Bitter and Source Sans 3 font pairing
Serif headings with a sans serif body.
Good pairings feel inevitable. Great ones set the tone before a single word is read.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A strong pairing creates clear hierarchy while feeling like one consistent voice across every page. This paragraph is set in Source Sans 3, while the headline uses Bitter. Numbers like 0123456789, punctuation “quotes” — and ampersands & — reveal a lot about how two typefaces get along.
Look for contrast in structure and harmony in proportion: similar x-heights, compatible widths and a shared sense of rhythm. Bold text and italic text should feel natural, too.
Why this pairing works
A classic contrast: Bitter's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Source Sans 3's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Source Sans 3 ships in 8 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
HBitter
Bitter is a free serif typeface designed by Sol Matas, added to Google Fonts in 2011. It comes in 9 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with a weight axis.
More pairings for Bitter →BSource Sans 3
Source Sans 3 is a free sans serif typeface designed by Paul D. Hunt, added to Google Fonts in 2021. It comes in 8 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with a weight axis.
More pairings for Source Sans 3 →Use this pairing on your website
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Bitter:wght@700&family=Source+Sans+3:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">h1, h2, h3 {
font-family: 'Bitter', serif;
font-weight: 700;
}
body {
font-family: 'Source Sans 3', sans-serif;
font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.6;
}More pairings with Bitter
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Bitter's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Roboto's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Bitter's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Nunito Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Bitter's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Inter's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
More pairings with Source Sans 3
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
High-contrast Didone headlines over a calm humanist sans — the definitive editorial look.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
Condensed, poster-like headings with an easy-going sans for everything else.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
Bookish Baskerville authority paired with a contemporary, low-key body face.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bitter and Source Sans 3 go well together?
A classic contrast: Bitter's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Source Sans 3's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Source Sans 3 ships in 8 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
Which font should be used for headings?
Use Bitter for headings at weight 700, and Source Sans 3 for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.
Are Bitter and Source Sans 3 free?
Yes — both are open-source fonts on Google Fonts and free for personal and commercial use.