editorial

Source Serif 4 and Noto Sans KR 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 Noto Sans KR, 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 Noto Sans KR's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Noto Sans KR ships in 9 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.

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 →

BNoto Sans KR

Noto Sans KR is a free sans serif typeface designed by Google, added to Google Fonts in 2018. It comes in 9 weights, and is a variable font with a weight axis.

More pairings for Noto Sans KR →

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

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

More pairings with Source Serif 4

More pairings with Noto Sans KR

Ideas that travel well

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

HEB GaramondBNoto Sans KReditorial→

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

The art of saying less

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

HBitterBNoto Sans KReditorial→

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

HNoto Sans KRBRoboto Slabmoderneditorial→

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

Frequently asked questions

Do Source Serif 4 and Noto Sans KR go well together?

A classic contrast: Source Serif 4's serifs give headlines an editorial, trustworthy voice while Noto Sans KR's clean shapes keep body text easy to scan on screens. Noto Sans KR ships in 9 weights, so you can build captions, buttons and emphasis without adding another family.

Which font should be used for headings?

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

Are Source Serif 4 and Noto Sans KR free?

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