CSS Grid Generator

Quick answer: CSS Grid Generator is a free online tool that lets you set your column count, row count and gap, preview a live numbered demo grid, and copy the clean grid-template CSS for your layout. It works instantly with no signup or download — everything runs privately in your browser.

Set your column count, row count and gap, preview a live numbered demo grid, and copy the clean grid-template CSS for your layout.

What is the CSS Grid Generator?

A CSS grid generator is a visual tool that writes the core display: grid layout code for you. CSS Grid is the two-dimensional layout system of the modern web — it controls rows and columns at the same time, which makes it the natural choice for page skeletons, galleries, dashboards and card grids.

The heart of a grid is two properties: grid-template-columns defines the vertical tracks and grid-template-rows defines the horizontal ones. The fr unit — a fraction of the available space — is what makes grids fluid: repeat(3, 1fr) creates three equal columns that share whatever width is available. The gap property then sets gutters between tracks without any margin math.

This generator focuses on the essential grid setup: how many columns, how many rows, and how much gap. The live demo renders a numbered grid so you can see exactly how tracks divide the space, and the output is clean, standard CSS you can paste into any project. For one-dimensional rows of components, our flexbox playground is the complementary tool. Numbered cells make abstract track concepts concrete and visual.

How to use the CSS Grid Generator

  1. Set the <strong>number of columns</strong> — the demo grid redraws instantly so you can compare 2, 3, 4 or more tracks.
  2. Set the <strong>number of rows</strong> to match the content blocks your layout needs.
  3. Adjust the <strong>gap</strong> slider to tune the gutters between columns and rows.
  4. Study the numbered demo cells to confirm the track division looks right.
  5. Copy the generated <code>grid-template-columns</code>, <code>grid-template-rows</code> and <code>gap</code> CSS.

CSS Grid Generator use cases

Page layouts

Headers, sidebars, main content and footers map naturally onto grid tracks. Define the skeleton with grid-template areas or column counts, then place each region — the two-dimensional control is exactly what grid was designed for.

Image and card galleries

A repeat(3, 1fr) grid with a consistent gap is the standard responsive gallery. Thumbnails stay aligned in both dimensions, which flexbox alone cannot guarantee. Uniform gaps and aligned rows look instantly professional.

Dashboards

Stat cards, charts and widgets of different sizes fit neatly into grid tracks. Start with an even grid here, then use grid-column spans in your own CSS for featured tiles.

Pricing tables

Pricing tiers need columns that stay aligned across plan features and buttons. A three-column grid keeps every row of the comparison perfectly lined up. Aligned columns make plan comparisons effortless for visitors.

Learning track sizing

Watching numbered cells reflow as you change column and row counts builds an intuitive feel for how fr units divide space — the foundation of every grid layout you will write.

Tips

  • The fr unit divides free space — repeat(3, 1fr) is three equal fluid columns with zero math.
  • Use gap for gutters instead of margins; it never adds space around the grid’s outer edges.
  • Keep column counts modest (2–4) for readability; very narrow tracks hurt text-heavy content.
  • For fully responsive grids that add or remove columns automatically, look into repeat(auto-fit, minmax(…)) next.
  • Pair grid for the page skeleton with flexbox inside individual cards and components.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use CSS grid instead of flexbox?
Reach for grid when you need to control rows and columns together — page layouts, galleries, dashboards and pricing tables. Use flexbox for one-dimensional arrangements like navbars, button rows and centering. A common professional pattern is grid for the overall page structure with flexbox handling the internals of each component.
What does the fr unit mean?
Fr stands for fraction: it represents a share of the available space after fixed-size tracks and gaps are accounted for. Repeat(3, 1fr) divides the container into three equal columns. Mixing works too — 1fr 2fr gives the second column twice the width of the first — which makes fr the easiest way to build fluid proportional layouts.
How do I make a responsive grid that changes column count automatically?
Use repeat(auto-fit, minmax(240px, 1fr)). The browser fits as many 240px-minimum columns as it can, and each column grows to share leftover space. It is the standard technique for responsive galleries. This generator covers fixed track counts; auto-fit is the natural next step once you are comfortable with the basics.
Why are my grid items overflowing their tracks?
Grid items, like flex items, have an automatic minimum size based on their content. Long unbroken words or wide images can force a track wider than its fr share. Set min-width: 0 on the item (or overflow: hidden) to let it shrink properly within its track.
What is the difference between grid-template-columns and grid-auto-columns?
Grid-template-columns defines the explicit tracks you planned — the columns from this generator. Grid-auto-columns sizes any extra implicit tracks the browser creates when items overflow the explicit grid. Most everyday layouts only need the template properties; auto properties matter for dynamic content that may exceed the planned tracks.
Is the gap property supported in all browsers?
Yes — gap (formerly grid-gap) works in all modern browsers for both grid and flexbox layouts. It is the recommended way to create gutters because it applies spacing only between tracks, never around the grid's outer edges, and it keeps your HTML free of spacing utility classes.
Can grid items span multiple columns?
Yes, with grid-column: span 2 (or grid-row: span 2 for rows). Spanning is how you build featured tiles in dashboards and galleries — a hero card twice as wide as the rest. Design your base track structure with this generator, then add span rules to individual items in your stylesheet.