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The BonFX Letter

One good pairing.
Every Tuesday.

2-minute read · free

This week — no. 14

Quiet authority

Merriweather sets the tone in one line. Lato stays out of the way and lets it.

MERRIWEATHER 700  +  LATO 400

A font specimen, a pairing that works, and one line on why it works. That is the whole email.

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What Fonts Go With Lato?

What Fonts Go With Lato?

Lato pairs great with Abril Fatface, Raleway and Playfair Display. All 15 pairings are shown below in real rendered specimens, with the reason each one works.

Lato type specimen

What fonts go with Lato? This widely-loved sans-serif offers a warmth and approachability that make it remarkably partnership-friendly, though its very ubiquity creates its own pairing considerations.

Lato, meaning ‘summer’ in Polish, was designed by Warsaw-based designer Łukasz Dziedzic with the intention of creating something that felt serious yet friendly. The typeface achieves this through a clever balance: semi-rounded details convey warmth, while its strong structure maintains professionalism. The extensive family spanning nine weights with matching italics provides tremendous range, from hairline elegance to heavy impact. Lato stays clear in body text while revealing more character at larger sizes. It became one of the most popular fonts on Google Fonts.

The challenge with Lato isn’t finding fonts that work alongside it but rather selecting pairings that feel intentional rather than default. Its friendly nature means it plays well with almost everything, which paradoxically requires more thoughtfulness to create distinctive combinations. Serif partners can add editorial sophistication, while other sans-serifs need enough distinction to create visual interest. Here are 15 fonts that pair well with Lato, chosen for creating combinations that feel curated rather than convenient.

Font Pairings for Lato

  1. Abril Fatface
  2. Raleway
  3. Playfair Display
  4. Montserrat
  5. Grand Hotel
  6. Merriweather
  7. Roboto
  8. Open Sans
  9. Oswald
  10. Source Sans Pro
  11. Libre Baskerville
  12. PT Serif
  13. Arvo
  14. Crimson Text
  15. Cardo

1. Abril Fatface

Lato and Abril Fatface font pairing: Lato headline with Abril Fatface body text

Bold, baroque drama meets understated elegance. Abril Fatface‘s ultra-high contrast and hairline serifs demand attention in headlines, while Lato’s even-tempered body copy handles the supporting role with grace. The contrast is stark but harmonious, perfect for fashion editorials, luxury branding, and theatrical announcements. Abril commands; Lato explains. One of the most striking serif-sans combinations available.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Abril Fatface (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side
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2. Raleway

Lato and Raleway font pairing: Raleway headline with Lato body text

Two sans-serifs that somehow avoid redundancy. Raleway‘s elegant thin weights contrast with Lato’s rounder, more grounded letterforms. Use Raleway for airy headlines and Lato for substantial body text. The pairing works for lifestyle blogs, creative portfolios, and design agencies wanting sophistication without serif formality. Both fonts offer extensive weight ranges for nuanced hierarchy. Merchant Advisory Group uses Raleway for headlines and Lato for body copy.

Character specimen: Raleway (heading) and Lato (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

3. Playfair Display

Lato and Playfair Display font pairing: Playfair Display headline with Lato body text

Transitional elegance pairs with Lato’s warm neutrality. Playfair‘s dramatic thick-thin contrast in headlines creates instant sophistication that Lato supports without competing. The rounded terminals in Lato soften Playfair’s formality, making the combination accessible yet elevated. Editorial layouts, restaurant branding, and premium product sites benefit from this classic meets contemporary pairing.

Character specimen: Playfair Display (heading) and Lato (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side
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4. Montserrat

Lato and Montserrat font pairing: Lato headline with Montserrat body text

Geometric cousins with distinct personalities. Montserrat‘s roots in old Buenos Aires signage contrast with Lato’s semi-rounded humanist feel, creating interest through subtle differences. Use heavier Montserrat weights for headlines and Lato’s comfortable proportions for extended reading. The pairing feels modern without being cold, professional without being corporate. Ideal for startups and creative businesses.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Montserrat (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

5. Grand Hotel

Lato and Grand Hotel font pairing: Lato headline with Grand Hotel body text

Elegant script meets structured sans. Grand Hotel‘s connected letterforms and vintage personality add warmth and occasion to Lato’s dependable foundation. Use the script for accent elements, pull quotes, or decorative headlines while Lato handles everything readable. Perfect for event invitations, hospitality branding, and romantic aesthetics that still need practical typography. A designer’s font combination sets Grand Hotel as a subhead within a Lato layout.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Grand Hotel (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

6. Merriweather

Lato and Merriweather font pairing: Lato headline with Merriweather body text

Merriweather’s large x-height and open forms help it read comfortably on screens. Merriweather‘s sturdy serifs provide classical contrast to Lato’s clean lines without jarring transitions. This combination handles long-form content beautifully, ideal for blogs, magazines, and documentation. The text blocks can still feel unified when switching between serif headlines and sans body.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Merriweather (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

7. Roboto

Lato and Roboto font pairing: Lato headline with Roboto body text

Two of the web’s most versatile sans-serifs together. Roboto‘s slightly mechanical precision complements Lato’s warmer, rounder character. The pairing feels familiar yet refined, working for enterprise applications, product interfaces, and anywhere neutrality matters. Both fonts excel at small sizes and scale predictably. Weight matching is effortless given both families’ extensive options.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Roboto (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side
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8. Open Sans

Lato and Open Sans font pairing: Lato headline with Open Sans body text

Maximum readability with minimal drama. Both humanist sans-serifs share approachable personalities while differing enough in detail to avoid monotony. Lato’s semi-rounded terminals contrast with Open Sans‘s more traditional forms. Use this pairing for long-form content, accessibility-focused projects, and anywhere reader comfort trumps stylistic statement.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Open Sans (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

9. Oswald

Lato and Oswald font pairing: Lato headline with Oswald body text

Bold condensed headlines meet approachable body text. Oswald‘s narrow, commanding letterforms create instant hierarchy above Lato’s friendly proportions. The contrast is dramatic but not jarring, working for news sites, sports branding, and any project needing strong headlines with readable supporting text. Oswald grabs attention; Lato holds it.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Oswald (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

10. Source Sans Pro

Lato and Source Sans Pro font pairing: Lato headline with Source Sans Pro body text

Two humanist sans-serifs sharing warmth and clarity. Source Sans Pro‘s Adobe pedigree pairs with Lato’s Polish craftsmanship for professional layouts without corporate coldness. Both fonts optimize for screen reading, making this combination ideal for documentation, UI design, and content-heavy sites. Subtle differences in stroke terminals prevent visual boredom. Typ.io records Lato with Source Sans Pro on an education site.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Source Sans Pro (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

11. Libre Baskerville

Lato and Libre Baskerville font pairing: Libre Baskerville headline with Lato body text

A crisp serif brings elegance to Lato’s modern practicality. Libre Baskerville‘s taller x-height and wider counters bring clarity to headlines while Lato’s comfortable letterforms invite extended reading. The pairing bridges heritage and accessibility, perfect for law firms, publishers, and institutions wanting classical credibility with contemporary usability. One association’s brand guide makes Libre Baskerville its primary typeface and Lato its secondary face.

Character specimen: Libre Baskerville (heading) and Lato (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

12. PT Serif

Lato and PT Serif font pairing: Lato headline with PT Serif body text

PT Serif belongs to the Public Types of the Russian Federation project. PT Serif‘s humanist warmth complements Lato’s rounded character without redundancy. The serif’s slightly condensed proportions create efficient headlines while Lato’s open counters ensure body text breathes. Ideal for multilingual projects, cultural publications, and designs needing broad character support. Bank Street’s style guide lists Lato and PT Serif together in its font choices.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and PT Serif (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

13. Arvo

Lato and Arvo font pairing: Arvo headline with Lato body text

Slab serif strength meets sans-serif warmth. Arvo‘s bold geometric slabs create unmistakable hierarchy above Lato’s approachable body text. The combination feels sturdy and confident, working for creative agencies, tech products, and brands wanting presence without pretense. Lato’s wider weight range fills in the hierarchy below Arvo’s regular and bold for complex typographic systems.

Character specimen: Arvo (heading) and Lato (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

14. Crimson Text

Lato and Crimson Text font pairing: Lato headline with Crimson Text body text

Old-style elegance tempered by modern neutrality. Crimson Text‘s oldstyle book forms bring scholarly refinement to headlines, while Lato’s even-tempered character handles body copy accessibly. Perfect for literary magazines, academic publications, and cultural institutions wanting heritage aesthetics with digital practicality. The DOD brand guide includes Lato and Crimson Text in the same font system.

Character specimen: Lato (heading) and Crimson Text (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

15. Cardo

Lato and Cardo font pairing: Cardo headline with Lato body text

Scholarly gravitas meets everyday clarity. Cardo‘s classical proportions and academic heritage elevate Lato’s friendly neutrality for intellectual content. Use Cardo for display text and pull quotes where weight matters, then let Lato ensure readers stay comfortable through paragraphs. The combination serves research publications, university sites, and thought leadership platforms. UT Health San Antonio’s style guide uses Cardo for headers alongside Lato.

Character specimen: Cardo (heading) and Lato (body) letters, numbers and symbols side by side

Conclusion

There are no absolute rules for font pairing, just principles to guide you. The key is contrast: in weight, in style (serif vs. sans-serif), or in personality. Lato is versatile enough to play well with many different typefaces.

Trust your eye, experiment freely, and remember that the best pairing is the one that serves your content and audience. Typography should enhance communication, not complicate it.

Sources

  • Typ.io
  • Fonts In Use
  • FontPair.co
  • Fontpairings.com
  • Figma (Google Fonts pairings)
  • Typewolf

More Font Resources

  • Font Combinations: The Complete Guide to Font Pairings
  • The Big Book of Font Combinations
  • 29 Principles for Making Great Font Combinations

About the Author

Douglas Bonneville is a graphic designer and typographer since 1992. He is the author of The Big Book of Font Combinations and has contributed to numerous design publications. His work focuses on making typography accessible and practical for designers at all levels.

Related font pairings

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More font pairing guides

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About Douglas Bonneville

Douglas has been a graphic designer since 1992, in addition to software developer and author. He is a member of Smashing Magazine's "Panel of Experts" and has contributed to over 100 articles. He is the author of "The Big Book of Font Combinations", loves cats, and plays guitar.

The BonFX Letter

One good pairing.
Every Tuesday.

2-minute read · free

This week — no. 14

Quiet authority

Merriweather sets the tone in one line. Lato stays out of the way and lets it.

MERRIWEATHER 700  +  LATO 400

A font specimen, a pairing that works, and one line on why it works. That is the whole email.

Free. One click to unsubscribe. No sharing, ever.

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About BonFX

Douglas Bonneville has been a graphic designer since 1992 and has written about type here since 2009. BonFX is a blog about typography and design, and the books that came out of it.

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