What Is a Sidebar?
A Sidebar is a vertical column found on the left or right side of a website or application layout. It typically contains secondary content that complements the main content of the page.
What Is a Sidebar?
In web design and WordPress development, a sidebar is a widget-ready area where you can place content such as:
- Navigation menus
- Recent posts
- Search boxes
- Social media links
- Advertisements
- Categories or tags
- Newsletter signup forms
It helps users navigate the site more easily and access additional features or content.
Types of Sidebars
- Left Sidebar – Appears on the left of the main content.
- Right Sidebar – Most common; appears on the right of the main content.
- Sticky Sidebar – Follows the user while scrolling.
- Collapsible Sidebar – Can be opened/closed (common in mobile and dashboards).
Sidebar in WordPress
In WordPress, sidebars are controlled through:
- Appearance > Widgets (or Appearance > Customize)
- PHP functions like
get_sidebar()in theme files
Example code:
<?php get_sidebar(); ?>
Purpose and Benefits of a Sidebar
Enhances site navigation
Boosts engagement by showing related content
Increases ad revenue (ads in the sidebar)
Collects leads with forms or email subscriptions
Improves user experience by surfacing useful links
Would you like a diagram or image of a sidebar layout for better understanding?
Title: Sidebar Below Content Error in WordPress – Causes, Fixes & SEO Impact
Meta Description:
Is your sidebar showing below the content instead of beside it? Learn what causes the “Sidebar Below Content” layout error in WordPress or HTML, how to fix it, and prevent it in the future.
What Is the “Sidebar Below Content” Error?
The “Sidebar Below Content” error refers to a layout issue where the sidebar, which should appear beside the main content (usually on the right or left), instead appears beneath the content area.
This breaks the website’s design and user experience, making your site look unprofessional and potentially affecting SEO and usability.
Why Sidebar Drops Below Content (Main Causes)
- HTML or CSS Errors
- Missing or unclosed
<div>tags - Incorrect use of floats or flexbox
- CSS breakage due to updates
- Missing or unclosed
- Theme Design or Update Bugs
- The theme is not responsive or not properly updated to the latest WordPress version
- Widget or Plugin Conflicts
- Plugin injecting extra code, breaking the layout structure
- Content Area Too Wide
- The main content area width is too large, pushing the sidebar out of line
- Responsive Layout Issues (Mobile)
- Sidebar drops below content on small screens due to media query errors
How to Fix “Sidebar Below Content” in WordPress or HTML Sites
1. Check HTML Structure
- Use browser DevTools (right-click > Inspect) to check for unclosed
<div>tags - Example:
<!-- WRONG: Missing closing div -->
<div class="main-content">
<p>Content goes here...
<!-- Sidebar ends up outside -->
Fix:
<div class="main-content">
<p>Content goes here...</p>
</div>
2. Fix CSS Float or Width Issues
Make sure the content and sidebar float properly:
.content {
float: left;
width: 70%;
}
.sidebar {
float: right;
width: 28%;
}
Also, clear floats:
.container::after {
content: "";
display: table;
clear: both;
}
3. Use Flexbox or Grid (Modern CSS)
.wrapper {
display: flex;
gap: 20px;
}
.content {
flex: 3;
}
.sidebar {
flex: 1;
}
4. Check Theme Settings
- Some themes offer sidebar position options in Customizer → Layout → Sidebar Position
- Set it to “Right Sidebar” or “Left Sidebar”
5. Disable Problem Plugins
- Deactivate plugins one by one to identify the one causing layout changes
6. Use Developer Tools
- Check if media queries (CSS for mobile) are forcing the sidebar down
- Adjust media queries in your CSS:
@media (min-width: 768px) {
.content, .sidebar {
float: none;
width: 100%;
}
}
SEO Impact of Sidebar Display Errors
Broken layout affects:
- User experience (UX) – Higher bounce rate
- Mobile usability – Google penalises bad mobile layouts
- Site authority – Poor design reduces trust and SEO score
Fixing this improves readability, navigation, and ranking.
Best Practices to Prevent This Error
- Use a well-coded, responsive theme
- Validate HTML with W3C Validator
- Regularly update plugins and themes
- Minimise the use of external layout-breaking widgets
- Always back up your site before code or theme edits
Conclusion
The “Sidebar Below Content” issue is usually caused by simple HTML/CSS problems, outdated themes, or layout-breaking plugins. With the steps above, you can fix the problem quickly and ensure your sidebar aligns correctly, improving both user experience and SEO.
SEO Keywords to Target:
- Sidebar below content fix
- WordPress sidebar not aligned
- Fix the sidebar layout issue
- Sidebar drops under content
- WordPress theme layout problem
