Merriweather and Open Sans font pairing
Two of the most-read screen fonts on the web — sturdy, safe and highly legible.
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 Open Sans, while the headline uses Merriweather. 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: Merriweather's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Open Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Open Sans ships in 6 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
HMerriweather
Merriweather is a free serif typeface designed by Sorkin Type, added to Google Fonts in 2011. It comes in 7 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with optical size, width and weight axes.
More pairings for Merriweather →BOpen Sans
Open Sans is a free sans serif typeface designed by Steve Matteson, added to Google Fonts in 2011. It comes in 6 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with width and weight axes.
More pairings for Open Sans →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=Merriweather:wght@700&family=Open+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">h1, h2, h3 {
font-family: 'Merriweather', serif;
font-weight: 700;
}
body {
font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;
font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.6;
}More pairings with Merriweather
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A wide geometric sans for punchy headings and a sturdy screen serif built for long reads.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
Elegant thin-stroke headings with a robust serif for comfortable paragraphs.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A classic contrast: Merriweather's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Inter's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens.
More pairings with Open Sans
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
All-caps impact for headings, with Open Sans doing the heavy lifting in paragraphs.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A playful retro script for logos and hero lines; keep it short and let Open Sans read.
Typography sets the tone before a single word is read. A good pairing feels like one voice.
A contemporary slab with personality, set against a universally readable sans.
Frequently asked questions
Do Merriweather and Open Sans go well together?
A classic contrast: Merriweather's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Open Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Open Sans ships in 6 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.
Which font should be used for headings?
Use Merriweather for headings at weight 700, and Open Sans for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.
Are Merriweather and Open Sans free?
Yes — both are open-source fonts on Google Fonts and free for personal and commercial use.