Typography hierarchy in 90 seconds
A short summary of the only hierarchy rules most projects need.
Typography hierarchy gets overcomplicated. Most projects need a small set of rules they can apply consistently.
The rules
Pick three sizes. One display, one body, one small. Most pages only need three. Pages that need more usually have a structural problem.
Pick two weights. One regular, one bold. Italics for emphasis or quotes. Skip the rest.
Use one typeface family if possible. Two if the display family doesn't have a body weight you like. Three or more is rarely necessary outside editorial work.
Spacing
Body line-height around 1.5–1.7. Display line-height tighter, 1.05–1.2. Section spacing always larger than paragraph spacing - by a clear margin, not a subtle one.
What this gets you
A page that reads cleanly, scales to mobile without rework, and survives content changes. A new headline three weeks from now slots into the existing hierarchy.
What it doesn't get you
An award. Award-winning typography needs more rules and more attention. Most client work doesn't need an award. It needs a page that doesn't get in the reader's way.