Elementor’s Container system has replaced the old Sections & Columns layout, and this Elementor Containers guide will help beginners understand how to use them properly in 2026, and it’s faster, lighter, and more flexible. If you’re new to Elementor or switching from the classic editor, Containers might feel confusing at first. But once you understand them, building modern, responsive websites becomes much easier. This beginner-friendly guide will explain what Containers are, how they work, and how you can use them properly in 2026 to design clean, professional layouts.
A Container is a flexible layout box that allows you to arrange content using Flexbox.
It replaces the old system of Section → Column → Inner Section.
Control spacing more precisely
Create responsive layouts easily
Reduce page load size (faster website!)
Build modern designs without nested sections
This is why Elementor recommends using Containers for all new designs. This new structure is part of the ongoing Elementor 2026 update, making page-building more modern and flexible.
| Old Sections | New Containers |
|---|---|
| Heavy, more code | Lightweight, faster |
| Nested structure | Simple structure |
| Limited alignment | Complete control with Flexbox |
| Harder for mobile | Easy responsive design |
In 2026, Containers are the standard for professional Elementor design.
A Container is like a layout box that holds your content. Inside a Container, you can add text, images, buttons, icons, or even additional containers.
Flexbox controls help you decide how items align, how they stretch, how they stack, and how they behave on different screen sizes.With Flexbox, you get a clean, modern, and fully responsive layout without using multiple nested sections.
This Elementor Containers tutorial will walk you through each step so beginners can follow along easily.
Open any page → Edit with Elementor
Click the + icon
Choose Container
An empty layout box is created
This is the first step in learning how to use Elementor Containers effectively.
In the Layout tab, choose your direction:
Row (horizontal): Items sit next to each other
Column (vertical): Items stack top to bottom
Choosing the correct direction is very important because it controls how your content aligns and behaves across screen sizes.
Instead of the old column system, Elementor uses child containers.
Example layout:
Parent Container (Row)
Child Container (Text)
Child Container (Image)
Child containers help structure your content cleanly without cluttering the layout.
Gap: Space between items inside the container
Padding: Space inside the container
Margin: Space outside the container
Proper spacing creates a clean and professional layout. Too much or too little spacing makes the design look unbalanced.
Flexbox settings help you position content exactly how you want:
Justify Content: Horizontal alignment
Align Items: Vertical alignment
Align Self: Alignment for individual items
These settings are the core of Flexbox containers in Elementor, giving you full control over vertical and horizontal alignment.
Containers are extremely responsive-friendly. You can:
Change direction (Row → Column) for mobile
Reduce padding
Adjust gap
Resize text and buttons
Always switch to tablet and mobile views to ensure everything looks clean and readable.
You can place a container inside another container to create:
Hero sections
Pricing tables
Featured services
Portfolio grids
Call-to-action banners
Nested containers help you design modern layouts with complete flexibility.
Use consistent spacing across your entire page
Avoid unnecessary nesting
Use Row direction for 2–3 column layouts
Use Column direction for mobile-friendly stacked layouts
Duplicate containers to keep your design consistent
Use global colors and global typography for a unified look
These suggestions make this a complete Elementor beginner guide, especially for users switching from older sections.
Avoid these to keep your design clean:
❌ Using too many child containers
❌ Wrong direction (row/column mismatch)
❌ No padding → everything looks tight
❌ Too much padding → layout looks scattered
❌ Forgetting mobile adjustments
❌ Using old sections + new containers together
Containers work best when the whole page uses the same structure.
Elementor Containers are the future of website layout design, lightweight, flexible, and fully responsive. Once you understand directions, spacing, alignment, and nesting, you can build professional layouts with ease.
With this Elementor 2026 guide, you now understand how containers work and how to use them confidently in your website designs.
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