Resume Margins, Fonts & Spacing: 2026 Guide

You've written killer bullet points. Your achievements are quantified. Your summary is compelling.

Then you send it in a decorative font with 0.3-inch margins, and the recruiter can't even read it.

45%

Of resumes flagged

For formatting issues before content is even reviewed

Source: CareerBuilder Survey

Formatting is the invisible killer of resumes. Get it wrong, and your content doesn't matter—ATS can't parse it, and humans can't read it.

Here are the exact specifications that work.

The Perfect Settings

Margins: 1 inch standard, 0.5-0.75 inch minimum
Body Font Size: 10-12pt (11pt ideal)
Header Font Size: 14-16pt
Name Size: 18-24pt
Line Spacing: 1.0-1.15 (single)
Font: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia

Margins: How Much White Space Is Right?

Margins control the white space around your content. Too wide and you waste space. Too narrow and your resume looks cramped.

The Standard: 1 Inch All Around

Default Setting

1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, right) is the safe, professional standard. It's what most ATS systems expect and what looks best when printed.

When to Adjust

Margin Size	When to Use	Risk Level
1 inch	Standard—use by default	Safe ✅
0.75 inch	Need slightly more content space	Safe ✅
0.5 inch	Absolute minimum for tight content	Borderline ⚠️
< 0.5 inch	Never	❌ Content clips

The "Fit Everything" Myth

Don't Do This

"I'll just shrink the margins to fit everything on one page."

This creates a wall of text with no breathing room. Recruiters unconsciously pass over cramped resumes—even if the content is great.

Better approach: Cut weak content instead of shrinking margins.

Setting Margins in Common Tools

Microsoft Word: Page Layout → Margins → Custom Margins → Set all to 1"

Google Docs: File → Page Setup → Set all margins to 1"

ResumeGuru Editor: Our templates have optimized margins built in—so you can focus on content, not formatting.

Font: What Typeface to Use

Your font choice affects both ATS parsing and human readability.

ATS-Friendly Fonts (Safe Choices)

Font	Style	Best For
Calibri	Sans-serif, Modern	Default for most templates (clean, professional)
Arial	Sans-serif, Classic	Universal compatibility, very readable
Helvetica	Sans-serif, Premium	Clean lines, design-forward (Mac default)
Georgia	Serif, Professional	Traditional industries, adds character
Times New Roman	Serif, Classic	Academia, legal, very traditional roles
Roboto	Sans-serif, Google	Modern, tech-friendly, excellent on screens
Lato	Sans-serif, Friendly	Balanced warmth and professionalism

Fonts to Avoid

Never Use These

Decorative Fonts:

Comic Sans (unprofessional)
Papyrus (looks dated)
Brush Script (hard to read)
Impact (too heavy)

Why they fail:

ATS may not recognize characters
They look unprofessional
They're hard to scan quickly
They may not render on all systems

Font Pairing (If Using Two Fonts)

If you want variety, follow this rule:

The Safe Pairing Rule

One font for headers, one for body—and both from the same family or style.

Examples:

Headers: Calibri Bold → Body: Calibri Regular
Headers: Roboto Medium → Body: Roboto Light
Headers: Georgia Bold → Body: Georgia Regular

Never use more than 2 fonts total.

Font Size: The Hierarchy That Works

Your resume should have a clear visual hierarchy so recruiters' eyes know where to look.

The Size Ladder

YOUR NAME          →  18-24pt (largest)
Section Headers    →  14-16pt (bold)
Job Titles         →  11-12pt (bold)
Company/Dates      →  10-11pt
Body Text/Bullets  →  10-12pt (11pt ideal)

Size Recommendations by Section

Element	Size	Weight
Your Name	18-24pt	Bold
Contact Info	10-11pt	Regular
Section Headers	14-16pt	Bold or CAPS
Job Title	11-12pt	Bold
Company Name	10-11pt	Regular or Italic
Dates	10-11pt	Regular
Bullet Points	10-12pt	Regular
Skills	10-11pt	Regular

The 10pt Floor

Never go below 10pt for any text. It becomes unreadable—especially on printed copies or when PDFs are compressed.

If you can't fit everything at 10pt+, you have too much content. Edit it down.

Line Spacing: Creating Breathing Room

Line spacing (leading) controls the vertical space between lines of text.

The Rules

Where	Spacing	Why
Within bullet points	1.0 - 1.15	Keeps content tight and scannable
After job entries	1.5 lines or 6-8pt	Visual separation between roles
Between sections	12-18pt or double line	Clear section breaks

Spacing Best Practices

1
Use single spacing (1.0-1.15) for body text
This is standard for resumes. Double spacing wastes space and looks like you're padding.
2
Add extra space between sections
12-18pt of space before each new section header creates visual hierarchy.
3
Keep bullet points tight
Bullets within the same job should have minimal spacing (0-3pt between them).
4
Use consistent spacing throughout
If section A has 12pt before it, section B should too. Inconsistency looks sloppy.

Pro Formatting Tip

In Word/Google Docs, use "Space After Paragraph" instead of hitting Enter twice. This gives you precise control and keeps formatting consistent when editing.

Alignment: Keep It Simple

Do This ✅

Left-align all body text (standard reading pattern)
Left-align bullet points
Center-align or left-align your name/header
Right-align dates (optional—can also be on same line)

Avoid This ❌

Justified text (creates uneven word spacing)
Right-aligned body text (hard to read)
Center-aligned bullet points (chaotic)
Mixed alignment within sections

The Standard Layout

LEFT COLUMN                                RIGHT COLUMN
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Job Title                                  Date Range
Company Name | Location

• Bullet point (left-aligned)
• Another bullet point
• Third achievement

Visual Hierarchy Checklist

Before you submit, your resume should check all these boxes:

Formatting Checklist

Name is the largest text on the page (18-24pt)
Section headers are clearly visible (14-16pt, bold)
Body text is readable (10-12pt)
Consistent spacing between all sections
Margins are at least 0.5 inches on all sides
Only 1-2 fonts used total
No text is cut off when printed
Left-aligned text throughout (not justified)

Common Formatting Mistakes

Mistake 1: Inconsistent Sizes

If your first job has 12pt titles and your second has 11pt, it looks careless. Pick one size and stick with it.

Mistake 2: Too Many Font Weights

Bold + Italic + Bold Italic + Regular + Light = Visual chaos. Limit yourself to: Regular + Bold. That's it.

Mistake 3: Decorative Elements

Fancy dividers, icons everywhere, colored boxes, gradients—they might look nice in design tools, but ATS can't parse them and they distract from content.

Mistake 4: Tight Margins + Small Font

If you have 0.5" margins AND 9pt font, your resume is screaming "I'm trying to cram too much in." Edit content instead.

One-Page vs. Two-Page Formatting

Resume Length	When Appropriate	Formatting Adjustments
One Page	0-10 years experience	Standard margins (1"), 11pt font
Two Pages	10+ years, executives, academics	Can use slightly smaller margins (0.75"), but keep 10pt minimum

The Two-Page Rule

If you go to two pages, make sure page two has substantial content—not just 3 lines of skills. If page two is mostly empty, edit down to one page.

Template Quick Reference

Entry-Level Resume

Margins: 1"
Name: 20pt Bold
Headers: 14pt Bold
Body: 11pt Regular
Spacing: 1.15
Font: Calibri

Mid-Senior Resume

Margins: 0.75-1"
Name: 22pt Bold
Headers: 14pt Bold
Body: 11pt Regular
Spacing: 1.0
Font: Arial or Roboto

Executive Resume

Margins: 0.75"
Name: 24pt Bold
Headers: 16pt Bold
Body: 11pt Regular
Spacing: 1.0-1.15
Font: Georgia or Calibri

Tools for Perfect Formatting

Skip the formatting headaches

Our resume templates have perfect margins, fonts, and spacing built in. Just add your content.

Browse Templates

The Bottom Line

Perfect formatting is invisible. When it's done right, no one notices—they just read your content smoothly.

When it's done wrong, it's the first thing people see.

The safe formula:

1-inch margins
11pt body text
Calibri or Arial
Single spacing
Clear hierarchy

Stick to these, and formatting will never cost you an interview.

ATS-Friendly Resume Guide — Full optimization strategy
Single vs Double Column Resume — Layout decisions
Using Color on Resume — Add visual appeal safely
Resume Examples — See formatting in action
Resume Templates — Pre-formatted designs
AI Resume Builder — Build with AI assistance
Resume Builder — Auto-formatted resume creation
All Resume Tools — Free formatting & optimization tools

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best margins for a resume in 2026?

Standard 1-inch margins on all sides. You can reduce to 0.5-0.75 inches if you need more space, but never go below 0.5 inches—it looks cramped and may clip when printed.

What font size should I use on my resume?

10-12pt for body text (11pt is ideal), 14-16pt for section headers, and 18-24pt for your name. Never go below 10pt—it becomes unreadable.

What's the best font for an ATS-friendly resume?

ATS-safe fonts include Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, and Times New Roman. Avoid decorative fonts, script fonts, or anything that requires special installation.

Should I use single or double spacing on my resume?

Single spacing (1.0 or 1.15) within sections. Use slightly more space (1.5-2.0 lines) between sections to create visual separation. Never double-space within paragraphs.

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