Tool · Typography
Font pairing for brands
Twenty-four tested headline-and-body pairs, all free for commercial use through Google Fonts. Type your own words to see them in context.
Fonts load from Google Fonts only when previewed.
Rules for pairing fonts
- Contrast, not conflict. Pair a distinctive headline face with a quiet body face. Two loud fonts fight; two quiet fonts blur.
- Match the x-height. Fonts with similar lowercase height sit comfortably together on the same line.
- Two families is enough. Use weights and sizes for hierarchy instead of adding a third font.
- Test at 16px. Your body font must be comfortable at real reading sizes on a phone.
- Check the licence. Google Fonts are released under open licences that allow commercial use, including in logos. Commercial foundry fonts often require separate web, app and logo licences.
Serif, sans or display?
Serif headlines signal heritage, editorial authority and craft. Sans-serif reads as modern, efficient and approachable. Display faces carry the most personality but should be reserved for large sizes. Your brand archetype is a good guide: a Sage brand rarely wants a bubbly display face; a Jester brand rarely wants a sober serif.
Ready to set your name? Open the wordmark maker.