Tamaki, a hafu with Japanese and French heritage, has pale-blond hair from his mother and violet eyes in the manga. Tall and slender, he's outspoken and naive for his age, with exaggerated expressions. While celebrating romance, His 'host' personality is charming but often bumbling outside the Club, though he genuinely wants to please the female guests.. Despite his childishness, he is highly intelligent, ranking second in Class 2-A, likely due to innate ability rather than effort. He sometimes offers surprising insights but remains a goofball and flirt at heart. He is ultimately generous and kind.

Takashi "Mori" Morinozuka is a 3rd-year student at Ouran Academy and the second-oldest member of the Host Club. Known as the "Wild" or "Strong-Silent" type, he is rarely seen without his cousin Honey. Coming from a family historically serving Honey's family, Mori is a skilled kendo and karate champion with a stoic demeanor and a unique bond with animals. Tall and imposing with spiky black hair and darker skin, he speaks only when necessary, offering wise counsel. Mori is protective, well-respected, and occasionally talkative and flirtatious when tired.

Mitsukuni Honey, known as "Honey," is an attractive, childlike third-year high school student and martial arts champion. Despite being shorter than average and loving cute things and sweets, he is a perennial optimist with a naive outlook, resembling an elementary schooler. Often seen on Takashi "Mori" Morinozuka's shoulders and carrying Usa-chan, he has a babyish face and stands 148 cm (4'10"). Beneath his childish hobbies, Honey is mature, insightful into others' feelings, and offers good advice.

Before attending Ouran Academy, Haruhi was an average girl with long brown hair and a girl's uniform. Upon enrolling, her look changes drastically to a nerdy, androgynous style with short hair, large glasses, and baggy clothes, leading others to mistake her for a boy. She identifies as female but rejects traditional gender roles, dressing and behaving in a boyish manner due to circumstances, not gender dysphoria. Blunt and insightful, Haruhi is practical and responsible, unaffected by the Host Club's charms, and often reacts nervously rather than infatuated. Her deeper voice and androgynous style make her less easily recognized as female.

Kyoya Ootori is a 2nd-year student at Ouran Academy who is also the cost-conscious and calculating vice-president of the Ouran Host Club that he co-founds with his best friend, Tamaki Suoh. Despite Tamaki's position as the President, Kyoya is the true director, playing the role of a puppet-master behind the scenes, thus earning him the nickname of "The Shadow King." Kyoya has short black hair that is carefully styled and brownish-grey eyes. He is tall, thin, and wears slim, rimless glasses which flash whenever he is scheming, being smug or funny, angry or secretly frightened, though this trait is not limited to these emotions. He also has a habit of pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose or adjusting them somehow when seeking to clarify an idea. Kyoya is a calm and logical guy who has superior intelligence. He also can come across as rather detached, and sometimes threatening when need be. He is a diligent secretary for the club and tracks continuous data on the club's guests and fortunes through his netbook, tablet, or notebook.

Hikaru Hitachiin is the older identical twin of the Hitachiin family, and it has been shown that although their looks are identical, Hikaru's character differs greatly from that of Kaoru's, and he is more dependent on his brother than the reverse. Because of his immaturity in dealing with others, Hikaru is childishly over-possessive of each club member. His short and somewhat-messy hair is depicted as auburn. Both twins possess amber-colored eyes, a thin face and pale skin.

Kaoru Hitachiin is the younger of the identical twin brothers, alongside his older twin, Hikaru. They are introduced when Haruhi finds the Host Club. Kaoru is playful like his brother but more insightful and easy-going. He recognizes that their co-dependence must end for them to grow as individuals. Though both are wealthy and playful, Kaoru is calmer and more mature. Alone, he acts selflessly and seriously, but with Hikaru, he becomes mischievous. Despite spending most of his life only with his brother, Kaoru understands social interactions and self-control. Both have amber eyes, a slim face, and pale skin. He has short, tousled auburn hair.