Figtree font pairings start from a clear brief: Figtree is a geometric sans-serif that, in the words of its designer Erik Kennedy, walks “the line between simplicity and friendliness.” It is minimalist without feeling stiff and casual without feeling silly. Kennedy released it in 2022 and it was added to Google Fonts that July, free under the SIL Open Font License. Its curved t, f and y, high x-height and slightly widened capitals give it more warmth than strict geometrics. A good partner either adds the contrast of a serif or steps back and lets Figtree’s personality lead.
Is Figtree a heading or body font?
Figtree handles both roles. Kennedy designed it with a high x-height for legibility, which makes it comfortable for paragraphs, buttons and labels at small sizes. The Google Fonts version is a variable font with a weight axis from Light (300) to Black (900) plus matching italics, so the bolder weights work well for short, punchy headlines. For product interfaces, Figtree alone can run the whole page. For marketing sites, blogs and editorial layouts, it is usually best as the body face under a more distinctive serif heading, or as the heading above a serif built for long reading.
Best fonts to pair with Figtree
These partners cover the main directions: warm serif body text, expressive serif headlines, and screen-friendly reading serifs. Every font listed is free on Google Fonts.
| Pairing | Use as | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Figtree + Lora | Heading + Body | Lora’s brushed, calligraphic serifs echo Figtree’s friendly curves and read comfortably in long paragraphs. |
| Figtree + Instrument Serif | Body + Heading | A condensed display serif gives headlines elegance and height while Figtree keeps the body text clean and easy. |
| Figtree + Merriweather | Heading + Body | Merriweather is a sturdy screen serif that anchors light, rounded Figtree headings with dependable readability. |
| Figtree + Fraunces | Body + Heading | Fraunces brings soft, chunky serif personality to headlines, matching Figtree’s playful side without clashing. |
| Figtree + DM Serif Display | Body + Heading | DM Serif Display’s bold, high-contrast headlines sit confidently above clean, readable Figtree body text. |
Figtree + Lora (the classic combination)
The most reliable Figtree pairing sets Figtree as the heading and Lora as the body. Lora is a contemporary serif with calligraphic roots and gentle stroke contrast, so its letterforms feel warm rather than formal. That warmth lines up with the curved strokes Kennedy built into Figtree, which means the two faces share a mood even though one is a sans and the other a serif. Use Figtree in SemiBold or Bold for headings and Lora Regular at 17 to 19 pixels for paragraphs. The combination suits blogs, newsletters, wellness and lifestyle brands, and any site that wants to feel approachable but still well read. Because both families include italics, emphasis inside paragraphs and subheads stays consistent.
Figtree + Instrument Serif (for modern editorial headlines)
Flip the roles when you want headlines with more drama. Instrument Serif is a condensed display serif designed for the Instrument brand and released on Google Fonts in 2023. It is intended for large sizes and has only a Regular and an Italic, so it cannot be your body font, which is exactly why it pairs well with Figtree. Set Instrument Serif large for page titles and pull quotes, then let Figtree carry everything else: body copy, navigation, buttons and captions. The narrow, high-contrast serif headline against an open, friendly sans gives you strong contrast in both width and texture. This direction suits startup landing pages, portfolios and creative agencies. See more options in our Instrument Serif font pairings guide.
Figtree + Merriweather (for long-form reading)
If your pages are text-heavy, pair Figtree headings with Merriweather body text. Merriweather was designed for reading on screens, with a large x-height, slightly condensed letterforms and sturdy serifs that hold up at small sizes and on lower-resolution displays. Next to it, Figtree headlines look light and modern, and the serif body makes long articles easier to follow. This pairing works well for knowledge bases, course content, publishing sites and documentation that needs a friendlier tone than a strict corporate sans. Keep Figtree for all UI elements as well (menus, tags and buttons) so the serif only appears where people read. For more serif body options, compare our Merriweather font pairings.
How to pair fonts with Figtree yourself
Start with Figtree’s character: geometric structure, friendly curves and a high x-height. Partners with similar warmth, such as Lora or Fraunces, will feel harmonious; neutral text serifs, such as Source Serif 4, will feel calmer and more businesslike. Avoid pairing Figtree with another geometric sans of similar weight, because the two will look almost the same without creating a clear hierarchy. Match x-heights so line spacing stays even, and use Figtree’s variable weight range to build levels before adding a third family. Test combinations quickly with our font pairing generator, and browse the wider field in our best sans-serif fonts guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What font pairs best with Figtree?
Lora is the safest all-round partner: its warm, calligraphic serifs match Figtree’s friendly geometry and work well as body text under Figtree headings. If you want Figtree as the body font instead, Instrument Serif and Fraunces make expressive serif headlines. For long, text-heavy pages, Merriweather is a dependable screen serif.
Is Figtree good for body text?
Yes. Erik Kennedy gave Figtree a high x-height for legibility, and its simple, monolinear strokes stay clear at small sizes. It works well for interface text, buttons, labels and website paragraphs. For very long reading, some designers prefer a serif body like Lora or Merriweather under Figtree headings.
Can you pair Figtree with itself?
Yes. Figtree on Google Fonts is a variable font with a weight axis from 300 to 900 and matching italics, so you can build a full hierarchy from one family. Use Bold or Black for headings, Regular for body and Medium for labels. A single family keeps loading light and the design consistent.
Is Figtree free?
Yes. Figtree is free on Google Fonts under the SIL Open Font License, which allows personal and commercial use, self-hosting and modification. Kennedy’s own site describes it as free to use and modify, and lists support for more than 280 languages.
Who designed Figtree?
Figtree was designed by Erik Kennedy and was added to Google Fonts in July 2022. The source files are published on GitHub, and the Google Fonts release includes upright and italic variable fonts.
