Headers and footers are important parts of your WordPress site. They appear on every page and help visitors navigate your site easily. The header usually contains your site logo, menu, and sometimes contact information. The footer often includes extra links, contact details, social media icons, or a copyright notice.
The good news is that you do not need coding skills to create and edit headers and footers in WordPress. Here is a simple guide to help you get started.
How headers and footers work in WordPress
Most WordPress themes come with built-in header and footer sections. These areas are controlled by your theme, but you can often customise them easily using the WordPress Customiser or a page builder plugin if you want more flexibility.
Depending on your theme, you may have different options, such as:
- Adding or changing the logo
- Adding a navigation menu
- Choosing header layouts (such as a centred logo or logo on the left)
- Adding widget areas in the footer
- Customising background colours, text colours, and font styles
How to edit your header in WordPress
To edit your header using the WordPress Customiser:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click Appearance and then Customise.
- Look for a section called Header, Site Identity, or something similar.
- From there, you can:
- Upload or change your logo
- Edit the site title and tagline
- Set a site icon (favicon)
- Manage your primary navigation menu
If your theme offers header layout options, you will be able to choose different styles, such as a sticky header (one that stays at the top as you scroll) or transparent background options.
If you want more design control, you can also use a page builder plugin such as Elementor or SeedProd, which allows you to build completely custom headers.
How to edit your footer in WordPress
To edit your footer:
- Go to Appearance > Customise.
- Look for a section called Footer, Widgets, or Footer Settings, depending on your theme.
- From here, you can:
- Add text such as a copyright notice
- Insert social media icons
- Create a menu with links to your privacy policy, terms of service, or contact page
- Add widgets such as recent posts, contact forms, or a newsletter sign-up
Some themes divide the footer into multiple columns (for example, three or four sections), and you can add different content to each one.
Using widgets to customise your footer
Many themes allow you to customise the footer using widgets. You can add widgets for:
- Recent blog posts
- A short bio
- Contact details
- Social media feeds
- Custom HTML or text
To manage footer widgets:
- Go to Appearance > Widgets.
- Look for the Footer widget area.
- Drag and drop widgets into the footer area.
- Configure and save the settings for each widget.
Changes will appear on your site immediately once saved.
Building headers and footers with a page builder
If you are using a page builder like Elementor (Pro version), SeedProd, or Beaver Builder, you can create fully custom headers and footers. This method gives you total control over the design, layout, and visibility rules for different pages.
With a page builder:
- You can design a header or footer from scratch.
- You can set different headers or footers for specific pages if needed.
- You can create sticky headers, mega menus, and more advanced layouts.
If you need a highly customised design, this is a good option, but it is not necessary for simpler sites.
Your header and footer are important parts of your website’s overall design and usability. Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to create and customise them without needing technical knowledge. Whether you stick with the options provided by your theme or use a page builder for more flexibility, a well-designed header and footer can help visitors navigate your site and find what they need easily.