Table of contents

Understanding how sidebars work in WordPress1. Remove sidebar widgets (non-code method)2. Use full-width templates3. Customize layout from the WordPress Customizer4. Use a plugin to disable or replace sidebars5. Remove the sidebar via theme file editingHow to remove the sidebar from specific posts or pagesNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Build → Remove Sidebar

How to remove a WordPress sidebar

Many WordPress themes include a sidebar by default, but sometimes you want a full-width layout instead. Whether you’re creating landing pages or just want a cleaner design, here’s how to remove the sidebar in WordPress—no matter your skill level.

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Understanding how sidebars work in WordPress

WordPress sidebars are usually controlled by a theme’s sidebar.php file. They’re included in templates like page.php, single.php, or index.php using the get_sidebar() function. Most themes also register widget areas so users can populate sidebars without touching code.

Common sidebar locations:

Blog index and archive pages
Single blog posts and custom post types
Static pages using the default template
WooCommerce shop and product pages (if installed)

1. Remove sidebar widgets (non-code method)

You can start by emptying the sidebar widget area.

Go to Appearance > Widgets
Find the Sidebar or Primary Sidebar widget area
Drag all widgets out of the sidebar or delete them
Visit your site—this removes the sidebar content, though some themes may still show the empty space

2. Use full-width templates

Some themes offer full-width or no-sidebar templates you can apply per page.

Edit any page or post
In the editor sidebar, find the Template dropdown
Choose a template labeled Full Width or No Sidebar
Update and preview the page

If your theme doesn’t include these templates, move on to a plugin or custom template method.

3. Customize layout from the WordPress Customizer

Many themes let you turn off sidebars using the Customizer.

Go to Appearance > Customize
Look for a section like Layout, Sidebar, or Theme Options
Choose a No Sidebar or Full Width layout for posts, pages, or archives
Publish your changes

Themes like Astra, GeneratePress, and OceanWP make this especially easy.

4. Use a plugin to disable or replace sidebars

Plugins can make editing your WordPress site much easier, and safer.

Plugin: Fullwidth Templates for Any Theme & Page Builder

Install and activate: Fullwidth Templates plugin
Edit a page or post
Choose FW No Sidebar or FW Fullwidth under Template
Save and preview

This plugin adds blank and full-width templates to most themes.

Plugin: Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Widget Area Manager

This plugin adds blank and full-width templates to most themes.

Install and activate: Custom Sidebars plugin
Go to Appearance > Widgets
Create a new empty sidebar
Assign the empty sidebar to specific posts or pages using the Sidebar options in the editor

This doesn’t remove the sidebar container but lets you show nothing on specific pages.

How to remove the sidebar from specific posts or pages

Option 1: Create a custom page template

Set up a child theme
Duplicate your theme’s page.php and name it page-nosidebar.php
Add this at the top of the file:

<?php
/* Template Name: No Sidebar */
?>
Delete or comment out <?php get_sidebar(); ?>
Upload to your child theme directory
In the editor, assign the new template to your page

Option 2: Use Elementor (Free or Pro)

Edit the page with Elementor
Click the gear icon (bottom-left corner) for Page Settings
Change Page Layout to Elementor Canvas or Elementor Full Width
Design your layout with no sidebar included

Bonus: In Elementor Prose you can use the Theme Builder to apply a no-sidebar layout globally to posts or archives.

Child theme considerations

If you plan to edit templates or remove sidebars via PHP, always use a child theme. This prevents your changes from being lost during theme updates.

Getting started with removing a WordPress sidebar

Removing a WordPress sidebar helps simplify your layout, especially if you’re building landing pages or want to create distraction-free content. You don’t have to dive into code unless you want fine control—there are easy plugin and theme-based options available.

Start with full-width templates or remove widgets. If your theme is limited, use a plugin like Fullwidth Templates or Elementor to take control of your layout. For advanced customization, a child theme gives you the flexibility to hard-code the change.

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