editorial

Source Serif 4 and Google Sans font pairing

Serif headings with a sans serif body.

Background
Issue 07 · Field notes
Stories worth reading slowly

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 Google Sans, while the headline uses Source Serif 4. 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: Source Serif 4's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Google Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Google Sans stays comfortable at paragraph sizes.

HSource Serif 4

Source Serif 4 is a free serif typeface designed by Frank Grießhammer, added to Google Fonts in 2021. It comes in 8 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with optical size and weight axes.

More pairings for Source Serif 4 →

BGoogle Sans

Google Sans is a free sans serif typeface designed by Google, added to Google Fonts in 2025. It comes in 4 weights with matching italics, and is a variable font with grade, optical size and weight axes.

More pairings for Google Sans →

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=Source+Serif+4:wght@700&family=Google+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
CSS
h1, h2, h3 {
  font-family: 'Source Serif 4', serif;
  font-weight: 700;
}

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

More pairings with Source Serif 4

More pairings with Google Sans

Make something people love

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

HBitterBGoogle Sanseditorial→

A classic contrast: Bitter's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Google Sans'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.

HRoboto SlabBGoogle Sansfriendly→

A classic contrast: Roboto Slab's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Google 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.

HEB GaramondBGoogle Sanseditorial→

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

Frequently asked questions

Do Source Serif 4 and Google Sans go well together?

A classic contrast: Source Serif 4's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Google Sans's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Google Sans stays comfortable at paragraph sizes.

Which font should be used for headings?

Use Source Serif 4 for headings at weight 700, and Google Sans for body text at weight 400. You can swap them in the pairing tool to compare.

Are Source Serif 4 and Google Sans free?

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