Comparing how each ratio spreads its steps
A modular scale builds a size system by multiplying a base size by the same ratio over and over. Generating sizes from one chosen ratio is common enough; the real question is usually whether 1.2 or 1.25 suits the screen you are building. Enter a base size and how many steps you want above and below it, and the six ratios appear as columns of the same table, which makes it obvious which one produces values that line up with the spacing system you already use.
The formula is size = base size times the ratio raised to the step. Negative steps sit below the base, and the formula together with the step range is printed with the results. Values display to two decimals, and the whole-number and multiple-of-8 tags are decided at that same rounded precision, so the tag never disagrees with the number beside it. Names such as major second or perfect fifth come from musical intervals and are conventional labels rather than a standard, as of October 2026.
This page compares and nothing else. It does not recommend a ratio or a body text size. Generating a font size list from a single ratio and designing an 8pt spacing system are each handled by other tools, and line height, letter spacing and fluid type that interpolates with the viewport are out of scope here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When the spacing system runs on 8px units, type sizes that also land on multiples of 8 make vertical rhythm easier to hold. The tag shows which ratios produce those values most often.
No recognized standard picks one. The page reports the values and how many land cleanly; the choice depends on your screen density and how many heading levels you need.
Browsers accept fractional pixels but may snap them while rendering. Using the whole-number and multiple-of-8 tags to pick a nearby value keeps the rendered result closer to your intent.