell apart the uppercase I (eye), lowercase l (ell), and numeric one from one another. If you’re writing technical or mathematical content, Tahoma is the perfect choice. 

Best used for: Scientific and technical reports or presentations.

9. Futura

You might recognise Futura in some of the world’s most iconic logos – such as Nike, FedEx, and Louis Vuitton. 

As its name suggests, Futura conveys modernity and innovation. Its sans-serif features are inspired by circles, triangles, and rectangles. For example, the ‘O’ is a perfect circle. 

This results in clean lines and precise proportions that create a neutral and easy-to-read font. If you’re looking for a font that's neat and streamlined, Futura is the font to use. 

Best used for: Presentations and resumés with a sleek and modern style. 

10. Raleway

Designed in 2010, Raleway is a modern sans-serif font that has been expanded into a family of different typefaces, from bold to italic. 

At first glance, Raleway looks like any other sleek and minimalist font. Look closer and you might spot a few unique features, such as a ‘W’ with crossed arms and a slightly curled lowercase ‘l’. These details give your documents a touch of an artistic air without impacting its professionalism. 

Many designers are fans of this font for its contemporary feel and versatility. If you want to capture attention while remaining readable, go for the bold version of Raleway. 

Best used for: Adding a subtle artistic touch to your presentations or resumés.

11. Montserrat

It’s hard to miss Montserrat when you see it. This sans-serif font has a simplistic geometric look that's easy to read from far away.

Designed by Argentine graphic designer Julieta Ulanovsky in 2011, this font was inspired by modernist-style posters and signs in the Montserrat neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. Its comparatively wide and large lowercase letters make it a good choice for signage. 

Another reason to choose this font is versatility. It has nine different weights for you to switch between, so it’s versatile enough to use across headlines, subheadings, and body text. 

Best used for: Headings in presentations, resumés, websites and more

12. Roboto

Originally designed by Google as Android’s default system font in 2013, Roboto is a simple sans-serif font that looks good on digital screens. 

Roboto combines thin lines with large, rounded spaces (or apertures), making copy easy to read even when it is scaled down in size. Thanks to its clean look, it fits well in tech-related projects and matches well with other fonts. 

Best used for: Presenting an approachable yet professional appearance on resumés and slides.

13. Poppins

Poppins is a sans-serif font issued by Indian Type Foundry in 2014. You can download it for free on Google Fonts. 

This font has rounded apertures, giving it a friendly feel. At the same, it’s clean and minimal. It has a uniform stroke width across all letters, giving it a consistent and polished appearance.

If you’re creating headings, logos, and web design, Poppins is an eye-catching choice. Combine it with simple geometric shapes and bright colours to produce a modern, professional style. 

Best used for: Headers and body text, especially if you’re in a creative or innovation-driven industry.

14. Cambria

A staple of Microsoft Office, Cambria is one of the easiest fonts to read on screens. This serif font features even spacing and balanced proportions, and low contrast between letter heights. Not only does this create a clean and neutral look, but it also makes Cambria highly readable – even when you’re using a smaller font size. 

Since Cambria’s neutral appearance is designed for functionality, it’s perfect for official documents, its serifs lending a touch of formality.

Best used for: Long or formal documents where easy readability is key, like cover letters and reports.

15. Trebuchet MS

Here’s a fun fact: Trebuchet MS was named after the “trebuchet” or medieval siege engine. Vincent Connare, the font’s designer, chose this name as a nod to the font’s purpose of “launching words across the internet”.

Trebuchet MS is a narrow font that lends it to use on spreadsheets. This sans-serif font lacks embellishments, but features pointed tails on some lowercase letters such as “a” and “l”.

Trebuchet MS is a safe font choice for most professional work, that is supported on all operating systems, ensuring your documents can be read universally. Combine it with softer serif fonts for visual contrast. 

Best used for: Adding emphasis to your resumé, portfolio, or slides. 

16. Book Antiqua

A serif font that looks very similar to Palatino Linotype, Book Antiqua was originally designed by Monotype Corporation in 1937. With its heavy strokes and wide letters, this font is true to name, in evoking the look of an old textbook.

Although it’s a Microsoft default font, its distinctive appearance will set your documents apart from more generic fonts. Plus, its bold weight makes it easy to draw attention to crucial information. It also comes in a range of weights and italics.

Best used for: Highlighting key headers or phrases in your resumé or portfolio.

17. Lato

Lato means “summer” in Polish. The font’s designer, Łukasz Dziedzic, has described this sans-serif font as “serious but friendly, with the feeling of the summer”. 

It’s easy to see why – Lato has simple lines that combine with harmonious curves to create a sense of warmth. If you aim to project a welcoming professional feel, Lato is a perfect choice. 

Because it’s simple and easy to read, Lato is incredibly versatile in almost any digital context. It also comes in a wide variety of weights that you can adapt for headers, body text, and captions. 

Best used for: Conveying an inviting friendliness in your professional documents. 

18. Proxima Nova

You’ve probably read an online article in Proxima Nova. First released by type designer Mark Simonson in 1994, this sans-serif font has been used by some of the most popular digital publications: BuzzFeed, Mashable, The Verge, Wired, and more. 

One reason for Proxima Nova’s popularity is how modern and sleek it looks. The letters have open, circular forms without too many fussy details. For instance, the “i” in Proxima Nova is dotted with a circle, compared to similar modern fonts like Helvetica, which is dotted with a square. 

Bonus: it’s also highly readable on low-resolution screens, ensuring your professional documents can be easily read even on mobile. 

Best used for: Body text in your presentations, resumés, websites and more.

19. Century Schoolbook

As the name suggests, Century Schoolbook was first created for textbooks more than a century ago. In 1919, it was designed at the request of Ginn & Co, a textbook publisher who wanted an easy-to-read font. 

A serif font with a round, sturdy appearance, Century Schoolbook had a traditional, elegant look. It's easy to read, which feel makes it a good choice for your educational and professional documents. It looks good in print and on digital screens.

Best used for: Formal and educational content. 

20. Bodoni

If you’ve glanced at the covers of fashion magazines like Elle, Vanity Fair, or Vogue, Bodoni might look familiar to you. These magazines all have mastheads that use Bodoni – which tells you a lot about the elegance and sophistication of this serif font. 

Bodoni is named for the 19th-century master printer Giambattista Bodoni, who developed the “New Face” style of lettering that featured extreme contrast between thick and thin strokes. This strong contrast results in a bold and eye-catching font, enhanced by sharp lines and graceful curves. 

If you’re in a creative industry, Bodoni’s stylish refinement is a safe option for professional work with a fashionable edge.

Best used for: Projects, presentations, or resumés for creative roles.

21. Libre Baskerville

Inspired by the American Type Founders’ Baskerville typeface from 1941, Libre Baskerville was designed in 2012 as a web font optimised for body text.

Libre Baskerville has a classic, printed-word look. Its taller heights, wider letters, and lower contrast between elements than its ancestor ensure a smooth reading experience on the screen and the printed page 

For an artistic touch, try the italic version of Libre Baskerville, which has slanted letters in a cursive style.

Best used for: Body copy in your slides, cover letter, or resumé. 

22. Playfair Display

Like Bodoni, Playfair Display features high contrast between thick and thin lines. This produces an elegant, timeless effect. 

Designed in 2011, this serif font is decorative without sacrificing readability. Note that it’s a display font, so it’s best seen in large sizes like headers and titles. If you’re a creative professional who wants to make a statement, you can’t go wrong with this font.

Best used for: Eye-catching headers for your presentations or resumés in creative industries.

23. Candara

Candara is part of a family of six popular Microsoft fonts, including Calibri, Cambria, and Corbel. It was released with Windows Vista in 2008 and is optimised for use with Microsoft. 

One interesting fact about Candara is that it’s a sans-serif font influenced by architecture. For instance, the strokes aren’t straight, but have a slight entasis – a concave curve that thins in the middle of the stroke and flares out toward the ends. This might remind you of Grecian columns.

Overall, Candara has a unique look that’s interesting without being distracting. It’s great for adding a touch of personality to your professional copy.

Best used for: Adding a subtle flair to your presentations, resumés, and websites.

24. Segoe UI

You’ll likely recognise Segoe UI. It’s Microsoft’s default operating system font, used on all Windows computers, Outlook, Xbox 360, and more.

Given Segoe UI’s widespread use, you can be sure that your professional copy will be perfectly readable on all types of screens and at all sizes. This sans-serif font is designed to be approachable and user friendly, with rounded letters and an airy look. 

Bonus: it also supports almost any symbol or icon, from musical notes to scientific notation, which makes it a good choice for technical documents. 

Best used for: Easy-to-read body text and technical copy.

25. Open Sans

Open Sans is one of the most popular Google Fonts. As the name suggests, it has wide, open “apertures” (the spaces within letters)and lots of height that create a simple, accessible appearance. 

This sans-serif font is optimised for print, web, and mobile and comes in 10 different styles from light to extra bold. Use Open Sans to communicate a sense of friendliness while still looking professional. 

Best used for: Body copy in your slides, cover letter, or resumé. 

How to choose the right professional font

With a world of fonts at your fingertips, how can you pick the right one? Here are five factors to consider.

Readability is key

No matter how stylish a font looks, readability should come first. If your chosen font is hard to read, your audience is likely to get frustrated and stop reading.

To make sure your copy is readable, consider:

• Font size. Certain fonts excel in large sizes such as headers, while others are readable in smaller sizes like body text and footnotes. Rather than applying the same font throughout your whole document, choose the right font for each section. 

• Bolding and italics: Many fonts come in different weights and styles. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bolding and italics to figure out which style looks clearest.

• Colour contrast: When designing your resumé or slides, make sure the background colour doesn’t impact the readability of your words. Your font colour should contrast well with the background to avoid straining your reader’s eyes.

Match the industry standards

Different industries have different professional expectations. If you’re working in traditional industries such as banking or law, it’s best to choose classic fonts like Times New Roman and Helvetica. 

On the other hand, if you’re working in a creative industry such as fashion or design, you may have more room to express yourself. Eye-catching fonts like Bodoni or Poppins can help you stand out from the crowd and show off your artistic flair. 

Check whether it’s Windows standard

If you’re working on a project with teammates, uncommon fonts can make it harder to collaborate, as others may not have the fonts you’re using. For instance, if you’re choosing a font from Google Fonts for a group presentation, you may need to tell your teammates to download the font in order to properly view it. 

Be consistent

While mixing and matching fonts can add visual interest to your professional documents, too much font-switching can make your work look cluttered or unorganised. Stick to three at most to keep your documents looking clean and polished.

Avoid controversial fonts

Certain fonts just aren’t suitable in the professional sphere, so avoid these to ensure your documents are taken seriously. Steer clear of Comic Sans (typically seen as a joke font), Curlz (whimsical but comes across as childish), and Papyrus (difficult to read). 

Your font – not your message – is the first thing that people reading your professional documents will notice. Choosing the right font helps you make a strong first impression and communicate your message effectively. By putting readability first, matching your industry’s standards, and using fonts consistently, you can be sure that your work will command attention and make an impact. 

FAQs

Why is choosing the right font important? 

Fonts are more than a personal preference. They set the tone for your work and shape your reader’s perception. Choosing the right font makes your work more readable and projects professionalism. Conversely, the wrong font can make your work appear unpolished or hard to read.

What are popular professional fonts? 

Some of the most widely used professional fonts include Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, and Garamond. Each of these fonts has a unique personality. Arial’s simplicity, Times New Roman’s classic look, Helvetica’s modern appeal, and Garamond’s elegance make them versatile choices for professional settings.

What factors should I consider? 

Key factors you should consider include readability, appropriateness for your industry, compatibility across platforms, and consistency within your document. Think about the font size, style variations like bolding or italics, and how well the font contrasts with your background.

What fonts are best for resumés? 

Fonts like Garamond, Georgia, and Montserrat are excellent for resumés. Garamond adds a touch of elegance, Georgia offers readability, and Montserrat’s modern look ensures your resumé stands out while remaining professional.

What fonts work best for presentations? 

For presentations, clarity and impact are crucial. Futura’s bold geometric design, Helvetica’s balanced proportions, and Roboto’s friendly minimalism are all excellent choices for conveying information effectively.

Are there fonts to avoid? 

Yes, steer clear of fonts like Comic Sans, Curlz, and Papyrus. These fonts are often considered unprofessional or difficult to read, which can detract from your work. Stick to fonts with a proven track record of professionalism.