How to Use Classes in Webflow: A Beginner’s Guide

Inconsistent design across elements is a common frustration for Webflow users, and it often stems from a lack of understanding of how to use classes effectively. Without a solid grasp of Webflow's class system, users may resort to manually styling individual elements, which not only increases the time spent on repetitive tasks but also opens the door to inconsistencies in the design. 

A simple change to a font size, button color, or margin on one element might need to be replicated across dozens of other elements, creating a tedious and error-prone process.

Whether designing a complex website or a simple landing page, classes enable you to apply and modify styles across multiple elements at once. In this blog, we’ll explore how Webflow’s class system works, dive into the types of classes, and share some tips to manage styles like a pro.

What Are Classes in Webflow?

In Webflow, classes are a fundamental tool for styling elements, functioning similarly to CSS classes in traditional web development. A class is essentially a set of design properties—like font size, color, spacing, or borders—that you can assign to an element. 

Once applied, any changes made to the class are automatically reflected across all elements sharing the same class, making it an incredibly efficient way to maintain consistency and streamline your workflow.

Classes work by grouping elements under a common style definition. For instance, if you create a class for a button (btn-primary), you can use it to apply a consistent style to all your buttons across the website. 

If you later decide to tweak the button’s background color or padding, you only need to update the class, and the change will cascade to every button with that class. This eliminates the need to style elements individually, ensuring your designs remain consistent and easy to manage

Here’s a breakdown of why classes are essential:

1. Consistency Across Your Site: Classes ensure uniform styling across multiple elements. For example, a .button-primary class applied to buttons across the site will give them a consistent look, reinforcing brand identity and ensuring a cohesive user experience.
2. Efficient Workflow: Classes save time by allowing you to style multiple elements simultaneously. If you need to update button styles, adjusting the .button-primary class in your CSS will instantly apply changes across all relevant elements. This approach speeds up the design process, especially in larger projects.
3. Maintainability: Classes make website maintenance straightforward. When you modify a class’s definition, all elements using that class update automatically, reducing the need for manual changes and making debugging more efficient.
4. Reusability: Classes allow you to reuse styles, enhancing design flexibility. For example, a .highlight class can be applied to various elements (like paragraphs or headers) to emphasize text consistently, avoiding repetitive CSS and streamlining code.
5. Improved Organization: Using classes keeps the design structure organized. By naming classes (e.g., .header, .nav-menu, .content), developers can quickly identify styles associated with specific layout sections, making collaboration and future updates easier.

How to Create A New Class in Webflow

Here’s a step-by-step guide to make the process simpler:

Step 1: Select the Element

The first step is to select the element you want to apply a style to. This could be any element on the page, such as a heading, button, image, or section. Selecting the element tells Webflow which part of your design you want to apply new styles to. This selection also activates the styling options on the right in the Styles panel.

Step 2: Create a New Class

Once you’ve selected your element, it’s time to create a new class. Look at the top of the Style Panel and find the “Selector” field. Click on this field and type a name for your new class. For clarity and organization, use descriptive and logical names that reflect the element’s role in the design.  After typing the name, press Enter to confirm. The class is now created and assigned to the selected element, ready for you to begin styling.

Step 3: Style the Element

With your class created, you can now apply styles to the element. Use the options in the Style Panel to set properties like color, typography, margins, padding, or background images. As you make adjustments, the changes are automatically saved to the class, meaning any other element using the same class will adopt these styles. 

Step 4: Reuse the Class

The beauty of Webflow’s class system is reusability. Once you’ve created a class, you can apply it to other elements to maintain consistent styling. To do this, select another element and type the name of your existing class into the “Selector” field. The new element will immediately take on the styles defined in the class. This eliminates the need for manual repetition and ensures that all elements styled with the same class remain in sync, even when you make changes in the future.

Step 5: Modify with Combo Classes (If Needed)

Sometimes, you’ll need to create variations of an existing class—for instance, to style a button differently for hover effects or to have an alternate color scheme. Webflow makes this easy with combo classes. 

To create one, select the element with the base class already applied, then click the plus (+) icon in the “Selector” field and type a name for the variation. This adds a combo class to the base class, allowing you to adjust specific properties without affecting the original design. 

Step 6: Preview and Test

After creating and applying your classes, it’s essential to preview and test your design. Webflow’s preview mode allows you to see how your styles work across the site in a live-like environment. Check elements styled with your classes to ensure they display as expected and adapt well to different devices or screen sizes. This step is particularly important for larger projects, as it helps catch inconsistencies or unintended effects before publishing.

Step 7: Maintain and Manage Your Classes

As your project grows, effective management of your classes becomes crucial to avoid clutter and confusion. Use clear naming conventions to keep your classes organized, and avoid creating unnecessary duplicates. Webflow’s Style Manager is a helpful tool for cleaning up unused or redundant classes. Periodically review your class list to ensure everything remains structured and manageable, especially if multiple team members are working on the project.

Tips for Effective Class Management in Webflow

With proper organization and thoughtful Webflow class management, you can keep your project tidy and save time. 

Let’s explore 3 tips to help you stay on top of your Webflow class system:

1. Organize with Global and Local Classes

Global classes apply styles site-wide, making them ideal for consistent elements like buttons or fonts, while local classes are used for specific sections or unique designs. Using global classes for universal elements keeps your styles consistent, whereas local classes provide flexibility for section-specific adjustments without altering the entire site’s look.

2. Limit the Use of Combo Classes

Combo classes are useful for creating slight variations on a primary style but should be used sparingly to avoid excessive complexity. For instance, adding a .button-primary-large class as a variation keeps the main .button-primary style intact while allowing size changes. Overusing combo classes can lead to cluttered code and make updates more challenging.

3. Regularly Clean Up Unused Classes

Periodically reviewing and removing unused classes helps keep your project organized and reduces unnecessary CSS. Webflow’s Style Manager makes it easy to identify and delete unused classes, streamlining your design and making your CSS more efficient.

Webflow Development Made Simple With BX Studio

Using Webflow classes effectively requires adopting best practices like clear and consistent naming conventions, minimizing redundant styles, and leveraging combo classes only when necessary. Staying organized from the start ensures scalable designs and a smoother workflow, especially for larger or more dynamic projects.

However, mastering Webflow's intricacies—like creating a class structure or managing a seamless site migration—can be overwhelming without the right expertise. 

Partnering with a Webflow Development agency like BX Studio can come handy here. 

With BX Studio, you gain access to a team that understands the importance of efficient class management and other Webflow best practices. They help ensure your site remains consistent, scalable, and optimized —allowing you to focus on growing your business while they handle the technical details. 

Book a demo today to enjoy a seamless Webflow experience.