Title: Layout Settings overview
Author: thelmachido a11n
Published: November 2, 2022
Last modified: September 27, 2025

---

# Layout Settings overview

## In this article

 * [How to access layout settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#how-to-access-layout-settings)
 * [Navigating through nested blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#navigating-through-nested-blocks)
 * [Type of settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#type-of-settings)
    - [Justification](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#justification)
    - [Orientation](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#orientation)
    - [Allow to wrap to multiple lines](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#allow-to-wrap-to-multiple-lines)
    - [Customizing layout width](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#customizing-layout-width)
 * [Blocks that include layout settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#blocks-that-include-layout-settings)
 * [Demonstration](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#demonstration)
 * [Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#changelog)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

The layout settings in [blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/blocks/)
allow you to change the justification and orientation of the nested child blocks
inside their parent blocks. These settings can be found in the parent blocks within
which the child blocks are nested.

The layout settings are available when you use the [block editor](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-editor/).
If you are new to the block editor, [this guide](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/working-with-blocks/)
will show you how to work with blocks. You can read more about the new block editor
features and improvements [in this article.](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2022/09/26/core-editor-improvement-catalyst-for-creativity/)

## 󠀁[How to access layout settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#how-to-access-layout-settings)󠁿

To access the layout settings (in the parent block), click on any of the child blocks.
The first icon in the block toolbar of the child block will select the parent block.
In the block settings sidebar in the parent block, you will find the **Layout** 
section as shown below.

![Layout Settings for blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2022/10/
layout-settings-1.gif)

## 󠀁[Navigating through nested blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#navigating-through-nested-blocks)󠁿

The **List View** tool can be used to navigate between layers of content and nested
blocks. This will make it easy to access the parent and child block.

![Top toolbar of the editor](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/07/Screen-
Shot-2021-07-08-at-4.43.32-PM-1.png)

To open **List View**, select the List View icon from the Top Toolbar of the [block editor](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-editor/)
as shown above. It will remain open as you navigate through your content and stay
open until you close it by either selecting the “x” or by selecting the List View
icon again.

[Learn more about the List View](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/list-view/).

![The list view of blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2021/12/Screen-
Shot-2021-12-21-at-3.32.17-PM-1024x926.png)

## 󠀁[Type of settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#type-of-settings)󠁿

Each supported block comes with different layout settings. If you make customizations
to these settings and want to revert back to the original settings quickly, you 
can do so by selecting the three-dot menu icon and clicking **Reset All** as [shown in this article](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/working-with-blocks/#reset-controls).
This resets the settings and removes all of your changes.

### 󠀁[Justification](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#justification)󠁿

You can set the justification of the child blocks inside the parent block. You can
justify the child blocks to the **Left**, **Center**, or **Right**.

Some blocks like [buttons block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/buttons-block/)
will have the option to add **Space between items** which lets you add equal space
between them. Space between items is applicable only for horizontal orientation.
Eg: The _buttons block_ is centered with equal spacing between the buttons if you
have more than 1 button within the _buttons block_. _If the child blocks are set
to be vertically aligned, you will not be able to put space between them._

The justification settings can be found on the parent block’s toolbar and sidebar
settings.

![Layout settings for justifying blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2022/10/justification-2.gif)

### 󠀁[Orientation](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#orientation)󠁿

When you first add multiple blocks to a parent block, the child blocks will be displayed
horizontally (i.e. next to each other.)

Another option is to display the child blocks vertically (i.e., stacked in the parent
block).

![Orientation for layout Parent Block Settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2022/10/orientation-1.gif)

### 󠀁[Allow to wrap to multiple lines](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#allow-to-wrap-to-multiple-lines)󠁿

![Allow to wrap blocks to multiple lines. ](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2022/10/wrap.png)

By turning on the **Allow to wrap to multiple lines** setting, the child blocks 
will move to the next line when there isn’t enough space on smaller screen sizes_(
mobile device)_. With this setting off, all the child blocks will stay on the same
line no matter the screen size.

### 󠀁[Customizing layout width](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#customizing-layout-width)󠁿

Some blocks such as the [Query Loop](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/query-loop-block/)
block that has nested inner blocks like [Post Template](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/post-template-block/)
block and [Group block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/group-block/)
will have the following layout option that lets you choose the layout width for 
the nested blocks.

![Toggle off the option- Inner blocks use content width](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2022/11/layout-settings-innverblock-1-6.8-300x137.jpg)

Toggle off **Inner blocks use content width** so that the nested inner blocks fill
the width of the parent container.

![Toggle on the option- Inner blocks use content width](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2022/11/layout-settings-innverblock-2-6.8-201x300.jpg)

Toggle on **Inner blocks use content width **so that the nested inner blocks use
content width with options for full and wide widths. You can set the value for full
width by typing in a value in the **Content** textbox. You can also set the value
for wide width by typing in a value in the **Wide** textbox. You can also set the
unit in PX, %, EM, REM, VW, or VH for the **Content** width and **Wide** width. 
You can also change the **Justification** for the nested elements to left, center
or right aligned within the parent container.

## 󠀁[Blocks that include layout settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#blocks-that-include-layout-settings)󠁿

 * Buttons
 * Column
 * Columns
 * Comments Pagination
 * Gallery
 * Group
 * Navigation
 * Post Content
 * Post Template
 * Query
 * Query Pagination
 * Social Links

## 󠀁[Demonstration](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#demonstration)󠁿

To see these specific container-related options in play here’s an example with the
navigation block where you can quickly switch between different configurations as
you find which best fits with the header of your choosing.

You can read more about the new Block Editor features and improvements [in this article.](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2022/09/26/core-editor-improvement-catalyst-for-creativity/)

## 󠀁[Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/layout-settings-overview/?output_format=md#changelog)󠁿

 * Created 2022-11-01

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First published

November 2, 2022

Last updated

September 27, 2025