Which personality types are most compatible?

In classic type theory, pairs that share the same Intuitive or Sensing preference and differ on Introvert and Extravert get along most easily, for example INTJ with ENFP or ENTP. Research finds type matching predicts relationship happiness only weakly.

Does personality type compatibility really matter?

Less than most people think. Large studies of couples find that each partner's own security, warmth and conflict style, and agreement on big decisions like children and money, predict happiness far better than matching types.

Personality Type Compatibility Chart: All 16 Types

The chart

Find your type in the left column and read across. Tap a type to open its profile.

	INTJ	INTP	ENTJ	ENTP	INFJ	INFP	ENFJ	ENFP	ISTJ	ISFJ	ESTJ	ESFJ	ISTP	ISFP	ESTP	ESFP
INTJ
INTP
ENTJ
ENTP
INFJ
INFP
ENFJ
ENFP
ISTJ
ISFJ
ESTJ
ESFJ
ISTP
ISFP
ESTP
ESFP

Natural matchGood matchTakes effortChallenging

Easiest and hardest matches for each type

Type	Easiest matches	Takes more work
INTJ	ENTP, ENTJ, ENFP	ISTJ, ISFP, ISFJ
INTP	ENTJ, ENTP, ENFJ	ISFJ, ISTP, ISFP
ENTJ	INTP, INTJ, INFP	ESTJ, ESFP, ESFJ
ENTP	INTJ, INTP, INFJ	ESFJ, ESTP, ESFP
INFJ	ENFP, ENTP, ENFJ	ISFJ, ISTP, ISTJ
INFP	ENFJ, ENTJ, ENFP	ISTJ, ISFP, ISTP
ENFJ	INFP, INTP, INFJ	ESFJ, ESTP, ESTJ
ENFP	INFJ, INTJ, INFP	ESTJ, ESFP, ESTP
ISTJ	ESTP, ESTJ, ESFP	INTJ, INFP, INFJ
ISFJ	ESFP, ESFJ, ESTP	INTP, INFJ, INTJ
ESTJ	ISTP, ISTJ, ISFP	ENTJ, ENFP, ENFJ
ESFJ	ISFP, ISFJ, ISTP	ENTP, ENFJ, ENTJ
ISTP	ESTJ, ESFJ, ESTP	INTP, INFJ, INFP
ISFP	ESFJ, ESTJ, ESFP	INTJ, INFP, INTP
ESTP	ISTJ, ISFJ, ISTP	ENTP, ENFJ, ENFP
ESFP	ISFJ, ISTJ, ISFP	ENTJ, ENFP, ENTP

How the chart works

The chart follows the classic view in type theory. Pairs get along most easily when they share the same way of taking in the world (both Intuitive or both Sensing), because conversation flows. A different Introvert or Extravert preference often complements well, as does a mix of planner and improviser. Pairs that differ on almost everything have the most to learn from each other, and the most to negotiate.

What research actually says

Studies of thousands of couples in several countries find that matching personality types or traits predicts relationship happiness only weakly. What predicts it much better: each partner feeling secure rather than anxious or distant, warmth and quick repair after a fight, a compatible way of handling conflict, and agreeing on big decisions such as children, money, faith and where to live. Any two types can make a great couple.

That is why our relationship compatibility test measures those things directly and gives you a spark and a staying-power score with a partner.

Check a real match: spark, staying power and the big decisions.

Take the relationship test

NineTraits is not affiliated with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). Descriptions and chart are our own.

For fun and self-reflection. NineTraits tests are for entertainment and personal insight. They are not a clinical, psychological, medical or professional assessment, and they should not be used to make decisions about health, hiring, relationships or education. If you are struggling, please talk to a qualified professional. Full disclaimer