Crimson Text and M PLUS 1p 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 M PLUS 1p, while the headline uses Crimson Text. 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: Crimson Text's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while M PLUS 1p's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. M PLUS 1p ships in 7 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
HCrimson Text
Crimson Text is a free serif typeface designed by Sebastian Kosch, added to Google Fonts in 2011. It comes in 3 weights with matching italics.
More pairings for Crimson Text →BM PLUS 1p
M PLUS 1p is a free sans serif typeface designed by Coji Morishita and M+ Fonts Project, added to Google Fonts in 2017. It comes in 7 weights.
More pairings for M PLUS 1p →Use this pairing on your website
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<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Crimson+Text:wght@700&family=M+PLUS+1p:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">h1, h2, h3 {
font-family: 'Crimson Text', serif;
font-weight: 700;
}
body {
font-family: 'M PLUS 1p', sans-serif;
font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.6;
}More pairings with Crimson Text
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Crimson Text's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Inter'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: Crimson Text's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Lato'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: Crimson Text's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Open Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
More pairings with M PLUS 1p
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: EB Garamond's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while M PLUS 1p'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: Libre Baskerville's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while M PLUS 1p'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 modern twist on the classic: M PLUS 1p keeps headings crisp and contemporary, while Lora's serifs guide the eye along longer lines of text.
Frequently asked questions
Do Crimson Text and M PLUS 1p go well together?
A classic contrast: Crimson Text's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while M PLUS 1p's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. M PLUS 1p ships in 7 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
Which font should be used for headings?
Use Crimson Text for headings at weight 700, and M PLUS 1p for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.
Are Crimson Text and M PLUS 1p free?
Yes — both are open-source fonts on Google Fonts and free for personal and commercial use.