Can I change my base breakpoint to be tablet in Webflow, or use custom code to make styles applied at the tablet level cascade 'up' to all higher breakpoints?
TL;DR
- Webflow uses a mobile-first model where styles cascade from desktop to smaller viewports and does not allow setting Tablet as the base breakpoint.
- Custom code cannot reverse the cascade, but you can manually design on Tablet first and copy styles to Desktop to mimic a tablet-first workflow.
Webflow currently uses a mobile-first responsive design model, and does not allow changing the base breakpoint to tablet or reverse the normal cascade of styles. Here's how Webflow handles breakpoints and what your options are.
1. Webflow’s Cascading Model Is Mobile-First
- Webflow styles cascade upward from the base (desktop) breakpoint to smaller viewports.
- You can make changes at smaller breakpoints (Tablet, Mobile Landscape, Mobile Portrait), but these override desktop styles rather than influence larger ones.
- Webflow does not support "tablet-first" or "reverse cascade" styling natively or through custom settings.
2. Custom Code Cannot Reverse Style Inheritance
- Using custom code (e.g., media queries in the
<head>or an Embed) won’t affect how Webflow interprets breakpoints within the Designer. - You can target specific breakpoints manually using media queries like
@media (min-width: 768px)but doing so: - Bypasses Webflow’s styling controls, making your design harder to maintain.
- Does not display your changes inside the Webflow Designer preview, only on the published site.
- Example: Create custom CSS in a
<style>tag targeting tablet ranges, but this won’t "cascade up" via Webflow’s built-in responsive system.
3. Workaround: Design for Tablet, Then Adjust Desktop
- Start designing your layout and styles at the Tablet breakpoint.
- Copy those styles manually into the Desktop breakpoint afterward to mimic a “tablet-first” approach.
- You can use style guides, components, or classes to make reusing and syncing styles easier.
- This doesn't automate upward cascading but allows you to build around tablet first by convention.
Summary
You cannot set Tablet as your base breakpoint or force tablet styles to cascade upward using Webflow or custom code. However, you can manually design your target breakpoint first and replicate changes upward to achieve a similar outcome.