Instrument Serif and DM Sans 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 DM Sans, while the headline uses Instrument Serif. 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: Instrument Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while DM Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. DM Sans ships in 10 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
HInstrument Serif
Instrument Serif is a free serif typeface designed by Rodrigo Fuenzalida and Jordan Egstad, added to Google Fonts in 2023. It comes in 1 weight with matching italics.
More pairings for Instrument Serif →BDM Sans
DM Sans is a free sans serif typeface designed by Colophon Foundry, added to Google Fonts in 2019. It comes in 10 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with optical size and weight axes.
More pairings for DM Sans →Use this pairing on your website
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<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Instrument+Serif:wght@400&family=DM+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">h1, h2, h3 {
font-family: 'Instrument Serif', serif;
font-weight: 400;
}
body {
font-family: 'DM Sans', sans-serif;
font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.6;
}More pairings with Instrument Serif
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
Condensed, stylish serif headlines that feel current, on top of a workhorse sans.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Instrument Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Google 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: Instrument Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Nunito's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
More pairings with DM Sans
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A superfamily match: shared proportions, opposite personalities.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Playfair Display's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while DM 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: Fraunces's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while DM Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
Frequently asked questions
Do Instrument Serif and DM Sans go well together?
A classic contrast: Instrument Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while DM Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. DM Sans ships in 10 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
Which font should be used for headings?
Use Instrument Serif for headings at weight 400, and DM Sans for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.
Are Instrument Serif and DM Sans free?
Yes — both are open-source fonts on Google Fonts and free for personal and commercial use.