CSS Layout Generator
Generate CSS Flexbox and Grid layout code visually. Switch between Flexbox and Grid modes, adjust all key properties with dropdowns and sliders, and see a live preview update in real time. The CSS output is ready to paste into your stylesheet. Useful for quickly finding the right combination of justify-content, align-items, grid columns, and gap without memorizing property values.
How to Use the Layout Generator
- 1Choose between Flexbox and Grid mode using the tabs
- 2Adjust the layout properties — direction, alignment, gap for Flex; columns, rows, gap for Grid
- 3Watch the live preview update with colored numbered boxes
- 4Copy the generated CSS and paste it into your stylesheet
Key Benefits
- Side-by-side live preview and CSS output
- Covers both Flexbox and CSS Grid in one tool
- Shows all key alignment and spacing properties at once
- Great for learning how justify-content, align-items, and gap interact
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use Flexbox vs CSS Grid?
Flexbox is best for one-dimensional layouts — aligning items along a single row or column, like navigation bars, button groups, or card rows. CSS Grid is best for two-dimensional layouts — content arranged in both rows and columns simultaneously, like page sections, image galleries, or dashboard panels. Both can handle many scenarios, but Grid gives you explicit control over both axes at once.
What does justify-content do in Flexbox?
justify-content controls how items are distributed along the main axis (horizontal for row direction, vertical for column direction). flex-start clusters items at the start, center centers them, space-between distributes them with space only between items, and space-evenly distributes space including before the first and after the last item. See the live preview to compare these visually.
What does align-items do in Flexbox?
align-items controls how items are positioned along the cross axis (perpendicular to the main axis). stretch (the default) makes items fill the container height. center centers them vertically. flex-start and flex-end align them to the top or bottom. baseline aligns items so their text baselines align, useful when items have different font sizes or padding.
What does 'repeat(N, 1fr)' mean in CSS Grid?
The 1fr unit means one fraction of the available space. repeat(3, 1fr) creates 3 equal-width columns that each take one-third of the container width. As you add or remove columns in this generator, the repeat value updates accordingly. The fr unit automatically handles responsiveness within a fixed-size container — all columns remain equal-width as the container resizes.
Does the gap property apply to both Flexbox and Grid?
Yes. The gap property (formerly called grid-gap) now works for both Flexbox and Grid in all modern browsers. It sets the space between items — between rows and columns for Grid, between items in the flex line for Flexbox. It does not add space before the first item or after the last item, which distinguishes it from using margin on individual items.
Can I use this output directly in a React or Vue component?
Yes. The generated CSS property values work directly in any inline style object or CSS class. For React inline styles, convert the CSS property names to camelCase (for example, flex-direction becomes flexDirection, justify-content becomes justifyContent). For Vue, Svelte, or plain HTML, paste the output into a style block or CSS class without modification.