editorial

Lora and Libre Franklin 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 Libre Franklin, while the headline uses Lora. 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: Lora's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Libre Franklin's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Libre Franklin ships in 9 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.

HLora

Lora is a free serif typeface designed by Cyreal, added to Google Fonts in 2011. It comes in 4 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with a weight axis.

More pairings for Lora →

BLibre Franklin

Libre Franklin is a free sans serif typeface designed by Impallari Type, added to Google Fonts in 2016. It comes in 9 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with a weight axis.

More pairings for Libre Franklin →

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=Lora:wght@700&family=Libre+Franklin:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
CSS
h1, h2, h3 {
  font-family: 'Lora', serif;
  font-weight: 700;
}

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

More pairings with Lora

The art of saying less

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

HLoraBGoogle Sanseditorial→

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

More pairings with Libre Franklin

A field guide to good ideas

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

HRoboto SlabBLibre Franklinfriendly→

A classic contrast: Roboto Slab's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Libre Franklin's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.

Everything starts with a sketch

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

HBodoni ModaBLibre Franklineditorial→

A classic contrast: Bodoni Moda's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Libre Franklin's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.

Stories worth reading slowly

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

HLibre FranklinBFrauncesmoderneditorial→

A modern twist on the classic: Libre Franklin keeps headings crisp and contemporary, while Fraunces's serifs guide the eye along longer lines of text.

Frequently asked questions

Do Lora and Libre Franklin go well together?

A classic contrast: Lora's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Libre Franklin's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Libre Franklin ships in 9 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.

Which font should be used for headings?

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

Are Lora and Libre Franklin free?

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