editorial

Noto Serif KR and Kanit font pairing

Serif headings with a sans serif body.

Background
Issue 07 · Field notes
Built for the long run

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

HNoto Serif KR

Noto Serif KR is a free serif typeface designed by Google, added to Google Fonts in 2018. It comes in 8 weights, and is a variable font with a weight axis.

More pairings for Noto Serif KR →

BKanit

Kanit is a free sans serif typeface designed by Cadson Demak, added to Google Fonts in 2015. It comes in 9 weights with matching italics.

More pairings for Kanit →

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

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

More pairings with Noto Serif KR

The future of small business

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

HNoto Serif KRBRobotoeditorial→

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

Ideas that travel well

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

HNoto Serif KRBDM Sanseditorial→

A classic contrast: Noto Serif KR's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while DM Sans'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.

HNunito SansBNoto Serif KRmoderneditorial→

A modern twist on the classic: Nunito Sans keeps headings crisp and contemporary, while Noto Serif KR's serifs guide the eye along longer lines of text.

More pairings with Kanit

Where craft meets code

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

HRoboto SlabBKanitfriendly→

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

Where craft meets code

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

HFrauncesBKaniteditorial→

A classic contrast: Fraunces's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Kanit'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.

HSpectralBKaniteditorial→

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

Frequently asked questions

Do Noto Serif KR and Kanit go well together?

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

Which font should be used for headings?

Use Noto Serif KR for headings at weight 700, and Kanit for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.

Are Noto Serif KR and Kanit free?

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