Handwritten Font Pairing Guide

Handwritten
Font Pairing

dwritten font Guide

an Font pairings that go together like


peanut butter and jelly

Typeheist.co
 LI-1
Some pairings just work... But how?

Learn how to combine handwritten fonts with confidence.

This guide will cover practical tips, visual examples and smart pairing
tricks — designed specifically for handwriting fonts.

Perfect for designers, content creators and branding pros.

Mix, match and make magic.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 02

Contents
Get acquainted
Useful information to
AR-5 with pairing basics
refer back to

AR-1
The basics of font pairing Resources & references

Principles for pairing handwritten fonts 04 Quick Reference: Font styles 50

Visual hierarchy 05 Quick Reference: Principles for font pairing 51

Contrast 07 Featured Typeheist fonts 52

Balance 09 Discount code 53

Context 11

Legibility 13

Inspiration

Chaotic 16

Editorial 23

Contemporary 29 AR-2 Unique mockups using

Fun 36
handwritten fonts

Rustic 42

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 03

The Basics of Font Pairing

Visual hierarchy

This is the typographic pecking order in your design—where each font plays a role

and guides the viewer’s eye.

Contrast

A little contrast in your chosen fonts can add visual excitement without

Principles for pairing overwhelming the design. Intentionally different, not accidentally mismatched.

handwritten fonts
Font pairing might feel a little like magic—but there are

some solid basics you can lean on.


 Balance

Achieve visual harmony. Everything should feel well-weighted—no font should feel
Handwritten fonts can be trickier to match, but the same
too heavy or too weak.
principles still apply (with a few extra tips to keep things

balanced).

These are a few tips you can follow to keep your pairings

smooth, balanced, and visually on point.

Context

Right place, right time. Ensure your chosen fonts align with the message and tone

you're trying to communicate.

Legibility

Can you read it? Handwritten fonts can be trickier to read, so try not to sacrifice

clarity for style when delivering your primary message.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 04

 The Basics of Font Pairing

Visual hierarchy
The fonts you choose should establish a

hierarchy of information. Each one should signal

the importance of the content it presents—your

main heading, for example, should be the most

visually prominent.

Aim for a clear primary font—the one that grabs

attention first. Support it with secondary or

complementary fonts that guide the reader

through the rest of the content.

Avoid competition between fonts. They should

work together, not fight for attention.

Sources:

Rogue Gaming insidefred.com/Rogue-Esports

Hej Organic adlips.design

Overtone Studios overtone-studios.com

typeheist.co 05
Basker Brewing Co behance.net/gallery/219264649/Basker-Brewing-co
The Basics of Font Pairing

Visual hierarchy

Example

Tertiary
AR-2
There’s clear typographic hierarchy at play here.

Eucalyptus & ember Primary

AR-1
The bold, modern sans serif heading is sure to

grab your attention first, followed by the smaller

uppercase subtitle. Mori, used for both

elements, is a subtly embellished sans serif

Australiana
s u m m e r M e n u

which adds a contemporary touch to the pairing.

AR-5
Secondary
Your eye then drifts towards the the handwritten

script—Marina—bringing a touch of personality

without stealing the show. It complements Mori

beautifully, adding warmth and a bit of luxury.

Pairing details Mori by Pangram Pangram

The result? A fresh, modern pairing with an

Marina by TYPEHEIST
elegant, handcrafted twist.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 06

 The Basics of Font Pairing

Contrast
Choosing fonts with distinctly different styles

helps each one stand out.

Try mixing structure with personality: a clean,

modern sans serif paired with a loose

handwritten script. Or go for elegance and edge

(like a classic serif alongside a quirky, casual

handwriting font). The key is to make sure the

fonts feel intentionally different, not accidentally

mismatched.

Avoid combining fonts that are too similar in

style (like two scripts or two messy fonts). They’ll

just compete with each other.

Sources:

Entre Pierre & Terre wedge.work/entrepierreetterre

Eriu Deli Branding instagram.com/p/DDXirI2hMyZ

Pastane Bakery behance.net/gallery/204803193/Pastane-Bakery

typeheist.co 07
Bar Rollins instagram.com/p/CdYPXdwoElg
The Basics of Font Pairing

Big and bold (and textured)

AR-5
Contrast

Example

This pairing is big on contrast. Wild Pines Park

(the big and bold display font) is the primary

visual here. This is the text you want folks to read

fielD

guide
first. It’s softened by its natural, textured edge -

making it perfect to pair with another

handwritten font.

Naturalist is the softer, friendlier counterpart. Its

approachable, handwritten style doesn’t take

From the National Parks Association
away from the main text or message.

AR-2 Also textured, but more

quiet and unassuming
There is a nice balance here as the two fonts are

similar in texture, but contrasted in size, style

Pairing details Wild Pines Park by TYPEHEIST

and hierarchy.
Naturalist by TYPEHEIST

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 08

 The Basics of Font Pairing

Balance
Font pairing should create a sense of balance

and harmony in your design. The goal is to use

fonts that complement each other and work

together (with the rest of your design) to form a

cohesive look.

While contrast is important, you don’t want one

element to steal the entire spotlight. Nothing

should feel out of place or overpower the rest.

Take a step back and look at your design as a

whole—does everything feel evenly weighted? If

so, you’ve nailed the balance.

Sources:

more than bar behance.net/gallery/177653391/more-than-bar

Blue Dinosaur frostcollective.com.au/work/blue-dinosaur

Woset the-brandidentity.com/project/mouthwash-studios-playful-identity-
typeheist.co 09
for-woset-taps-into-the-boundless-joy-and-wonder-of-childhood
The Basics of Font Pairing Visually balanced: a heavier, more

complex font equally weighted by

a simple, but blocky chunk of text.

AR-1
Balance

Example

Balance doesn’t have to mean symmetrical.

can you

remember
Great design often feels balanced, even when the last time You shed the skin of self-doubt and The cracks in your armor let the light

emerge anew.

in, illuminating the strength you never

it’s not mathematically equal. It’s about visual you did soemthing
knew you possessed. You rise, not as
something
weight—not perfect numbers.

The unknown becomes your someone untouched by struggle, but as

canvas, where you paint a someone shaped by it—stronger,

masterpiece of resilience and wiser, and fiercely unbreakable.

To achieve visual balance, contrast plays a big determination. Embrace this

metamorphosis, for on the other Walk boldly into the unknown, not as a
role — a heavier element, such as the
side of fear, you'll find the person spectator, but as the architect of your

handwritten text and dark sketches, should be you were always meant to be. destiny.

smaller and take up less of the canvas.

Counterbalance this with a larger block of

something lighter (the spacious columns of sans

serif), and the design settles into place.

Pairing details Sad Poem by TYPEHEIST

Play with size, weight, and space to find that

Martel by Google Fonts
sweet spot.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 10

 The Basics of Font Pairing

Context
Font pairing should always be appropriate for

the context. Think about the purpose, audience,

and tone of the design to make sure your fonts

communicate the message effectively.

For example, a scribbly handwritten font might

not be the best choice for a funeral notice, just

as a bold, gothic display font probably isn't ideal

for a wedding—unless that's the vibe you're

going for, of course!

In short: choose the right font for the job.

Sources:

Weekend Drinks fcklck.studio/work/weekend

Nike Identity ginaguaschteam.com/NIKE-PROGRESS-1

typeheist.co 11
Chicken and the Wolf chickenandthewolf.com
The Basics of Font Pairing
Because this design is for an art
museum, we can get away with using
a more casual, messy font.

AR-1
Context

Example

In this mockup, we can get away with something

atersford
w
a little lighter and more casual. This Museum of

Art History leans into a quirky, creative identity...

making room for the playful charm of the Prickly

Pear handwriting font.

Museum of Art History

AR-2
Its rough, characterful strokes are nicely

balanced by a clean sans serif, creating a

To complement the chaos of
Prickly Pear font, a very legible,
contrast that feels fun yet still professional.

more sensible font is used.

The result? A logo that’s approachable,

imaginative, and speaks directly to its audience.

Pairing details Prickly Pear by TYPEHEIST

Instrument Sans by Google Fonts

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 12

 The Basics of Font Pairing

Legibility
Handwritten fonts (especially the messier ones)

are often used more as visual elements than for

clear communication. In many cases, the intent

is for the text not to be easily legible.

However, if you're using a handwritten font for

something that needs to be read, make sure it's

legible.

You can achieve this by choosing an easy-to-

read handwritten font or pairing it with a serif or

sans serif font for your key text.

Key tip: Make sure the message you want to

convey is clear.

Sources:

Port Magazine uncommon-creative-studio.medium.com/uncommon-creative-

studio-redesigns-port-magazines-a-w23-issue-c37c4106c33e

Juicy Marbles juicymarbles.com

Zabawa Typeface the-brandidentity.com/typeface/brimming-with-personality-the-

typeheist.co 13
northern-blocks-zabawa-emulates-the-natural-flow-of-handwriting
The Basics of Font Pairing

Legibility Nice on the eyes,

AR-5
but not crucial
Example Not ideal


y j ou r ne y (can’t easily read)

A culina r

AR-5
Handwritten fonts can become unreadable...
u s t r al i a 's What’s

fast.

across A
i l d H ea rt. FOR DINNER
W
In this menu mockup, the key info is the meal M a i n s
S t a r t e r s

and the price. Using a handwritten font for either Barramundi Fillet with Lemon Myrtle Butter 68

Bush Tucker Board 28

Wagyu Ribeye with Kakadu Plum Jus 120
of these items makes everything hard to scan
Saltbush Seared Scallops 32
Outback Lamb Rack 98

and creates visual clutter. It’s a case of style Charcoal-Grilled Emu Tartare 38
Native Mushroom Risotto (V) 54

AR-1

AR-1
getting in the way of substance.

help
Important info (legible)
Instead, save your handwritten font for

something secondary (like a tagline or subtitle)

and let a clear, legible typeface handle the

important details.
Pairing details Marina by TYPEHEIST

Mori by Pangram Pangram

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 14

 Inspiration
In the following pages, you’ll find font pairing inspiration that
highlights the unique personality of each handwritten font.

Some are tried-and-true combos, while others explore unexpected

matches to spark fresh ideas.
Chaotic Editorial Comtemporary Fun Rustic

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 15

Inspiration

Chaotic
Loud, messy, and full of attitude—this pairing

leans all in on contrast. Handwritten fonts take

centre stage here, full of texture and personality,

while supporting fonts are kept simple to let the

chaos shine.

It’s all about visual hierarchy: knowing what to

dial up, and what to hold back. When done right,

the result is wild, expressive, and totally

unforgettable.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 16

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Untitled font (in progress) Belmonte Ballpoint (Cursive) PAIRED WITH: Red Hat Mono Inter Mori
TYPEHEIST FONTS: Manic PAIRED WITH: IBM Plex Mono
Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Pandemonium PAIRED WITH: Bricolage Grotesque

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Sticky PAIRED WITH: Bowlby One SC

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Pandemonium PAIRED WITH: Lusitana
TYPEHEIST FONTS: Manic Untitled font (in progress)
Inspiration

Editorial
These pairings bring together the timeless

elegance of a classic serif or sans serif font with

the raw, expressive energy of a messy

handwritten script.

A serif provides structure and authority, while the

handwritten font adds personality and a touch of

rebellion—perfect for editorial designs that need

to feel both refined as well as human.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 23

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Manic PAIRED WITH: Instrument Sans Instrument Serif

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Belmonte Ballpoint (Cursive) PAIRED WITH: Abhaya Libre ExtraBold Mori
Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Pandemonium PAIRED WITH: Libre Baskerville

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Juniper Bay Belmonte Ballpoint (Cursive) PAIRED WITH: Editorial New Inter Instrument Serif
 Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Pandemonium PAIRED WITH: IBM Plex Serif

Inspiration

Contemporary K U

Clean, current, and confidently minimal—these

pairings strike a balance between modern R E

structure and handwritten character.

Handwritten fonts are used to add a human

touch to otherwise sharp, pared-back layouts.
MO
The result? Fresh, stylish designs that feel both
professional and personal.

Ramen bar

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 29

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Sundara PAIRED WITH: Fustat

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Juniper Bay PAIRED WITH: Instrument Serif

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Marina PAIRED WITH: Mori
Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Wild Pines Park PAIRED WITH: Lexend Exa

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Juniper Bay Wild Pines Park PAIRED WITH: Mori
TYPEHEIST FONTS: Sundara Belmonte Bellpoint (Cursive)
Inspiration

Fun
These pairings are full of charm and character.
Perfect for projects that don’t take themselves
too seriously.

Playful handwritten fonts set the tone with

bounce and personality, while their pairings add
just enough structure to keep things grounded.

The result? Light-hearted, imaginative, and a

little bit whimsical.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 36

Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Wasted Year Pandemonium PAIRED WITH: Abril Fatface

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Ugly Dave PAIRED WITH: Albert Sans
 xoxo
i-like- I think
you’re my
you.jpg you’ll do type

BE my
valentine
February 14 singles night • jam factory • newtown

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Lore (Alternates) PAIRED WITH: Dela Gothic One

Garden

delights

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Prickly Pear PAIRED WITH: Instrument Serif

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Prickly Pear Sundara PAIRED WITH: Agbalumo
Inspiration

Rustic
These pairings feel handmade, grounded, and

full of character.

Handwritten fonts take the lead, bringing a raw,

textural quality that pairs beautifully with organic

colours, natural materials, and vintage-inspired

layouts. Think charming, imperfect, and

effortlessly down-to-earth.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 42

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Wild Pines Park Naturalist
Handwritten font pairing guide Typeheist.co

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Prickly Pear PAIRED WITH: Supply

TYPEHEIST FONTS: Belmonte Ballpoint (Print) Belmonte Ballpoint (Cursive) PAIRED WITH: Editorial New
TYPEHEIST FONTS: Marina PAIRED WITH: Bona Nova Instrument Sans
TYPEHEIST FONTS: Sundara PAIRED WITH: Stellar
TYPEHEIST FONTS: Belmonte Ballpoint (Cursive) PAIRED WITH: Editorial New
 Resources & references
Easy access to information such as a font styles and font pairing
rules quick access.
Font styles Principles for Font Pairing Featured Typeheist fonts Discount

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 49

Quick Reference: Font styles

Aa Serif Aa Monospace

Serif fonts feature small lines or “feet” at the ends of their strokes. They’re In monospace fonts, every character takes up the same horizontal space.

considered classic and traditional, often seen in printed materials like books, These are especially useful in coding, tabular layouts, or any design where

newspapers, and magazines. alignment matters.

Aa Sans serif Aa Display

Sans serif fonts skip the decorative strokes, giving them a clean, modern feel. Display fonts are designed for impact at larger sizes. Often decorative or

They’re widely used in digital design and branding for their simplicity and highly stylised, they’re perfect for headlines, posters, or anything that needs a

readability. strong visual voice.

Aa Script Aa Gothic

Script fonts mimic handwriting or calligraphy, with flowing, cursive Gothic fonts (also known as blackletter or Old English) draw inspiration from

letterforms. They’re often used for invitations, elegant branding, or anything medieval script. They add a historic, dramatic, or vintage touch to designs.

that needs a touch of sophistication.

Aa Handwriting
Aa Slab serif
Handwriting fonts are crafted to look like they were written by hand. Whether

Slab serif fonts have thick, blocky serifs and a bold presence. They’re great neat or messy, they add personality, warmth, and a casual or personal feel to

for eye-catching headlines and designs that need a strong, confident look. your design.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 51

Quick Reference: Principles for font pairing

Visual hierarchy Contrast Balance Context Legibility

The fonts you choose should Contrast—not conflict. Great Font pairing should create a sense Font pairing should always be Handwritten fonts—especially the

establish a hierarchy of pairings create enough difference of balance and harmony in your appropriate for the context. Think messier ones—are often used

information. Each one should to keep things interesting, without design. The goal is to use fonts about the purpose, audience, and more as visual elements than for

signal the importance of the feeling chaotic or mismatched.

that complement each other and tone of the design to make sure clear communication. In many

content it presents—your main work together to form a cohesive your fonts communicate the cases, the intent is for the text not

heading, for example, should be You can go bold with high- look.

message effectively.

to be easily legible.

the most visually prominent.

contrast combos—like pairing your

handwritten font with a serif or While contrast is important, you For example, a scribbly However, if you're using a

Aim for a clear primary font—the sans serif—or keep it subtle by don’t want one element to steal handwritten font might not be the handwritten font for something

one that grabs attention first. Then playing with font weight, size, or the entire spotlight. Nothing best choice for a funeral notice, that needs to be read, make sure

support it with secondary or colour.

should feel out of place or just as a bold, gothic display font it's legible.

complementary fonts that guide overpower the rest.

probably isn't ideal for a wedding

the reader through the rest of the If one font is loud and bold,
—unless that's the vibe you're You can achieve this by choosing

content.

balance it with something simpler. Take a step back and look at your going for, of course!

an easy-to-read handwritten font

Avoid pairing fonts that are too design as a whole—does or pairing it with a serif or sans

Avoid competition between fonts. similar—like two handwritten or everything feel evenly weighted? In short: choose the right font for serif font for your key text.

They should work together, not script styles—as they can blur If so, you’ve nailed the balance. the job.

fight for attention. together and lose impact.

In short: Make sure the message

you want to convey is clear.

In short: contrast is good. Clashing

is not. Don’t go too wild.

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 50

Featured Typeheist fonts Below you’ll find all the handwritten fonts used in this guide, all in one spot. You can
grab them via the ‘Buy font’ links below, or browse them anytime at typeheist.co.

P.S. Don’t miss the next page — there’s a discount code waiting for you!

Belmonte Ballpoint Naturalist Sticky

Buy font 2 styles Buy font 1 style Buy font 2 styles

Juniper Bay Pandemonium SUNDARA

Buy font 1 style Buy font 1 style Buy font 1 style

Lore Prickly Pear Ugly Dave

Buy font 2 styles Buy font 1 style Buy font 2 styles

Manic Marina Wild pines park

Buy font 4 styles Buy font 1 style Buy font 1 style

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 52

 Enjoy 20% Off
Thanks for downloading the Font Pairing Guide. As a token of appreciation,

use the code PAIRING to get 20% off at typeheist.co

Handwritten Font Pairing Guide typeheist.co 53

 dwritten font
an This Handwritten Font Pairing Guide

is gladly brought to you by your

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