Using Page templates in WordPress

Skip to:
Overview
Choosing a template
Default template
Content Detail
Chaptered Page
News Listing
Person Listing
Event Listing
Video Listing

Overview

When creating a minisite Page in WordPress, you can use one of seven templates, or pre-defined layouts. In this guide, we provide a broad look at what Page templates are, how the available templates differ, and how to select a template.

Skip to individual guides

If you already know which template you want to use, and just want the instructions, you can jump directly to its standalone guide:

Default template (newly created Pages always use this template)
Content Detail
Chaptered Page
News Listing
Person Listing
Event Listing
Video Listing

Choosing a template

By default, all new Pages you create will automatically use the Default template. This is a very flexible template and we recommend keeping it as your Page template, and only choosing a different template if you have a specific goal in mind that the Default template does not fulfill.

Understanding the differences between templates

General content templates

Default template: Use this template to create Pages with a promotional focus, where you want to encourage site visitors to explore and experience a variety of ideas and media (such as large images and videos).
Content Detail: Use this template to create text-focused informational Pages. Pages display with an even amount of whitespace on the left and right sides of the screen.
Chaptered Page: Use this template to create text-focused informational Pages. Similar to Content Detail, but with the addition of a chapter listing so visitors can easily jump to different sections.

Single-purpose templates

News Listing: Use this template to create a Page that displays a list of Posts (articles).
Person Listing: Use this template to create a Page that displays a list of people.
Event Listing: Use this template to create a Page that displays a list of events.
Video Listing: Use this template to create a Page that displays a list of videos.

Selecting a template

We recommend choosing a template before you begin adding content to the Page. If you've already added a considerable amount of content to a Page, changing the template later on may cause the content to become hidden and force you to re-enter it using the new template.

For example, if you create a large amount of content using Default template and later switch to Chaptered Page, the content you created using Default template will not display on the Chaptered Page, and vice versa.

When you create a new Page, it is automatically set up using "Default template." To choose a different template:

Click Pages > Add New Page.
Fill out the Add title field.
In the Settings sidebar (right side), locate the "Template" field and click Default template.
Click Default template and select a template from the dropdown.
Click Save draft (top right). Refresh the page.
- Unable to save? Make sure you filled out the Add title field.

Default template

This is a great template for any Pages that have a promotional focus, such as a department's homepage and landing pages. Content should invite the site visitor to discover, explore, and engage with a variety of ideas and concepts through not just text but media such as large, attractive images, CTA buttons, and videos.

Technical details

Full-width template
Uses the default WordPress block editor
Full-width and column-width components are both allowed

Using this template

You don't have to take any action to select this template for your Page: all new Pages automatically use the Default template.

To add content to Pages that use the Default template:

Content Detail

Use this template for text-heavy informational pages such as program pages.

Technical details

Column-width template
Uses the default WordPress block editor
Only column-width components are allowed

Using this template

To create a Page using this template, follow our guide:

Using the Content Detail template in WordPress

Chaptered Page

Use this template for text-heavy informational pages. This template features a chapter listing to make it easy for site visitors to quickly jump around to different sections.