Typography Scale Generator
Create harmonious, mathematically-perfect type systems with customizable ratios, fonts, and colors. Preview on desktop and mobile, then export production-ready CSS.
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Why Typography Scale Matters
The foundation of great design starts with consistent, purposeful typography
Visual Hierarchy
A well-defined type scale creates clear visual hierarchy, guiding users through your content naturally. Research shows that 95% of users scan content rather than read it word-for-word, making hierarchy crucial for comprehension and engagement.
Consistency
Mathematical ratios ensure uniform sizing across your entire project. This consistency reduces decision fatigue for designers and creates a more polished, professional appearance that builds trust with users.
Efficiency
With a predefined scale, designers and developers spend less time debating font sizes and more time solving real problems. Teams using type scales report 40% faster design-to-development handoffs.
Accessibility
Proper type scales improve readability for all users, especially those with visual impairments. Sufficient size differences between levels ensure content remains scannable and accessible across devices and reading conditions.
Professionalism
Mathematical precision reflects attention to detail. Brands using consistent typography systems are perceived as more trustworthy and professional, directly impacting conversion rates and user confidence.
Responsive Design
A flexible type scale adapts gracefully across screen sizes. Modern CSS techniques like rem units and viewport-based scaling ensure your typography looks perfect from mobile to desktop.
Understanding Type Scales
The mathematics and music theory behind harmonious typography
The Math Behind the Magic
A type scale is a sequence of font sizes that follow a consistent mathematical relationship. Starting from a base size (typically 16px), each level is calculated by multiplying by a specific ratio.
The formula is simple: Size = Base × Ration
Visual Harmony & Music
Many typographic ratios come from musical intervals. The "Perfect Fourth" (1.333) matches the frequency ratio of a perfect fourth in music.
Just as these intervals create pleasing harmony in music, they create visual harmony in typography.
Popular Scale Ratios Explained
When to use each ratio for maximum impact
Minor Second
1.067The most subtle scale, creating tight hierarchies with minimal size differences. Perfect for data-dense interfaces, documentation, and applications where space is premium.
Best for: Admin dashboards, technical documentation, dense content sites
Major Second
1.125A conservative scale that's easy to read with clear but modest distinctions. Ideal for long-form content where readability is paramount.
Best for: Blogs, news sites, editorial platforms, e-books
Minor Third
1.200The classic, most versatile scale. Offers clear hierarchy without being too dramatic. This is the "safe choice" that works for almost any project.
Best for: Corporate sites, SaaS products, general-purpose websites
Major Third
1.250A harmonious, balanced scale with noticeable hierarchy. Creates confident, professional typography that feels intentional and polished.
Best for: Marketing sites, portfolios, agency websites
Perfect Fourth
1.333A strong, clear scale with excellent contrast between levels. Headlines stand out without overwhelming the design. Strikes a perfect balance between subtle and bold.
Best for: Landing pages, product sites, content marketing
Augmented Fourth
1.414Based on the square root of 2, this ratio creates bold, modern hierarchies. Also known as the "tritone" in music—unique and attention-grabbing.
Best for: Creative portfolios, bold brands, experimental designs
Perfect Fifth
1.500A dramatic scale with large jumps between sizes. Headlines dominate the page, creating strong visual impact. Use when you want typography to be the hero.
Best for: Editorial design, magazine layouts, headline-focused sites
Golden Ratio
1.618The most dramatic standard scale, based on the mathematical constant φ. Found throughout nature and classical architecture. Creates luxury, high-end feel.
Best for: Luxury brands, high-end design, artistic projects
Best Practices for Typography
Professional tips for creating effective type systems
Limit Your Choices
Don't use every size in your scale. Pick 5-7 sizes for your core system (e.g., xs, s, m, l, xl, 2xl, 3xl) and stick to them. Constraint breeds consistency.
Use a Ratio
Mathematical ratios create natural harmony. 1.2 (Minor Third) is great for web apps, while 1.5 (Perfect Fifth) works well for editorial sites with dramatic headings.
Responsive Adjustments
Use a smaller ratio for mobile (e.g., 1.125) and a larger one for desktop (e.g., 1.25). This prevents headings from becoming comically large on small screens.
Check Contrast
Typography scale is only effective if users can actually read it. Use our Color Contrast Checker to ensure your text colors meet WCAG standards. Smaller text needs higher contrast ratios than large text.
Pair with Font Weight
Font size alone doesn't create hierarchy—weight matters too. Use bolder weights for headings (600-700) and regular weights for body text (400-500).
Document Your System
A type scale is only useful if your team knows it exists. Document when to use each level, include code examples, and make it easy to reference.
Common Typography Mistakes
Avoid these pitfalls when designing type systems
Too Many Font Sizes
Using arbitrary values like 13px, 14px, 15px creates visual clutter. Stick to your defined scale steps to maintain a clean rhythm.
Ignoring Line Height
Line height (leading) is just as important as size. Tight lines make text hard to track. Aim for 1.5 for body text and 1.1-1.2 for headings.
Poor Mobile Scaling
Using a dramatic desktop scale on mobile forces users to scroll excessively. Adjust your ratio or base size for smaller viewports.
Using px Units
Pixels are absolute and don't respect user preferences. Use rem units so your type scales with the user's browser settings.
From Scale to Design System
Typography is just the beginning of a comprehensive design system
A typography scale is a crucial foundation, but it's just one piece of a complete design system. Professional systems integrate typography with color, spacing, components, and documentation to create truly scalable, maintainable designs.
Color System
Pair your type scale with a well-defined color palette. Ensure text colors meet WCAG contrast requirements at every size level. Use semantic color tokens that adapt to light and dark modes.
Spacing Scale
Typography needs consistent spacing around it. Create a spacing scale (often 4px or 8px based) that harmonizes with your type scale. This ensures margins, padding, and gaps feel intentional.
Component Library
Translate your type scale into reusable components: heading components, text components, and rich text renderers. This enforces consistency and speeds up development significantly.
Responsive Strategy
Define how your scale adapts across breakpoints. Use fluid typography, viewport units, or breakpoint-based adjustments—whatever fits your project—but document the approach clearly.
Documentation
Document when to use each level, provide code examples, and show real-world usage. Great documentation makes the difference between a system that's used and one that's ignored.
Accessibility
Ensure your typography system supports users with disabilities: semantic HTML, ARIA labels, sufficient contrast, respect for user preferences, and keyboard navigation throughout.
Ready for a Professional Design System?
A great typography scale is just the beginning. We create comprehensive design systems that include typography, color, spacing, components, and complete documentation. Our systems are built for scale, accessibility, and developer happiness.
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