How to Add Sidebar in WordPress Elementor

Contents

Understanding Sidebars in WordPress
Enable Sidebars in Your Theme
Using Elementor Sidebar Widget
Add a Custom Sidebar in WordPress
Insert Sidebar in Elementor Template
Elementor Page Layout Settings
Sidebar Visibility & Responsiveness
Elementor Design Tips with Sidebars
Useful Links
Conclusion

Learning how to add sidebar in WordPress Elementor can transform your website's layout and user experience. Sidebars allow you to insert widgets, menus, or other features that enhance navigation and usability. Elementor makes this process flexible through its intuitive drag-and-drop tools, and even beginners can create powerful layouts without touching a line of code.

Understanding Sidebars in WordPress and Elementor

Sidebars are vertical content areas typically placed beside the main content of a page. With Elementor, you can customize sidebars using its visual builder, making it easier to tailor the sidebar's appearance and functionality to fit your branding or user needs.

Static vs. Dynamic Sidebars. Static sidebars remain consistent across pages, while dynamic sidebars can change based on the content or user interaction. Dynamic content can be integrated using Elementor Pro’s dynamic tags and conditional display options.

Theme Dependence. Some WordPress themes come with built-in sidebar areas. Others may require manual setup using Elementor or additional plugins. Themes built specifically for Elementor often provide the most flexibility and compatibility with sidebar placements.

Enable Sidebars in Your WordPress Theme

Before customizing, make sure your theme supports sidebars. If not, use a plugin or switch to a more compatible theme to avoid layout limitations and display issues.

Go to Appearance > Widgets to check available sidebar areas.
Use themes like Astra, OceanWP, or GeneratePress for better Elementor sidebar support and clean layouts.
If missing, install plugins like Custom Sidebars or Elementor – Header, Footer & Blocks to add and manage sidebar areas effectively.

💡 A theme with built-in sidebar support saves you time and avoids layout issues.

Elementor doesn't have a direct "sidebar widget" but allows for inserting WordPress sidebars using its widget options or shortcodes. This feature works well with any registered sidebar in your theme.

Open the page in Elementor editor by clicking "Edit with Elementor".
Search for the Sidebar widget under the WordPress elements section in the Elementor panel.
Drag and drop it to your desired sidebar section such as a right column or custom layout area.
Select the sidebar you want to display (e.g., Blog Sidebar, Shop Sidebar).

✅ Combine sidebar widgets with Elementor sections to create responsive and custom layouts tailored for specific audiences or content types.

Add a Custom Sidebar in WordPress

To create and manage custom sidebars, use a plugin or code integration depending on your experience level and project requirements.

Using a plugin:

Install the Custom Sidebars plugin from the WordPress repository.
Create new sidebars under Appearance > Widgets and name them accordingly.
Assign them to specific pages, posts, or categories in Elementor by editing the page and choosing the relevant sidebar from the widget settings.

Manual code method:

Edit your functions.php file to register a new sidebar using register_sidebar() function.
Modify page templates with get_sidebar() and dynamic_sidebar() to control placement.

⚡ Editing core theme files may break your website. Always use a child theme or backup first.

Insert Sidebar in Elementor Template

To reuse your sidebar layout, save it as a template and apply it across multiple pages or areas for consistent design and faster workflow.

Design your sidebar using Elementor's editor with text, images, menus, or custom widgets.
Click the arrow next to Update and select Save as Template to create a reusable layout.
Insert it in any page using the Template widget or by importing the saved template block.

This method is ideal for dynamic sidebar in Elementor where layout consistency and branding are critical.

Elementor Page Layout Settings

Sidebar placement in WordPress pages often depends on layout settings chosen during page editing. Elementor gives you full control over these settings.

Setting	Description
Default	Uses theme settings, including header, footer, and sidebar.
Elementor Canvas	Removes header, footer, and sidebar—ideal for landing pages with no distractions.
Elementor Full Width	Keeps header/footer but allows full-width content including custom sidebars.

Use Elementor Full Width when combining theme elements with custom page design and sidebars.

Sidebar Visibility and Responsiveness

Control sidebar visibility across devices to ensure responsive sidebar with Elementor that adapts well on mobile, tablet, and desktop screens.

Select the sidebar section in Elementor by clicking on its container.
Click on Advanced > Responsive settings tab in the editor panel.
Choose to hide or show the section on Desktop, Tablet, or Mobile depending on your target audience.
Test on various devices using the preview tool in Elementor to ensure optimal layout.

✅ Hiding sidebars on mobile improves readability and performance, especially for content-heavy pages.

Elementor Website Design Tips with Sidebars

Integrate your sidebar for seamless WordPress layout customization and improved user engagement. A well-designed sidebar not only supports navigation but can also increase conversions by promoting key actions.

Keep widget content short and relevant—avoid overwhelming the user.
Use icons, headings, and spacing to enhance visual hierarchy and usability.
Include important links like recent posts, contact buttons, or product highlights.
Test different sidebar placements and content to see what engages users most.

💡 Use color contrast and headers to differentiate sidebar content from the main body while keeping your design cohesive.

Useful Links

Sidebar Widget – Learn how to insert any registered WordPress sidebar into your Elementor layout using the Sidebar widget.

Custom Sidebars Plugin – Create and manage custom sidebars for specific pages, posts, or categories with this flexible widget area manager.

Create Templates for Faster Website Building – Discover how to save and reuse templates in Elementor to streamline your design process.

Responsive Editing – Understand how to adjust your Elementor designs for different devices to ensure optimal responsiveness.

Create Sidebar Templates with Hello Theme – Step-by-step guide on building custom sidebar templates using Elementor's Theme Builder.

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Conclusion

Knowing how to add sidebar in WordPress Elementor gives you full control over layout and navigation. Whether you use default theme features, Elementor's widget options, or custom plugins, sidebars can enhance both design and functionality.

From inserting sidebars in templates to customizing their appearance across devices, Elementor offers the tools you need for effective website structure. A responsive, well-placed sidebar boosts navigation, highlights key content, and improves overall user experience. Start experimenting with sidebars today to make your Elementor website more dynamic and user-friendly.