editorial

Libre Baskerville and Titillium Web font pairing

Serif headings with a sans serif body.

Background
Issue 07 · Field notes
Design is how it works

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 Titillium Web, while the headline uses Libre Baskerville. Numbers like 0123456789, punctuation “quotes” — and ampersands & — reveal a lot about how two typefaces get along.

Contrast, then harmony

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: Libre Baskerville's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Titillium Web's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Titillium Web ships in 6 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.

HLibre Baskerville

Libre Baskerville is a free serif typeface designed by Impallari Type, added to Google Fonts in 2012. It comes in 4 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with a weight axis.

More pairings for Libre Baskerville →

BTitillium Web

Titillium Web is a free sans serif typeface designed by Accademia di Belle Arti di Urbino, added to Google Fonts in 2012. It comes in 6 weights with matching italics.

More pairings for Titillium Web →

Use this pairing on your website

HTML — paste in <head>
<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=Libre+Baskerville:wght@700&family=Titillium+Web:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
CSS
h1, h2, h3 {
  font-family: 'Libre Baskerville', serif;
  font-weight: 700;
}

body {
  font-family: 'Titillium Web', sans-serif;
  font-weight: 400;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

More pairings with Libre Baskerville

More pairings with Titillium Web

Where craft meets code

Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.

HFrauncesBTitillium Webeditorial→

A classic contrast: Fraunces's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Titillium Web's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.

Built for the long run

Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.

HCormorant GaramondBTitillium Webeditorial→

A classic contrast: Cormorant Garamond's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Titillium Web's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.

Notes from the studio

Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.

HTitillium WebBSource Serif 4moderneditorial→

A modern twist on the classic: Titillium Web keeps headings crisp and contemporary, while Source Serif 4's serifs guide the eye along longer lines of text.

Frequently asked questions

Do Libre Baskerville and Titillium Web go well together?

A classic contrast: Libre Baskerville's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Titillium Web's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Titillium Web ships in 6 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.

Which font should be used for headings?

Use Libre Baskerville for headings at weight 700, and Titillium Web for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.

Are Libre Baskerville and Titillium Web free?

Yes — both are open-source fonts on Google Fonts and free for personal and commercial use.