How to Create Multiple Columns in Bricks Builder?

This guide explains how to create multiple columns in Bricks Builder using a layout that stays readable across screen sizes. It covers choosing the parent layout, adding content containers, setting responsive behavior, and checking the front-end result. These are page-design columns, not structural building members.

Direct answer

In Bricks Builder, “columns” are website layout containers, not structural building columns. Set the grid or flex layout, responsive breakpoints, spacing, and content order in the page builder, then test the result on desktop and mobile. Do not use the web-layout term as construction guidance.

What “columns” means in Bricks Builder

In Bricks Builder, a column is a web-layout container used to arrange content. It is separate from a structural building column. A page can use grid or flexbox behavior to align text, images, cards, or other elements, and the chosen layout should adapt to the screen width and content length. Before building the layout, confirm the page template, content width, global typography, and reusable class conventions. This prevents a local column layout from fighting the site-wide design system.

Choose the layout before adding widgets

Plan the content order first, then choose a layout that is easy to read and maintain. Decide the number of columns at desktop width, the gap between them, the minimum usable width for each item, and the point where the layout should stack on tablets or phones. Avoid fixed widths that create horizontal scrolling. Begin with the content hierarchy: decide which information belongs together and in what reading order. A layout should make the page easier to scan, not simply divide the screen into equal boxes. Sketch the desktop arrangement and the mobile sequence before changing the builder settings. When reusing a layout, save it as a reusable component or template only after its responsive behavior is verified. A shared component should have clear settings and should not depend on page-specific spacing overrides.

Create a parent and child container structure

Use a parent container to control the layout and child elements for the content. Grid is useful for repeated two-dimensional cards; flex layouts are useful for one-direction alignment and wrapping. Keep spacing consistent, set responsive values intentionally, and check whether each child should grow, shrink, or maintain a minimum width. A parent container controls the overall layout while child containers hold each content group. Grid works well for repeated cards or a two-dimensional arrangement; flexbox works well when items align or wrap along one direction. Choose the simplest model that matches the design.

Set column widths, gaps, and wrapping

Set column count and gap at a wide viewport, then add responsive changes for narrower widths. Avoid fixed pixel widths that force horizontal scrolling. Check whether each child can shrink, whether images keep a useful crop, and whether long headings wrap without overlapping neighboring content. Before building the layout, confirm the page template, content width, global typography, and reusable class conventions. This prevents a local column layout from fighting the site-wide design system. After publishing, check the page in a normal browser session and at actual viewport widths. Confirm that links, hover and focus states, image loading, and section spacing behave as expected.

Make the layout responsive

On small screens, columns commonly stack into one readable sequence. Make sure the visual order also makes sense for keyboard navigation and screen readers. If the design changes the order at a breakpoint, verify that the content still communicates the same hierarchy. Preview the page at desktop, tablet, and phone widths, then inspect the actual front end after saving. Builder canvas dimensions may not exactly match the browser because theme styles, fonts, and global CSS can affect the final rendering.

Keep reading order and accessibility clear

Keep headings in a logical order and ensure each column has a clear label when it contains a distinct topic. Do not communicate meaning only through color or position. Check text contrast, link focus, image alternative text, and touch target spacing. Test the layout with real content rather than placeholder text. Different title lengths, image ratios, and button labels can expose overflow or misalignment that is not visible in a short demo. Before building the layout, confirm the page template, content width, global typography, and reusable class conventions. This prevents a local column layout from fighting the site-wide design system.

Test with real content and images

For card grids, keep titles and call-to-action links aligned without forcing identical heights through brittle fixed sizing. Let content grow naturally, and test with longer text, missing images, and translated or edited content before publishing. Keep the number of columns proportional to the content. A narrow phone screen rarely has room for several side-by-side text blocks, while a wide desktop can support a grid if each card remains readable. When reusing a layout, save it as a reusable component or template only after its responsive behavior is verified. A shared component should have clear settings and should not depend on page-specific spacing overrides.

Troubleshoot overflow and unexpected stacking

Avoid using many nested containers to repair a layout that could be simplified. Fixed pixel widths, excessive negative margins, and duplicated responsive overrides can make later editing difficult. Test the live preview after saving and check that theme-wide styles do not override the element settings. If columns collapse unexpectedly, inspect the selected parent element, its display mode, child width or flex-basis, gap, minimum width, and breakpoint settings. Check whether a global class or theme rule overrides the element. Change one setting at a time and retest.

Keep styles reusable and maintainable

Review alignment, spacing, content order, breakpoints, overflow, image behavior, and accessibility. Confirm the page remains readable when text is longer than the sample content. Keep the desktop and mobile versions consistent in meaning even when their visual arrangement changes. After publishing, check the page in a normal browser session and at actual viewport widths. Confirm that links, hover and focus states, image loading, and section spacing behave as expected. After publishing, check the page in a normal browser session and at actual viewport widths. Confirm that links, hover and focus states, image loading, and section spacing behave as expected.

Final preview before publishing

A good final review checks overflow, alignment, content order, spacing, image behavior, heading hierarchy, and link operation. Confirm the layout remains usable when the copy changes, then record reusable classes or component settings for the next page. When reusing a layout, save it as a reusable component or template only after its responsive behavior is verified. A shared component should have clear settings and should not depend on page-specific spacing overrides.

Structural review table

Use this topic-specific checklist to organize a conversation with the design professional and construction team.

Frequently asked questions

Are Bricks Builder columns structural columns?

No. They are web-layout containers.

Should a two-column layout stay two columns on mobile?

Usually it should stack when the content becomes too narrow.

How should I choose grid or flex?

Use the simplest layout model that matches the content arrangement and responsive behavior.

Field verification note

Test the layout with real content rather than placeholder text. Different title lengths, image ratios, and button labels can expose overflow or misalignment that is not visible in a short demo. Set column count and gap at a wide viewport, then add responsive changes for narrower widths. Avoid fixed pixel widths that force horizontal scrolling. Check whether each child can shrink, whether images keep a useful crop, and whether long headings wrap without overlapping neighboring content.

Design coordination note

After publishing, check the page in a normal browser session and at actual viewport widths. Confirm that links, hover and focus states, image loading, and section spacing behave as expected. Set column count and gap at a wide viewport, then add responsive changes for narrower widths. Avoid fixed pixel widths that force horizontal scrolling. Check whether each child can shrink, whether images keep a useful crop, and whether long headings wrap without overlapping neighboring content.

Project handoff note

When reusing a layout, save it as a reusable component or template only after its responsive behavior is verified. A shared component should have clear settings and should not depend on page-specific spacing overrides. On small screens, columns commonly stack into one readable sequence. Make sure the visual order also makes sense for keyboard navigation and screen readers. If the design changes the order at a breakpoint, verify that the content still communicates the same hierarchy.

Field verification note

Before building the layout, confirm the page template, content width, global typography, and reusable class conventions. This prevents a local column layout from fighting the site-wide design system. Use consistent spacing values and reusable classes for repeated patterns. Avoid solving every alignment issue with custom negative margins or duplicated overrides. A smaller set of shared styles is easier to maintain when the site theme or brand spacing changes.

Design coordination note

When reusing a layout, save it as a reusable component or template only after its responsive behavior is verified. A shared component should have clear settings and should not depend on page-specific spacing overrides. For card grids, keep titles and call-to-action links aligned without forcing identical heights through brittle fixed sizing. Let content grow naturally, and test with longer text, missing images, and translated or edited content before publishing.

Design coordination note

After publishing, check the page in a normal browser session and at actual viewport widths. Confirm that links, hover and focus states, image loading, and section spacing behave as expected. For card grids, keep titles and call-to-action links aligned without forcing identical heights through brittle fixed sizing. Let content grow naturally, and test with longer text, missing images, and translated or edited content before publishing.