editorial

PT Serif and Ubuntu font pairing

Serif headings with a sans serif body.

Background
Issue 07 · Field notes
Ideas that travel well

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 Ubuntu, while the headline uses PT Serif. 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: PT Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Ubuntu's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Ubuntu stays comfortable at paragraph sizes.

HPT Serif

PT Serif is a free serif typeface designed by ParaType, added to Google Fonts in 2011. It comes in 2 weights with matching italics.

More pairings for PT Serif →

BUbuntu

Ubuntu is a free sans serif typeface designed by Dalton Maag, added to Google Fonts in 2010. It comes in 4 weights with matching italics.

More pairings for Ubuntu →

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

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

More pairings with PT Serif

Stories worth reading slowly

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

HPT SerifBPlus Jakarta Sanseditorial→

A classic contrast: PT Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Plus Jakarta Sans'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.

HPT SerifBMulisheditorial→

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

More pairings with Ubuntu

Where craft meets code

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

HRoboto SlabBUbuntufriendly→

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

Good things take time

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

HLoraBUbuntueditorial→

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

The future of small business

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

HUbuntuBCrimson Textmoderneditorial→

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

Frequently asked questions

Do PT Serif and Ubuntu go well together?

A classic contrast: PT Serif's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Ubuntu's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Ubuntu stays comfortable at paragraph sizes.

Which font should be used for headings?

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

Are PT Serif and Ubuntu free?

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