Layout
Screen size
Design for small screens first using a single-column layout.
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
<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
<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
<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.
Exploded view of page wrappers
<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
If you’re not using the breadcrumbs, back link or phase banner components in your design, use a modifier class govuk-main-wrapper--l to increase the vertical space above the content.
<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
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
<div class="govuk-grid-column-full">
<p>govuk-grid-column-full</p>
</div>
</div>One-half
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
<div class="govuk-grid-column-one-half">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-half</p>
</div>
</div>One-third
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
<div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-third</p>
</div>
</div>Two-thirds
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
<div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
<p>govuk-grid-column-two-thirds</p>
</div>
</div>One-quarter
<div class="govuk-grid-row">
<div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
</div>
</div>Example combinations
<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-one-quarter">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
</div>
<div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
</div>
<div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</p>
</div>
<div class="govuk-grid-column-one-quarter">
<p>govuk-grid-column-one-quarter</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.
<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.
<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
<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>Help improve this page
If you spot a problem with the Layout 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 you can contact the team: