WordPress Block Editor – Columns Block
This tutorial is part of our series on How To Use The WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg).
- To learn more about using the WordPress block editor interface, go here: The WordPress Block Editor – Content Area
- To learn more about using blocks, see this tutorial: How To Use WordPress Block Editor Blocks
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Columns Block – Description
Use the Columns block to add text, media, and other types of content into columns and create grid layouts in your content.
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The Columns block:
- Supports up to 6 columns.
- Lets you add a multi-column layout to your posts or pages.
- You can include other types of blocks within each column, making the Columns block quite versatile.
How To Use The Columns Block
In this section, we’ll cover:
- How to add a Columns block to your content.
- How to edit and configure your Columns block and block settings.
- How to remove the Columns block from your content.
For more details on using blocks (e.g. how to move blocks around your content), see this tutorial: How To Use Blocks.
Adding A Columns Block
To add a Columns block:
- Either:
- Click on the ‘Add Block’ tool in the Editing Toolbar section and select the Columns block (in Most Used or Design section), or
- Add the Columns block in the Content Area.
- Note: you can also add a predesigned column layout from the Block Patterns Library.
- Select and insert other types of blocks into your column structure (e.g. a Paragraph block, Heading block, Image block, Cover block, etc.)
- Use the tools in the Columns Block Editor or Block Settings section to format your Columns block.
Let’s go through the above steps.
How To Add A Columns Block From The Block Library
First, create a new post or page or open an existing post or page and either:
Click on the ‘Add Block’ tool and select a Columns block…
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Or, select a Columns block using the Inserter tool in the Content Area.
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This will insert a Columns block into your content.
You are given a choice of column styles to start with. Select a variation or click the ‘Skip’ link to insert a default style and adjust your columns later.
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Your column containers will be inserted into your content.
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You can add multiple Column blocks to create unique grid layouts using different Column variations.
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How To Add A Columns Block From The Block Patterns Library
To add a predesigned Columns block pattern to your post or page:
- Click the Add Block tool.
- Select the Patterns tab.
- Select Columns from the dropdown menu.
- Select a Column style.
This will add the selected Columns block to your content.
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After adding a Columns block to your content:
- Click inside the Columns block to select a column.
- Insert whichever type of block you would like to add to your column structure.
- Edit the content of those blocks inside your columns.
Here are some examples of what you can create using the Columns block:
Services Grid
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We created the above grid by adding a 3-column block to the content, then inserting and editing an Image block, Heading block, and a Paragraph block into each column.
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Portfolio
Here is a 2-column portfolio created using a Columns block with an embedded Cover block.
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As you can see, the Columns block provides a versatile structure for creating a wide range of text and media-based layouts in your content.
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How To Edit A Columns Block
As you improve your block editing skills, you will find adding and editing content inside columns will become easier and faster.
There are three different levels to editing a Columns block:
1 – Edit the Columns Block
You can edit the Columns block at the top or parent level.
To edit a Columns block:
- Click inside the Columns block to select it, then.
- Use the Block Editor tools to change your column options.
- Use the Block Settings to change your column settings.
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The Columns block editor lets you perform the following operations:
- Change block type or style (See ‘Code Block – Additional Info’ section below.)
- Drag block
- Move block up and down
- Change Alignment – Specify whether to display your column block in wide width (stick out on either side of normal content) or full width (stretch across the width of the entire browser).
- Change vertical alignment – Vertically align your block to the top, middle, or bottom.
- More Options – See How To Use Blocks to learn how to use this section.
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To select the Columns Block editor, click on an area of white space between columns, or click on a column and hover over the block icon to bring up the parent level block.
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One way to tell which level of the editor you are working on is to look at the block icon.
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Useful Columns block settings at the top level include changing the text and background colors of the block and adjusting its number of columns (up to a maximum of 6 columns).
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2 – Edit individual columns within the Columns block
You can also edit individual columns of the Columns block.
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The Columns editor lets you do the following:
- Column icon – hovering over this icon brings up the Columns Block icon, which lets you select the Columns Block editor.
- Drag block
- Move block left and right – use these buttons to reorder your columns with the block.
- Change vertical alignment – Vertically align your block to the top, middle, or bottom.
- More Options – See How To Use Blocks to learn how to use this section.
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You can also adjust the column width in the settings section.
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3 – Edit blocks inside columns
The Columns block essentially provides a structure that allows you to insert and work with other blocks.
So, if you insert a Paragraph block into a column, then to edit the content in that column, simply edit the Paragraph block inside the Columns block.
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To learn how to edit different types of blocks, see this tutorial: How To Use Blocks
Here are some useful tips when editing a Columns block:
1 – Duplicate Columns Blocks
If adding too many columns makes the content on your post or page too narrow, consider duplicating the Columns block.
To duplicate the Columns block:
- Click inside the Columns block.
- Select ‘More Options’ > ‘Duplicate’ (or use Block Editor Keyboard Shortcuts).
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After duplicating the block, just edit the content inside each of the columns.
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2 – Use The Outline Tool
You can use the Outline tool in the Editing toolbar to easily view, select, reorganize, and reorder elements inside the Columns block.
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Click on elements in the Outline Tool to access editors for the Columns block, columns, and elements inside your columns.
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3 – Transform Multiple Blocks Into Columns
You can select multiple blocks in a row and change these into columns.
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To turn multiple blocks into columns, do the following:
- Select all the blocks that you want to turn into columns by clicking and dragging.
- Click the block icon in the block editor toolbar.
- Choose Columns under the Transform to list.
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Remember to save and publish or update your post or page.
How To Remove A Columns Block
To delete or remove a columns block from your content:
- Click inside the Columns block to select it.
- Select the ‘More Options’ tool in the Block Editor.
- Click on ‘Remove Block’.
- The block will be removed from your post or page.
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Additionally…
- You can reposition your block using the ‘Move Up’ and ‘Move Down’ arrows or the Drag and Drop handle tool (see this tutorial if you need help with this step: How To Use Blocks).
- You can also convert a Column block into a Reusable block.
Columns Block Tools, Options & Settings
The Columns Block includes tools, options, and settings for:
- Columns Block Editor
- Columns Block Settings
- Columns Editor
- Columns Settings
Columns Block Editor
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The Columns Block Editor includes tools that let you perform the following operations:
- Change block type or style (See ‘Columns Block – Additional Info’ section below.)
- Drag block
- Move block up and down
- Change Alignment
- Wide width – makes the block stick out on either side of regular content.
- Full width – makes the block stretch over the entire width of the browser window (regular content remains within margins on either side).
- Change Vertical Alignment
- Vertically Align Top
- Vertically Align Middle
- Vertically Align Bottom
- More Options – See How To Use Blocks to learn how to use this section.
Columns Block Settings
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Columns Block settings include:
- Block description area
- Styles – The styles displayed in this section depend on the theme and plugins installed on your site. For example, default, overlap, etc.
- Default Style – Use the drop-down menu to select a default style for the block.
- Color Settings – Select from the preset color palette or add a custom color using hexadecimal or RGB values. Click the Clear button to restore the default text color.
- Text Color
- Background Color (Solid, Gradient)
- Link Color
- Columns
- Specify the number of columns (maximum 6) using:
- Slider – Slide left/right to increase/decrease number of columns.
- Type in a number in the ‘Columns’ box (enter a number from 1 to 6)
- Click ‘up’ and ‘down’ arrows to increase/decrease the number of columns.
- Specify the number of columns (maximum 6) using:
- Advanced Settings
- HTML Anchor – Create a unique web address to send users directly to this block using a unique jump link URL. To learn more about using HTML Anchors, see our tutorial on How To Use Blocks.
- Additional CSS Class(es) – This field lets you add multiple CSS classes to your block separated with spaces. This allows you to write custom CSS and style the block as you see fit. Note: This requires having knowledge of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
Columns Editor
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The Columns editor includes the following:
- Column Icon – Hover to select parent (Columns Block Editor).
- Drag block
- Move column left and right
- Change Vertical Alignment
- Vertically Align Top
- Vertically Align Middle
- Vertically Align Bottom
- More Options – See How To Use Blocks to learn how to use this section.
Columns Settings
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Column settings include:
- Column description area
- Column Settings
- Width (enter a percentage value)
- Advanced Settings
- HTML Anchor – Create a unique web address to send users directly to a section of your page using a unique jump link URL. To learn more about using HTML Anchors, see our tutorial on How To Use Blocks.
- Additional CSS Class(es) – This field lets you add multiple CSS classes to your block separated with spaces. This allows you to write custom CSS and style the block as you see fit. Note: This requires having knowledge of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
Columns Block – Additional Info
The Columns block can be converted into the following block types:
- Columns block (note: selecting this option changes the entire block into a column)
- Group block
- Reusable block
You can also select a style for your Columns block from this menu.
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Additionally:
Installing plugins or themes on your site may also add new functionality, options, or settings to the Columns block.
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Congratulations! Now you know how to use the WordPress content editor’s Columns block.
For tutorials on how to use other blocks, go here: WordPress Block Editor – How To Use Blocks
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Updated: July 5th, 2024