Updated October 5, 2026.
In short: use 10 to 12 point for the body of your resume — 11 pt is a safe default — 12 to 14 point for section headings, and 14 to 20 point for your name. Never go below 10 pt for body text, and use no more than two or three sizes on the page. The 10–12 pt range is the standard guidance from university career centers, for example the University of Northern Iowa and Hastings College career services pages (checked September 27, 2026).
What font size should a resume be?
| Element | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Your name | 14–20 pt | The largest text on the page; bold is fine |
| Section headings (Experience, Education) | 12–14 pt | Bold or small caps; same size for every heading |
| Job titles and employer names | Body size, bold | Bold does the work; no need for a bigger size |
| Body text and bullets | 10–12 pt | 11 pt is a comfortable default |
| Contact details | 10–11 pt | Can match or sit slightly below body size |
| Footnotes, dates | Body size | Do not shrink dates to save space |
Hastings College's guidance sums up the approach: use a larger font size for your name than anywhere else on the resume, a 10 to 12 size font in a professional style for the rest, and bold or a larger size for section subheadings. It also says you may use two font sizes (not styles) to add to the visual appeal and readability of the page. Our own rule of thumb is to stop at three sizes — name, headings and body — because more than that starts to look busy.
Is 10 pt too small for a resume?
10 pt is the lowest acceptable size, and it depends on the font. Fonts with a large x-height (the height of lowercase letters), such as Arial, Calibri or Verdana, stay readable at 10 pt. Fonts with a small x-height, such as Garamond or Times New Roman, look noticeably smaller at the same point size and usually need 11 or 12 pt. Print one page at 100 % or view it on a phone before you commit: if you have to squint, go up half a point.
Is 12 pt too big for a resume?
No. 12 pt is at the top of the normal range and works well for fonts that run small, like Garamond or Times New Roman. In a wide font such as Verdana it can look oversized and push you onto a second page; 10.5 or 11 pt is usually better there.
What size should the font be for each common resume font?
Point sizes are not equal across typefaces, so start from these ranges and adjust by eye:
| Font | Suggested body size |
|---|---|
| Calibri | 10.5–12 pt |
| Arial | 10–11.5 pt |
| Helvetica | 10–11.5 pt |
| Georgia | 10–11.5 pt |
| Garamond | 11–12.5 pt |
| Times New Roman | 11–12 pt |
| Cambria | 10.5–12 pt |
| Verdana | 9.5–10.5 pt |
For choosing the typeface itself, see our guide to resume fonts and formatting.
What if my resume doesn't fit on one page at 10 pt?
Shrinking the text is the last lever, not the first. In order:
1.Cut content. Remove bullets that describe duties rather than results, and older roles that do not support this application; see how far back a resume should go.
2.Tighten spacing. Reduce the space before and after headings and between bullets.
3.Reduce margins, down to about 0.5 inch at the minimum; see resume margins.
4.Only then drop body text by half a point, never below 10 pt.
5.Or accept two pages if your experience justifies it; see one page or two.
Does font size matter for applicant tracking systems?
Applicant tracking systems read the text, not the typography, so a normal size in a standard font will not hurt parsing. Very small text, text inside images and text boxes cause more problems than size choices. Keep the formatting simple and check a copy with the free resume checker to see how the text is read.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best font size for a resume?
11 pt for body text is a safe default in most fonts, with headings at 12–14 pt and your name at 14–20 pt.
Should my name be bold and bigger on a resume?
Yes. Your name should be the largest text on the page, usually 14 to 20 pt, and bold is common.
Can I use different font sizes on a resume?
Yes, but keep it to two or three sizes: one for your name, one for headings and one for everything else. Use bold, not extra sizes, to separate job titles from bullets.
What font size should a cover letter be?
The same as your resume body text, 10 to 12 pt, in the same font so the two documents match. See how long a cover letter should be for the length.
What size should bullet points be?
The same size as the rest of the body text. Smaller bullets make the most important content the hardest to read.
If you would rather not tune sizes by hand, the resume builder templates set body, heading and name sizes for you.