Font Pairing: Create a Cohesive Look
If fonts were people, some would be loud and bold, some would whisper with elegance, and others would show up wearing all black in a minimalist power move. And just like people, fonts have personalities — which means not all of them get along. The secret to great design? Knowing how to pair them up like the power duos they were meant to be.
Whether you're designing a website, crafting an Instagram graphic, or refreshing your brand identity, font pairing is the not-so-secret sauce behind a polished and cohesive look.
So let’s dive into Font Pairing — where we break down the basics, the rules (and when to break them), and how to make your fonts compliment each other.
WHY FONT PAIRING MATTERS
Think of font pairing as choosing an outfit: it’s all about balance, style, and sending the right message. A mismatched pair can make your design feel awkward, chaotic, or just...off. But the right pair? Magic.
A strong pairing:
Creates visual hierarchy
Enhances readability
Reinforces your brand voice
Makes your designs feel cohesive and intentional
The Basics of a Great Font Pair
1. CONTRAST
Mixing fonts that are too similar can feel bland, like wearing beige-on-beige (unless you're going for that look — no judgment). But contrast doesn’t mean chaos. It’s about difference with harmony.
Try pairing:
A bold display font with a clean, simple sans-serif
A modern sans-serif headline with a classic serif for body copy
Example:
Playfair Display (elegant serif) + Montserrat (geometric sans-serif)
= classy but modern, like brunch at a boutique hotel.
2. VISUAL HEIRARCHY
Your headline should shout (nicely), your subheads should guide, and your body text should speak clearly. Each font should have a role in the design hierarchy.
Quick tips:
Headlines: expressive, eye-catching
Subheads: supportive, readable
Body: neutral, super legible at small sizes
3. NUMBER OF FONTS
More fonts = more chances for chaos. Keep it tight, keep it right. Two fonts is often enough: one for headings, one for body text. If you want to spice things up, add a third for accents or callouts.
Pro Tip: Use font weights (light, regular, bold) and styles (italic, caps) within a family to add variety without clutter.
4. MIND THE MOOD
Fonts carry emotional weight. A whimsical script might scream “creative business,” while a sharp sans-serif whispers “clean and corporate.”
Ask yourself:
What’s the tone of my brand?
Who’s my audience?
Does this font combo reflect the personality I want to convey?
5. SIZE
Here's where we geek out just a tiny bit. Fonts with similar x-heights (the height of lowercase letters) and spacing tend to play nicer together. They feel more balanced on the page.
6. USE FONT SUPERFAMILIES FOR EASY PAIRINGS
Don’t want to overthink it? Many professional fonts come in full families (like Roboto or Lato) with built-in styles that pair beautifully with each other.
Pair Lato Bold for headings with Lato Regular for body — boom, done.
Our Favourite Tried-and-True Font Pairings
Here are a few pairings you can steal (we won’t tell ):
Font Pairing Do's & Don’ts
DO:
Test your fonts at different sizes
Keep readability top of mind
Match font tone to your brand’s personality
Use consistent spacing, line height, and padding
DON’T:
Mix too many decorative fonts
Use two fonts that look nearly identical
Forget about mobile (some fancy fonts look iffy on small screens)
BRING IT ALL TOGETHER
Font pairing is part art, part science, and a whole lot of fun. When done right, it makes your design feel polished, thoughtful, and on-brand. It’s not just about aesthetics — it’s about clear communication with style.
So go ahead — experiment, mix, match, and trust your eye. And when in doubt? Keep it simple, stick to two fonts, and lean into contrast.
Need Help Nailing Your Font Pairing?
Whether you’re rebranding or just refining your website, we’re here to help make your typography shine. Reach out to us and let’s bring your brand’s personality to life — one beautiful letter at a time.
