Typography is the art and technique of arranging type—fonts, sizes, spacing, and layout—to make written content both readable and visually appealing. On a website, it’s not just about how letters look—it’s about how they feel and function.
Good typography guides the reader, sets the tone, and plays a huge role in how professional (or amateurish) your site feels. It’s one of those quiet details that can elevate your entire brand experience—or silently ruin it.
What typography includes
When we talk about typography, we’re talking about more than just “choosing a font.” It covers:
- Font family: The actual typeface (like Roboto, Lato, Merriweather)
- Font size: For body text, headlines, buttons, etc.
- Line height (or line spacing): The space between lines of text
- Letter spacing (tracking): How tight or loose letters appear
- Font weight: Light, regular, bold, extra bold, etc.
- Text alignment: Left, center, right, justified
- Hierarchy: Headings, subheadings, and body text clearly differentiated
Each of these plays a role in guiding your visitor’s eye and making your content easy to read.
Why it matters for your website
- Readability = usability
If your text is too small, too tight, or too faint, people will give up quickly—especially on mobile. Good typography makes it easy to read without squinting or zooming. - First impressions count
Typography sets the tone for your brand. Modern and clean? Classic and trustworthy? Fun and quirky? Fonts help signal that before a single word is read. - Trust and professionalism
Sloppy or inconsistent type makes your site feel less reliable. Clean, consistent typography adds polish and authority—without your visitors even realizing why. - Accessibility
Clear font choices and good contrast help users with visual impairments or dyslexia. (Hint: avoid super-light text on white backgrounds.)
Common mistakes
- Using too many fonts
Stick to 2–3 at most. A primary font for body text, a headline font, and maybe an accent font if needed. - Inconsistent heading sizes
Headings should follow a logical hierarchy. Don’t let H4s overpower H2s. - Bad contrast
Light grey text on white is stylish—but unreadable. Make sure your typography passes accessibility contrast checks. - Small body text
Anything below 16px on mobile is asking for trouble. - Centered paragraphs
Okay for short quotes or headings. But for long content? Left-align it—readers skim in an F-pattern.
Choosing the right fonts
Most websites use Google Fonts, which are free, widely supported, and easy to implement. Some popular pairings:
- Lato + Playfair Display (modern + elegant)
- Inter + Merriweather (clean + readable)
- Poppins + Roboto (minimal + flexible)
Your font choice should align with your brand personality—but don’t overthink it. Clarity beats creativity every time.
Bottom line
Typography is where design meets communication. It shapes how people feel when reading your content and how easy it is to take in. Get it right, and your message comes through effortlessly. Get it wrong, and even great content can fall flat. On the web, words matter—but how you present them matters just as much.
