For most resumes, the best answer to what font size should a resume be is 10 to 12 points for body text, 14 to 16 points for section headings, and up to 20 to 24 points for your name. Stay at 11 or 12 points if you can; go down to 10 only when the font runs small, as Garamond tends to.
What font size should a resume be? Recommended sizes by element
| Element | Suggested size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Your name | 18 to 24 pt | The largest thing on the page, usually bold |
| Section headings | 13 to 16 pt | Experience, Education, Skills; bold or small caps |
| Job titles and company names | 11 to 12 pt | Bold or italic for contrast |
| Body text and bullets | 10 to 12 pt | 11 pt is the usual sweet spot |
| Contact line | 10 to 11 pt | Keep it legible; avoid shrinking to fit |
These are guidelines, not rules. Recruiters care that the page is easy to scan, not that you hit a magic number.
Why size depends on the font
Point size is a measurement of the type’s body, not of how big letters look. Two fonts at 11 points can look quite different. A font with a large x-height, like Calibri, Arial or Georgia, looks bigger than one with a small x-height, like Garamond. So:
- Garamond often needs 11.5 or 12 points to feel like Arial at 10.5 or 11.
- Times New Roman is fairly compact, so 11 or 12 is common.
- Always judge by looking at the printed or on-screen page, not just the number.
Not sure which typeface to start with? Read what font a resume should be first, then come back to set the size.
How to set sizes step by step
- Choose the font. Pick a clean one like Calibri, Georgia or Arial before you adjust sizes.
- Set the body to 11 points. Write everything first so you see how much room you have.
- Make your name stand out. Try 20 or 22 points in bold. A longer name may need to be a bit smaller to fit on one line.
- Style the headings. Use 13 to 14 points, bold or all caps, with a thin rule if you like.
- Adjust spacing, not just size. Line spacing around 1.0 to 1.15 and a few points of space between sections keeps text from feeling crowded.
- Preview as a PDF. Zoom out to a small view and check that hierarchy is obvious.
Margins and spacing
Standard margins are 1 inch on all sides. If you need extra room, you can go down to 0.7 or 0.75 inch without it looking cramped. Below 0.5 inch you risk printers clipping the edges, and the page starts to feel dense.
- Line spacing: 1.0 to 1.15 for bullets; slightly more for paragraphs.
- Space between sections: 8 to 12 points.
- Bullets: keep each to one or two lines and use plain round bullets.
Whitespace is not wasted space; it is what makes a dense resume feel clean.
One page or two?
A common rule of thumb is one page if you have under about ten years of experience, and two pages for longer careers, senior roles, or academic and technical CVs. Hiring practice varies by country and industry, so treat this as general advice rather than a rule.
What matters is how you get there. Do not shrink the font to 8 or 9 points to squeeze in more. Cut the oldest or least relevant bullets, tighten wording, and keep text readable. If a resume spills just a few lines onto page two, edit it down instead.
Common mistakes with resume font size
Most size problems come from trying to fit too much on the page. Before you change a setting, ask whether a line needs to be there at all.
- Going below 10 points. It strains the reader and looks like you are hiding something.
- Using the same size everywhere. Without hierarchy, nothing stands out.
- Making everything huge. Headings at 20 points or more look out of proportion.
- Mixing too many styles. Limit yourself to bold, italic and one or two sizes beyond the body.
- Ignoring the font itself. Display and script faces from sources like our headline fonts are fun for posters but not for résumé body text.
Designing a stand-out header
If you want more personality, give just your name a distinctive treatment. A refined serif from our serif fonts or a crisp pick from modern fonts can work at 22 or 24 points, as long as everything below it stays plain. Make sure any font you add is installed for the reader or embedded in the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best font size for a resume?
11 points for body text is a safe default. The usual range is 10 to 12 points, with headings at 14 to 16 and your name larger.
Is 10-point font too small for a resume?
It can be fine in a clear, large-x-height font such as Arial or Calibri, but it is the lower limit. Prefer 11 points when you can.
How big should my name be on a resume?
Between 18 and 24 points, in bold, so it is the first thing a reader sees.
Should my resume be one page?
One page is typical for early-career candidates. Two pages are acceptable with more experience, as long as the content is relevant and the text stays readable.
What margins should I use?
One inch is standard. You may reduce to about 0.7 inch if needed, but avoid going narrower than half an inch.
