Bootstrap

Scaffolding

Bootstrap is built on a responsive 12-column grid. We've also included fixed- and fluid-width layouts based on that system.

Grid system 12 columns with a responsive twist

Default 940px grid

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
4
4
4
8
6
6
12

The default grid system provided as part of Bootstrap is a 940px-wide, 12-column grid.

It also has four responsive variations for various devices and resolutions: phone, tablet portrait, table landscape and small desktops, and large widescreen desktops.

<div class="row">
  <div class="span4">...</div>
  <div class="span8">...</div>
</div>

As shown here, a basic layout can be created with two "columns," each spanning a number of the 12 foundational columns we defined as part of our grid system.


Offsetting columns

4
4 offset 4
3 offset 3
3 offset 3
8 offset 4
<div class="row">
  <div class="span4">...</div>
  <div class="span4 offset4">...</div>
</div>

Nesting columns

With the static (non-fluid) grid system in Bootstrap, nesting is easy. To nest your content, just add a new .row and set of .span* columns within an existing .span* column.

Example

Level 1 of column
Level 2
Level 2 
<div class="row">
  <div class="span12">
    Level 1 of column
    <div class="row">
      <div class="span6">Level 2</div>
      <div class="span6">Level 2</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

Grid customization

Variable Default value Description
@gridColumns 12 Number of columns
@gridColumnWidth 60px Width of each column
@gridGutterWidth 20px Negative space between columns
@siteWidth Computed sum of all columns and gutters Counts number of columns and gutters to set width of the .container-fixed() mixin

Variables in LESS

Built into Bootstrap are a handful of variables for customizing the default 940px grid system, documented above. All variables for the grid are stored in variables.less.

How to customize

Modifying the grid means changing the three @grid* variables and recompiling Bootstrap. Change the grid variables in variables.less and use one of the four ways documented to recompile. If you're adding more columns, be sure to add the CSS for those in grid.less.

Staying responsive

Customization of the grid only works at the default level, the 940px grid. To maintain the responsive aspects of Bootstrap, you'll also have to customize the grids in responsive.less.

Layouts Basic templates to create webpages

Fixed layout

The default and simple 940px-wide, centered layout for just about any website or page provided by a single <div class="container">.

<body>
  <div class="container">
    ...
  </div>
</body>

Fluid layout

<div class="fluid-container"> gives flexible page structure, min- and max-widths, and a left-hand sidebar. It's great for apps and docs.

<body>
  <div class="fluid-container sidebar-left">
    <div class="fluid-sidebar">
      ...
    </div>
    <div class="fluid-content">
      ...
    </div>
  </div>
</body>

Responsive design Media queries for various devices and resolutions

Responsive devices

Supported devices

Bootstrap supports a handful of media queries to help make your projects more appropriate on different devices and screen resolutions. Here's what's included:

Label Layout width Column width Gutter width
Smartphones 480px and below Fluid columns, no fixed widths
Portrait tablets 480px to 768px Fluid columns, no fixed widths
Landscape tablets 768px to 940px 44px 20px
Default 940px and up 60px 20px
Large display 1210px and up 70px 30px

What they do

Media queries allow for custom CSS based on a number of conditions—ratios, widths, display type, etc—but usually focuses around min-width and max-width.

  • Modify the width of column in our grid
  • Stack elements instead of float wherever necessary
  • Resize headings and text to be more appropriate for devices

Using the media queries

Bootstrap doesn't automatically include these media queries, but understanding and adding them is very easy and requires minimal setup. You have a few options for including the responsive features of Bootstrap:

  1. Use the compiled responsive version, bootstrap-responsive.css
  2. Add @import "responsive.less" and recompile Bootstrap
  3. Modify and recompile responsive.less as a separate

Why not just include it? Truth be told, not everything needs to be responsive. Instead of encouraging developers to remove this feature, we figure it best to enable it.

  // Landscape phones and down
  @media (max-width: 480px) { ... }

  // Landscape phone to portrait tablet
  @media (max-width: 768px) { ... }

  // Portrait tablet to landscape and desktop
  @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 940px) { ... }

  // Large desktop
  @media (min-width: 1200px) { .. }