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Last updated: 3 July 2025

Tailwind CSS Gap

The tailwind gap utility class allows you to easily control the spacing between grid or flex container children.

Tailwind Gap

Spacing matters. Whether you’re building UIs in Figma or coding components in React, consistent spacing can make or break the visual rhythm of your interface. The tailwind gap utility class allows you to control this spacing between grid or flex container children.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about gap in Tailwind CSS — from how it works at the utility level to real-world usage patterns in responsive layouts and components.

How to apply Tailwind Gap

To apply a Tailwind gap between container children, you can use the gap-{size} utility class, where {size} represents the desired gap size. The {size} can be one of the predefined sizes in Tailwind CSS, such as gap-1, gap-2, gap-4, or you can customize the gap size using the spacing scale. Here's an example:

html
<div class="gap-4">
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 1</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 2</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 3</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 4</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 5</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 6</div>
</div>

Preview

Element 1

Element 2

Element 3

Element 4

Element 5

Element 6

Tailwind Gap with Grids

When using the tailwind gap utility class with grid layouts, the gap will be applied between the grid cells. This allows you to easily create consistent spacing between grid items.

html
<div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Item 1</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Item 2</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Item 3</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Item 4</div>
</div>

Preview

item 1

item 2

item 3

item 4

item 5

item 6

In the above example, a gap of size gap-4 is applied between each grid cell, creating a 4-pixel gap between the items.

Tailwind Gap for row and column

Tailwind gap also allows you to change the gaps between rows and/ or columns independenty.

html
<div class="grid grid-cols-3 gap-x-4 gap-y-8">
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 1</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 2</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 3</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 4</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 5</div>
	<div class="bg-indigo-500">Element 6</div>
</div>

Preview

Element 1
Element 2
Element 3
Element 4
Element 5
Element 6

Responsive Tailwind Gap

Tailwind CSS allows you to apply gap responsively at different breakpoints. To use responsive tailwind gap classes, you can append the breakpoint prefix to the gap class. For example, md:gap-4 applies a gap of size 4 starting from the medium breakpoint and above.

html
<div
	class="rounded-t-xl overflow-hidden p-8 text-center bg-indigo-200 text-white"
>
	<div class="grid grid-cols-3 gap-2 md:gap-8">
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 1
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 2
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 3
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 4
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 5
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 6
		</div>
	</div>
</div>

Preview

Element 1

Element 2

Element 3

Element 4

Element 5

Element 6

In the above example, a gap of size gap-2 is applied by default, creating a 2-pixel gap between each child element. However, starting from the medium breakpoint and above (md:gap-4), the gap increases to 4 pixels.

🎯 Arbitrary Values

Need a very specific gap that isn’t in your scale?

html
<div
	class="rounded-t-xl overflow-hidden p-8 text-center bg-indigo-200 text-white"
>
	<div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-[3.25rem]">
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 1
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 2
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 3
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 4
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 5
		</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">
			Element 6
		</div>
	</div>
</div>

Preview

Element 1

Element 2

Element 3

Element 4

Element 5

Element 6

Arbitrary values are a power feature — great for matching pixel-perfect designs.

⚙️ Customizing in tailwind.config.js

You can extend the spacing scale to define your own gap sizes:

js
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
	theme: {
		extend: {
			spacing: {
				72: "18rem",
				84: "21rem",
				"custom-gap": "7.25rem",
			},
		},
	},
};
html
<div
	class="rounded-t-xl overflow-hidden p-8 text-center bg-indigo-200 text-white"
>
	<div class="flex justify-center items-center gap-custom-gap">
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">A</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">B</div>
		<div class="rounded-lg p-4 shadow-md bg-indigo-500 font-bold">C</div>
	</div>
</div>

Preview

A
B
C

This ensures consistent spacing across your design system.

📦 Real UI Examples

✅ Example 1: Testimonial Card Grid

html
<div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
	<Card />
	<Card />
	<Card />
</div>

Preview

Very easy to use for development

"This is a very good tool to use to intergrate your web flow"

Jamey Popes

Developer

Great place to for your design

"Designing with figma component that is easy to turn into tailwind utility components is very convient"

Sarah Bobs

Lead designer

Startup has never been more easy to start with this tool

"been able to have your landing page of your startup withing minutes is really great."

Phil Cobly

Founder DollyCop

A responsive 3-column layout with gap-6 between cards. Works great for dashboards, galleries, or pricing sections.

✅ Example 2: Button Group

html
<div class="rounded-t-xl overflow-hidden p-8  bg-indigo-50">
	<div class="flex justify-between items-center gap-4 text-white font-bold">
		<button class="bg-indigo-500 shadow p-2 rounded w-full">Cancel</button>
		<button class="bg-indigo-500 shadow p-2 rounded w-full">Submit</button>
	</div>
</div>

Preview

Spacing buttons horizontally using gap is cleaner than using mr-* or ml-* repeatedly.

✅ Example 3: Form Layout

html
<div class="rounded-t-xl overflow-hidden p-8  bg-indigo-50">
	<div class="grid grid-col-1 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md gap-y-4 p-6">
		<h1 class="text-center font-bold text-2xl m-4">Sign up Form</h1>
		<label>Full Name</label>
		<input
			class="bg-gray-200 w-full p-3 rounded-full border-2 border-gray-300 focus:border-indigo-300"
			type="text"
			placeholder="name"
		/>
		<label>Email</label>
		<input
			class="bg-gray-200 w-full p-3 rounded-full border-2 border-gray-300 focus:border-indigo-300"
			type="email"
			placeholder="@gmail"
		/>
		<label>Password</label>
		<input
			class="bg-gray-200 w-full p-3 rounded-full border-2 border-gray-300 focus:border-indigo-300"
			type="Password"
			placeholder="••••••••"
		/>
		<label>Password Confirm</label>
		<input
			class="bg-gray-200 w-full p-3 rounded-full border-2 border-gray-300 focus:border-indigo-300"
			type="password"
			placeholder="••••••••"
		/>
		<div class="flex gap-2">
			<input type="checkbox" />
			<h3>Remember me</h3>
		</div>
		<button class="w-full bg-indigo-500 rounded-md p-2 text-white font-bold">
			Sign Up
		</button>
		<p>
			Already have account?
			<a href="#login" class=" text-indigo-500 font-semibold">Login</a>
		</p>
	</div>
</div>

Preview

Sign up Form

Remember me

Already have account?

Login

Vertical gaps make form fields easier to scan and complete.

✅ Best Practices

  • Prefer gap over margins when spacing between siblings

  • Use gap-x / gap-y for finer control in grid systems

  • Combine with transition-* for smooth visual layout shifts

  • Avoid applying gap to elements that don’t use grid or flex — it won’t work

♿ Accessibility Tips

  • gap doesn’t affect focus styles or tabbing order.

  • When using hover:gap-*, ensure it’s not the only visual indicator — don’t rely on spacing alone for hover feedback.

  • Ensure text spacing is accessible, if gap is used for inline elements like buttons or tabs.

Tailwind Gap Class Table

ClassProperties
gap-0gap: 0px;
gap-x-0column-gap: 0px;
gap-y-0row-gap: 0px;
gap-0.5gap: 0.125rem;
gap-x-0.5column-gap: 0.125rem;
gap-y-0.5row-gap: 0.125rem;
gap-1gap: 0.25rem;
gap-x-1column-gap: 0.25rem;
gap-y-1row-gap: 0.25rem;
gap-1.5gap: 0.375rem;
gap-x-1.5column-gap: 0.375rem;
gap-y-1.5row-gap: 0.375rem;
gap-2gap: 0.5rem;
gap-x-2column-gap: 0.5rem;
gap-y-2row-gap: 0.5rem;
gap-2.5gap: 0.625rem;
gap-x-2.5column-gap: 0.625rem;
gap-y-2.5row-gap: 0.625rem;
gap-3gap: 0.75rem;
gap-x-3column-gap: 0.75rem;
gap-y-3row-gap: 0.75rem;
gap-3.5gap: 0.875rem;
gap-x-3.5column-gap: 0.875rem;
gap-y-3.5row-gap: 0.875rem;
gap-4gap: 1rem;
gap-x-4column-gap: 1rem;
gap-y-4row-gap: 1rem;
gap-5gap: 1.25rem;
gap-x-5column-gap: 1.25rem;
gap-y-5row-gap: 1.25rem;
gap-6gap: 1.5rem;
gap-x-6column-gap: 1.5rem;
gap-y-6row-gap: 1.5rem;
gap-7gap: 1.75rem;
gap-x-7column-gap: 1.75rem;
gap-y-7row-gap: 1.75rem;
gap-8gap: 2rem;
gap-x-8column-gap: 2rem;
gap-y-8row-gap: 2rem;
gap-9gap: 2.25rem;
gap-x-9column-gap: 2.25rem;
gap-y-9row-gap: 2.25rem;
gap-10gap: 2.5rem;
gap-x-10column-gap: 2.5rem;
gap-y-10row-gap: 2.5rem;
gap-11gap: 2.75rem;
gap-x-11column-gap: 2.75rem;
gap-y-11row-gap: 2.75rem;
gap-12gap: 3rem;
gap-x-12column-gap: 3rem;
gap-y-12row-gap: 3rem;
gap-14gap: 3.5rem;
gap-x-14column-gap: 3.5rem;
gap-y-14row-gap: 3.5rem;
gap-16gap: 4rem;
gap-x-16column-gap: 4rem;
gap-y-16row-gap: 4rem;
gap-20gap: 5rem;
gap-x-20column-gap: 5rem;
gap-y-20row-gap: 5rem;
gap-24gap: 6rem;
gap-x-24column-gap: 6rem;
gap-y-24row-gap: 6rem;
gap-28gap: 7rem;
gap-x-28column-gap: 7rem;
gap-y-28row-gap: 7rem;
gap-32gap: 8rem;
gap-x-32column-gap: 8rem;
gap-y-32row-gap: 8rem;
gap-36gap: 9rem;
gap-x-36column-gap: 9rem;
gap-y-36row-gap: 9rem;
gap-40gap: 10rem;
gap-x-40column-gap: 10rem;
gap-y-40row-gap: 10rem;
gap-44gap: 11rem;
gap-x-44column-gap: 11rem;
gap-y-44row-gap: 11rem;
gap-48gap: 12rem;
gap-x-48column-gap: 12rem;
gap-y-48row-gap: 12rem;
gap-52gap: 13rem;
gap-x-52column-gap: 13rem;
gap-y-52row-gap: 13rem;
gap-56gap: 14rem;
gap-x-56column-gap: 14rem;
gap-y-56row-gap: 14rem;
gap-60gap: 15rem;
gap-x-60column-gap: 15rem;
gap-y-60row-gap: 15rem;
gap-64gap: 16rem;
gap-x-64column-gap: 16rem;
gap-y-64row-gap: 16rem;
gap-72gap: 18rem;
gap-x-72column-gap: 18rem;
gap-y-72row-gap: 18rem;
gap-80gap: 20rem;
gap-x-80column-gap: 20rem;
gap-y-80row-gap: 20rem;
gap-96gap: 24rem;
gap-x-96column-gap: 24rem;
gap-y-96row-gap: 24rem;
gap-pxgap: 1px;
gap-x-pxcolumn-gap: 1px;
gap-y-pxrow-gap: 1px;

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