CSS Grid Footer Columns Generator
A brand block plus link columns that collapse gracefully.
948px
12fr21fr31fr4
1auto2auto3
brand1 / 1 / 2 / 2
links-a1 / 2 / 2 / 3
links-b1 / 3 / 2 / 4
legal2 / 1 / 3 / 4
Named areas. The CSS is a picture of the layout, and only the properties that actually change get repeated inside each media query.
.site-footer {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
grid-template-rows: auto auto auto;
gap: 24px;
grid-template-areas:
"brand brand"
"links-a links-b"
"legal legal";
}
.site-footer > .brand { grid-area: brand; }
.site-footer > .links-a { grid-area: links-a; }
.site-footer > .links-b { grid-area: links-b; }
.site-footer > .legal { grid-area: legal; }
@media (min-width: 768px) {
.site-footer {
grid-template-columns: 2fr 1fr 1fr;
grid-template-rows: auto auto;
gap: 32px;
grid-template-areas:
"brand links-a links-b"
"legal legal legal";
}
}
How this layout works
Footers are where auto-fit earns its keep, but a named layout gives the brand block the prominence it needs on desktop while keeping the link lists even.
Two columns on mobile beats one — link lists are short, and a single column makes the footer absurdly tall.
Every property used here is listed in the CSS Grid cheat sheet, with the reason to reach for it.
Frequently asked questions
How many columns should a footer have on mobile?
Two, not one. Footer link lists are short, and a single column makes the footer absurdly tall — pushing the legal line below anything anyone will scroll to.
How do I center a grid in CSS?
Use
justify-content: center on the grid container to centre the whole grid inside it, and margin-inline: auto with a max-width to centre the container in the page. These are different jobs: the first moves the tracks within the container, the second moves the container itself.How do I center items inside a CSS grid?
Set
place-items: center on the container. That is shorthand for align-items plus justify-items, and it centres every item inside its own cell on both axes. For a single item, use place-self: center on that item instead.How do I make a CSS grid responsive?
Use
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(260px, 1fr)) and it reflows at every width with no media queries at all. Add breakpoints only when the exact column count matters, or when the layout has to change shape rather than just wrap.When should I use CSS Grid instead of Flexbox?
Use Grid when things must line up in two directions at once, and Flexbox when content flows along one axis. A page skeleton or dashboard is Grid; a navbar or row of buttons is Flexbox. They nest: Grid for the page, Flexbox inside the cells.