Styles

Layout

Screen size

Design for small screens first, starting with a single-column layout.

For most types of page, we recommend using either a ‘two-thirds’ or a ‘two-thirds / one third layout’. That stops lines of text getting so long that the page becomes difficult to read on desktop devices.

Never make assumptions about what devices people are using. Design for different screen sizes rather than specific devices.

The default maximum page width is 1020px, but you can make it wider if your content requires it.

Common layouts

Two-thirds

Open this common two-thirds – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-width-container">
  <a href="#" class="govuk-back-link">Back</a>

  <main class="govuk-main-wrapper">

    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
        <h1 class="govuk-heading-xl">Two-thirds column</h1>
        <p class="govuk-body">This is a paragraph inside a two-thirds wide column</p>
      </div>
    </div>

  </main>
</div>

Two-thirds / one-third

Open this common two-thirds / one-third – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-width-container">
  <a href="#" class="govuk-back-link">Back</a>

  <main class="govuk-main-wrapper">

    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
        <h1 class="govuk-heading-xl">Two-thirds column</h1>
        <p class="govuk-body">This is a paragraph inside a two-thirds wide column</p>
      </div>

      <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third">
        <h2 class="govuk-heading-m">One-third column</h2>
        <p class="govuk-body">This is a paragraph inside a one-third wide column</p>
      </div>
    </div>

  </main>
</div>

Row 1: Two-thirds
Row 2: Two-thirds / One-third

Open this common two-thirds with two rows – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-width-container">
  <a href="#" class="govuk-back-link">Back</a>

  <main class="govuk-main-wrapper">

    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
        <h1 class="govuk-heading-xl">Two-thirds column</h1>
      </div>
    </div>

    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
        <h2 class="govuk-heading-l">Two-thirds column</h2>
        <p class="govuk-body-l">This is a lead paragraph inside a two-thirds wide column</p>
        <p class="govuk-body">This is a paragraph inside a two-thirds wide column</p>
      </div>

      <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third">
        <h3 class="govuk-heading-m">One-third column</h3>
        <p class="govuk-body">This is a paragraph inside a one-third wide column</p>

      </div>
    </div>

  </main>
</div>

Building your own layout

If you want to build your layout from scratch, or understand what each of the parts are responsible for, here’s an explanation of how the page wrappers and grid system works.

Page wrappers

Limiting width of content

To set up your layout you will need to create 2 wrappers. The first should have the class govuk-width-container, which sets the maximum width of the content but does not add any vertical margin or padding.

If your design requires them, you should place components such as breadcrumbs, back link and phase banner inside this wrapper so that they sit directly underneath the header.

Add vertical space

Within govuk-width-container you should add the govuk-main-wrapper class to your <main> element. This adds responsive padding to the top and bottom of the page and will be the container for your main content.

If you’re not using the breadcrumbs, back link or phase banner components in your design, add the correct amount of vertical padding above the content by adding one of the following to your <main> element:

  • the govuk-main-wrapper--auto-spacing class
  • the govuk-main-wrapper--l class - if govuk-main-wrapper--auto-spacing does not work for your service

Exploded view of page wrappers

Open this page wrapper – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-width-container">
  <a href="#" class="govuk-back-link">Back</a>

  <main class="govuk-main-wrapper">

    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
        <h1 class="govuk-heading-xl">Page title</h1>
      </div>
    </div>

  </main>
</div>

Exploded view of page wrappers without a back link, breadcrumbs or phase banner

Open this page wrapper without content after the header – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-width-container">
  <main class="govuk-main-wrapper govuk-main-wrapper--l">

    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
        <h1 class="govuk-heading-xl">Page title</h1>
      </div>
    </div>

  </main>
</div>

Grid system

Use the grid system to lay out the content on your service’s pages.

Most GOV.UK pages follow a two-thirds to one-third layout but the grid system allows for a number of additional combinations when necessary.

Your main content should always be in a two-thirds column even if you’re not using a corresponding one-third column for secondary content.

Understanding the grid system

The grid is structured with a govuk-grid-row wrapper which acts as a row to contain your grid columns.

You can add columns inside this wrapper to create your layout. To define your columns add the class beginning with govuk-grid-column- to a new container followed by the width, for example govuk-grid-column-one-third to apply your desired width.

The available widths are:

Full width

Open this full width – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-full">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-full</p>
  </div>
</div>

One-half

Open this one-half – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half</p>
  </div>
</div>

Two-thirds

Open this two-thirds – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds</p>
  </div>
</div>

One-quarter

Open this one-quarter – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
  </div>
</div>

Three-quarters

Open this three-quarters – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-three-quarters">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-three-quarters</p>
  </div>
</div>

Example combinations

Open this combinations – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-full">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-full</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-third</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-third</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-three-quarters">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-three-quarters</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-three-quarters">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-three-quarters</p>
  </div>
</div>

Desktop specific grid classes

To specify a width at the desktop breakpoint you can use the desktop specific grid classes. For example govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop will set your column width to be two-thirds width at the desktop breakpoint only.

Open this desktop grid classes – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop</p>
  </div>
</div>

The desktop specific classes also allow you to set the width of the tablet breakpoint by using them in combination with the standard grid classes. For example using govuk-grid-column-one-half and govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop together will mean the column will be one-half at the tablet breakpoint and two-thirds width at desktop.

Open this desktop and tablet grid classes – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half<br><br>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop</p>
  </div>
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half<br><br>govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop</p>
  </div>
</div>

Nested grids

Open this nested – layout example in a new tab
HTML
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
  <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
    <p>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds</p>
    <div class="govuk-grid-row">
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half">
        <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half</p>
      </div>
      <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half">
        <p>govuk-grid-column-one-half</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

Override how elements display

You can use display override classes if you need to override how elements display on the page.

Use:

  • govuk-!-display-block to display as a block
  • govuk-!-display-inline to display inline
  • govuk-!-display-inline-block to display as an inline block
  • govuk-!-display-none to remove the element from the page

You can also remove elements from the printed version of the page using govuk-!-display-none-print.

Help improve this page

If you spot a problem with this guidance you can propose a change.

If you're not sure how to do this, read guidance on how to propose changes in GitHub.

Need help?

If you’ve got a question about the GOV.UK Design System, contact the team.