A website layout is the arrangement of visual elements on a web page that provides a cohesive user experience. Knowing the right layout for your brand is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention and driving engagement. It can also make your website more appealing and easier to navigate.
We’ve prepared a list of the top website layout ideas for 2025. Read on to discover the best approach to stand out online!
Key Points
- A website layout arranges visual elements on a web page to create a cohesive user experience.
- Choosing the right website layout is essential for capturing attention, driving engagement, and ensuring easy navigation.
- The single-column layout remains the most popular in 2025, as it offers a simple design that organizes all information into one column.
- The magazine layout is dynamic, combining imagery, text, and multimedia into visually appealing sections with intuitive navigation.
Table of Contents
1. Single-Column Layout
The single-column layout was the most popular layout in 2024 and is one of the simplest layouts you can choose for your site, as it organizes all necessary information into one column.
With the single-column layout, your photos, text, and videos are scannable and easy to observe. It is great for mobile experiences, blogs, newsfeeds, long-form articles, and research papers. The Communication Arts website is an ideal example of a single-column website layout.
On the other hand, one-grid layouts may limit design creativity and offer limited space. As the space is limited, it’s hard to feature multiple things at once, so it may not grab the attention of visitors. With that in mind, this design may not be ideal for those who want a site for lead generation.
2. Grid Layout
The grid layout is the second on our list of the top website design layout ideas. Grids are used to categorize information, making the website look organized and easy to scan.
This allows for multiple content elements to be distributed equally, usually split into rows and columns, enabling visitors to choose which is more important for them. The grids and all design elements in this layout should also adhere to specific units of measurement regarding size and spacing. Additionally, they also render well on any device or browser.
Typically, the grid layout is great for sites rich in content. It can populate the site with lots of content, which can lead to more opportunities for engagement, making this layout great for vlogs and newspapers. A great example of a site that leverages the grid layout is Wolveridge Architects.
One downside of grids is that they’re fixed, offering limited options for adjustments and creativity. Also, they might not support dynamic content well, and from a technical standpoint, they may be demanding for beginners to build and maintain.
3. Magazine Layout
The magazine layout is one of the most dynamic layouts you can use for your website. It features a mix of imagery, text, and multimedia organized into visually appealing sections, resembling the layout of a print magazine with attention-grabbing headlines and intuitive navigation.
As such, the magazine layout is best used for websites aiming to entertain and retain their users rather than highlighting their products and services. It boasts great visual appeal and enables site owners to artistically populate the pages with different pieces of content, such as text, images, banners, contacts, testimonials, and galleries. The New Yorker is one such website that leverages the benefits of a magazine layout.
Conversely, these sites may be hard to scan for some users, and making such a layout responsive on every screen may be a challenge. Additionally, it may seem confusing to the visitors, as they might not identify the information they’re looking for right away.
4. Parallax Scrolling
Parallax scrolling is a modern design layout that tops our list of website layout ideas. It creates a 3D effect as you scroll down the site, with the content shifting in response. Essentially, the background moves faster than the foreground, creating a sense of immersion and depth.
This layout is great for creating specific atmospheres and dynamic experiences. Also, it enables site owners to get away with putting all their content on one page, greatly improving navigation. A prime example of a site that uses parallax scrolling is Deed Delivery.
On the other hand, these animations may affect loading speed in different browsers. In addition, a content-heavy website may require the user to scroll too much, leading to frustration and abandonment.
5. Card-Based Layout
Closely tied with Google’s Material Design, the card-based layout is highly responsive and flexible. It’s also known as modular design, and each content unit, like buttons, images, text, and videos, is included in a “module card” in its own space. The result is a highly coherent and streamlined composition, much like NYT Cooking’s website.
The layout makes scanning the content easy and opens creative possibilities. The cards can be customized with animation and expanded to show more content. It is also highly responsive, catering the web design process to every device.
On the flip side, traditional content hierarchy can be lost, and creating a design that stands out is also challenging.
6. Split-Screen Layout
The split-screen layout is another popular approach for website layouts. Its style encompasses both vertical and horizontal split screens with two or more components appearing at the same time.
Typically, a vertical split screen will emphasize the importance of each component across specific areas, giving opportunities for quick decision-making and enhanced website engagement. One good example is Model Team’s website.
In contrast, integrating vertical and horizontal splits within a single page may prioritize one side over the other.
7. Hero Image Layout
The hero image layout is one of the most popular website layouts used by many brands today. It gets its name from the prominent “hero image” that features at the center. By default, this layout uses a large hero image with text overlays that dominate the entire page. A good example of a hero image website layout is the HORAGE website.
Hero image layouts are great for sites and pages that focus on specific products, as they keep the visitor’s attention centered on them. However, they might not be the best design approach for sites that need to convey multiple pieces of equally important information.
8. Asymmetrical Layout
Another well-known website layout idea is the asymmetrical layout. This approach breaks away from traditional symmetry, introducing dynamic spaces that make the design and backdrop more engaging. As such, it can easily pique visual interest and create a sense of differentiation, allowing designers to use creative solutions for presenting vital content elements on a page. The Very Berry website is a great example of a site using an asymmetrical layout.
However, asymmetrical layouts can be challenging to get right, as it is often difficult to balance visual flow and information hierarchy, which may impact readability as well.
9. Timeline Layout
The timeline layout is an ideal choice for businesses looking to tell a story in an engaging manner. This layout is used to present information or event sequences in a visually appealing and structured way. It displays content chronologically along a horizontal or vertical axis, resembling a linear progression of events or a step-based timeline that breaks down each workflow or process into manageable steps.
The information is highly organized, rich in visuals, and, most importantly, easy to digest. An excellent example of a site using the timeline layout is CFR.org.
The timeline layout is also great for progress tracking, personal and brand histories, tutorials, forms, or various project workflows.
10. Fixed Sidebar or Sticky Sidebar Layout
The fixed sidebar or sticky sidebar layout is one of the best website ideas today. In this type of layout, the menu options are usually placed in a vertical column on the left (or sometimes the right) side, or the top of the page. The sidebar is always visible and static, so visitors can access it without scrolling. An ideal example of a site using this layout is Stockholm Jazz Festival.
While sidebars aren’t comprehensive layouts, they usually go well with other layouts that accommodate a lot of content, such as grids or single-page designs. They are also great for responsive website layouts because they ensure constant access to important navigation elements and contact information on every screen.
In practical terms, fixed sidebars enhance the user experience on educational websites by providing quick access to course navigation and additional resources. On corporate or business websites, they facilitate user engagement and conversions by keeping essential contact information, service offerings, and call-to-action buttons visible.
Despite their advantages, these fixed elements can obscure parts of the content, especially if the navigation menu is positioned at the top. Reducing the menu’s size can mitigate this issue, but some content may still be hidden.
Best Website Layout: Takeaways
The layout options we’ve listed above can greatly influence user engagement and experience. Understanding the strengths and potential drawbacks of each layout enables site owners and designers to create immersive sites and pages that grab the attention of audiences and convey the site’s message clearly and coherently.
Even as user expectations evolve with advancing technology, one thing remains the same: visual appeal and intuitive layouts and designs are and will continue to be cornerstones of success.
To determine the most compatible website layout for your business, consider consulting the top web design agencies for their expertise.
Website Layout Ideas FAQs
1. What is a good website layout?
Essentially, a good website layout strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetics. It should be easy to navigate and ensures visual and information hierarchy on the pages. Also, good layouts are responsive, accessible, scalable, fast-loading, and user-friendly.
2. How do I choose a website layout?
When choosing a website layout, you should have a clear idea of what goals you want to achieve, who you’re creating the website for, and a solid idea of the content you want to post.
You should also address functionality, responsiveness, visual aesthetics, navigation, and scalability. Addressing all these aspects should be best left to professionals, so consider reaching out to a seasoned designer team who can get you on the right track.
3. How can I ensure my website layout is mobile-friendly and responsive?
The best way to get started is by choosing a responsive framework that automatically adjusts your content to screen sizes and device types. Use CSS media queries to create custom variations for different screens, with possible layout and content simplifications. Additionally, optimize your images and perform thorough manual testing to look for potential issues.
