CSS Grid Generator
Generate CSS Grid layouts visually. Define rows, columns, and gaps, then copy the ready-to-use CSS.
How to use
- 1 Set the number of columns and rows using the inputs.
- 2 Adjust the column and row gap.
- 3 Define named grid areas by clicking cells in the visual grid.
- 4 Copy the generated CSS including grid-template-columns, grid-template-rows, and grid-template-areas.
Key features
- Visual grid builder — set columns, rows, and gaps interactively
- Named grid areas support with visual cell editor
- Generates complete CSS including grid-template-columns, rows, and areas
- Ideal for learning CSS Grid or scaffolding page layouts quickly
CSS Grid Layout
CSS Grid is a two-dimensional layout system — it handles both rows and columns simultaneously. Introduced in 2017, it gives you direct control over how items are placed and sized across both axes of a grid container. Unlike Flexbox (which lays items out in one dimension at a time), Grid lets you define the full layout structure at the container level and place items anywhere within it — even spanning multiple rows or columns.
The fr unit is unique to Grid: it distributes available space as fractions after fixed-size columns are accounted for. 1fr 2fr 1fr means the middle column gets twice the remaining space as each outer column — responsive without media queries.
Common Use Cases
Page layout structure
Define a full page layout (header, sidebar, main, footer) in a few lines of CSS without nested wrappers or position hacks.
Image and card galleries
Use auto-fill with minmax() to create responsive card grids that adapt column count automatically without media queries.
Dashboard and admin UIs
Place widgets, charts, and metrics panels across a defined grid with items spanning multiple columns or rows.
Magazine-style content layouts
Overlap elements, span items across multiple columns, and create complex editorial layouts that would be painful with floats.
Form layouts
Align labels and inputs in two columns, with certain fields spanning the full width — all without float or table hacks.
Responsive layouts without media queries
Combine grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(250px, 1fr)) to get adaptive column counts from a single declaration.
Grid vs Flexbox — When to Use Which
They complement each other; most modern layouts use both.
| Scenario | Use Grid | Use Flexbox |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions needed | Rows AND columns (2D) | One direction (1D) |
| Layout definition | Defined at the container | Children control their own sizing |
| Typical use | Page structure, dashboards, galleries | Navigation bars, button groups, cards in a row |
| Alignment control | Both axes, plus named areas | Main axis + cross axis |