Content grid Responsive Bootstrap content grid
Content grid

Bootstrap content grid options

Extra small devices Phones (<768px) Small devices Tablets (≥768px) Medium devices Desktops (≥992px) Large devices Desktops (≥1200px)
Grid behavior Horizontal at all times Collapsed to start, horizontal above breakpoints
Max container width None (auto) 750px 970px 1170px
Class prefix .col-xs- .col-sm- .col-md- .col-lg-
# of columns 12
Max column width Auto 60px 78px 95px
Gutter width 30px (15px on each side of a column)
Nestable Yes
Offsets N/A Yes
Column ordering N/A Yes

Introduction

Grid systems are used for creating page layouts through a series of rows and columns that house your content. Here's how the Bootstrap grid system works:

  • Rows must be placed within a .container (fixed-width) or .container-fluid (full-width) for proper alignment and padding
  • Use rows to create horizontal groups of columns.
  • Content should be placed within columns, and only columns may be immediate children of rows.
  • Predefined grid classes like .row and .col-xs-4 are available for quickly making grid layouts. LESS mixins can also be used for more semantic layouts.
  • Columns create gutters (gaps between column content) via padding. That padding is offset in rows for the first and last column via negative margin on .rows.
  • Grid columns are created by specifying the number of twelve available columns you wish to span. For example, three equal columns would use three .col-xs-4.
.col-md-1
.col-md-11
.col-md-2
.col-md-10
.col-md-3
.col-md-9
.col-md-4
.col-md-8
.col-md-5
.col-md-7
.col-md-6
.col-md-6
.col-md-7
.col-md-5
.col-md-8
.col-md-4
.col-md-9
.col-md-3
.col-md-10
.col-md-2
.col-md-11
.col-md-1

Stacked-to-horizontal

Using a single set of .col-md-* grid classes, you can create a basic grid system that starts out stacked on mobile devices and tablet devices (the extra small to small range) before becoming horizontal on desktop (medium) devices. Place grid columns in any .row.

.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-1
.col-md-8
.col-md-4
.col-md-4
.col-md-4
.col-md-4
.col-md-6
.col-md-6
Example code:
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
          <div class="col-md-1">.col-md-1</div>
        </div>

        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-8">.col-md-8</div>
          <div class="col-md-4">.col-md-4</div>
        </div>

        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-4">.col-md-4</div>
          <div class="col-md-4">.col-md-4</div>
          <div class="col-md-4">.col-md-4</div>
        </div>

        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-6">.col-md-6</div>
          <div class="col-md-6">.col-md-6</div>
        </div>

Mobile and desktop

Don't want your columns to simply stack in smaller devices? Use the extra small and medium device grid classes by adding .col-xs-* .col-md-* to your columns. See the example below for a better idea of how it all works.

.col-xs-12 .col-md-8
.col-xs-6 .col-md-4
.col-xs-6 .col-md-4
.col-xs-6 .col-md-4
.col-xs-6 .col-md-4
.col-xs-6
.col-xs-6
Example code:
        <!-- Stack the columns on mobile by making one full-width and the other half-width -->
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-8">.col-xs-12 .col-md-8</div>
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-4">.col-xs-6 .col-md-4</div>
        </div>

        <!-- Columns start at 50% wide on mobile and bump up to 33.3% wide on desktop -->
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-4">.col-xs-6 .col-md-4</div>
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-4">.col-xs-6 .col-md-4</div>
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-4">.col-xs-6 .col-md-4</div>
        </div>

        <!-- Columns are always 50% wide, on mobile and desktop -->
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-6">.col-xs-6</div>
          <div class="col-xs-6">.col-xs-6</div>
        </div>

Mobile, tablet, desktops

Build on the previous example by creating even more dynamic and powerful layouts with tablet .col-sm-* classes.

.col-xs-12 .col-sm-6 .col-md-8
.col-xs-6 .col-md-4
.col-xs-6 .col-sm-4
.col-xs-6 .col-sm-4
.col-xs-6 .col-sm-4
Example code:
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-8">.col-xs-12 .col-sm-6 .col-md-8</div>
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-4">.col-xs-6 .col-md-4</div>
        </div>
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4">.col-xs-6 .col-sm-4</div>
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4">.col-xs-6 .col-sm-4</div>
          <!-- Optional: clear the XS cols if their content doesn't match in height -->
          <div class="clearfix visible-xs"></div>
          <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4">.col-xs-6 .col-sm-4</div>
        </div>

Offseting columns

Move columns to the right using .col-md-offset-* classes. These classes increase the left margin of a column by * columns. For example, .col-md-offset-4 moves .col-md-4 over four columns.

.col-md-4
.col-md-4 .col-md-offset-4
.col-md-3 .col-md-offset-3
.col-md-3 .col-md-offset-3
.col-md-6 .col-md-offset-3
Example code:
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-4">.col-md-4</div>
          <div class="col-md-4 col-md-offset-4">.col-md-4 .col-md-offset-4</div>
        </div>
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-3 col-md-offset-3">.col-md-3 .col-md-offset-3</div>
          <div class="col-md-3 col-md-offset-3">.col-md-3 .col-md-offset-3</div>
        </div>
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-6 col-md-offset-3">.col-md-6 .col-md-offset-3</div>
        </div>

Nesting columns

To nest your content with the default grid, add a new .row and set of .col-md-* columns within an existing .col-md-* column. Nested rows should include a set of columns that add up to 12.

Level 1: .col-md-8
Level 2: .col-md-6
Level 2: .col-md-6
Level 1: .col-md-4
Level 2: .col-md-4
Level 2: .col-md-8
Example code:
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-md-9">
            Level 1: .col-md-9
            <div class="row">
              <div class="col-md-6">
                Level 2: .col-md-6
              </div>
              <div class="col-md-6">
                Level 2: .col-md-6
              </div>
            </div>
          </div>
        </div>

Column ordering

Easily change the order of our built-in grid columns with .col-md-push-* and .col-md-pull-* modifier classes.

.col-md-9 .col-md-push-3
.col-md-3 .col-md-pull-9
Example code:
        <div class="row demo-grid">
          <div class="col-md-9 col-md-push-3">.col-md-9 .col-md-push-3</div>
          <div class="col-md-3 col-md-pull-9">.col-md-3 .col-md-pull-9</div>
        </div>