Table of contents

What to know before using multiple themes Why you might want different themes Method 1: Use a plugin to assign different themes to different pages Method 2: Use a theme builder with template-level controls Method 3: Use custom page templates in your current theme Method 4: Use iframes or multisite (advanced or extreme cases) What to watch out for Getting started Additional resources

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WordPress Guide → Theme → Multiple Themes

How to use multiple themes in WordPress

Using more than one WordPress theme on your site might seem like a weird idea—after all, WordPress only lets you activate one theme at a time. But with the right tools, you can apply different designs to specific pages, posts, or sections of your site without switching your main theme.

Let’s walk through the main ways to use multiple themes in WordPress, when it makes sense to do it, and how to avoid problems along the way.

What to know before using multiple themes

WordPress was designed around a single-theme structure, so using more than one takes a bit of extra work. In WordPress core, themes are meant to be all-in-one design systems. They control your site’s:

Page templates (like single post, archive, 404, etc.)
Global styling (colors, fonts, layout)
Theme-specific features (custom widgets, menus, theme options)

When you activate a new theme, it replaces the previous one completely. WordPress doesn’t natively support assigning different themes to different pages or sections.

Why you might want different themes

Despite that limitation, there are good reasons for wanting to use multiple themes:

Custom landing pages: You might want your homepage or sales page to have a totally different design from the rest of your site.
Different content types: A podcast, blog, and ecommerce store might all live on the same site but need different layouts.
Brand segmentation: If your site covers multiple products or audiences, each section might need its own look.
Gradual redesigns: You may want to test a new theme on just one section before fully switching.

The good news: WordPress lets you work around the single-theme rule by using plugins, builders, or code.

Method 1: Use a plugin to assign different themes to different pages

The easiest way to use multiple themes—without touching any code—is by using a plugin like Multiple Themes.

This free plugin lets you apply a different theme to specific pages, posts, categories, or even entire sections of your site based on URL.

How to set it up

Install the plugin. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for Multiple Themes, and click Install Now. Then click Activate.
Access the plugin settings. Go to Settings > Multiple Themes Plugin in your dashboard menu.
Choose where to apply other themes. You’ll see three main options:
- Select Special Pages: Assign different themes to pages like the homepage, archive pages, 404 pages, etc.
- Site Section Pages: Use a different theme for URLs under a specific section (e.g., /store/ or /blog/).
- Custom Pages: Manually list individual pages or posts to display with a different theme.
Choose a theme for each section. Use the dropdown menus to pick a theme (you’ll need to have it installed already). Click Save to apply your changes.

Pros and cons

Pros:

No coding required
Works with any properly coded theme
Easy to test new themes without affecting the whole site

Cons:

Not all themes are compatible with this plugin
May not work well with modern block themes or FSE features
Can increase load times by including extra styles and scripts

Method 2: Use a theme builder with template-level controls

If you use a block-based theme or a visual builder plugin, you might not need a second theme at all—you can just build different layouts inside your current theme.

Use full site editing (FSE) with block themes

If you’re using a theme that supports WordPress Full Site Editing (like Twenty Twenty-Four or Blocksy), you can build unique templates and apply them to specific pages.

Steps:

Go to Appearance > Editor.
Click the Templates section in the sidebar.
Click Add New and choose the type (page, single post, etc.).
Build a custom design using blocks, patterns, and styles.
Save the template and assign it to the page of your choice.

Use a builder plugin like Elementor or Beaver Builder

These page builders let you design completely different layouts and apply them wherever you want.

In Elementor Pro:

Go to Templates > Theme Builder.
Create a new page, header, footer, or archive template.
Use the drag-and-drop builder to design it.
Set Display Conditions to choose where the template appears (e.g., a single page, a category, or a custom post type).

This method doesn’t technically use multiple themes, but it gives you the same visual flexibility while keeping your site lighter and easier to manage.

Method 3: Use custom page templates in your current theme

If you’re comfortable with a bit of PHP, you can create multiple layouts inside one theme using custom page templates.

How to create a custom page template

Connect to your site via FTP or File Manager. Use your hosting dashboard or an FTP client to access your theme files (usually under /wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/).
Create a new file. Name it something like page-landing.php.
Add a template header. At the very top of your new file, paste:

php
CopyEdit
<?php
/* Template Name: Landing Page */
?>
Copy and customize the layout. Use the default page.php as a starting point, then remove the header, footer, sidebar, or add custom HTML/CSS as needed.
Upload the file and go back to the WordPress dashboard.
Assign the template to a page

You can repeat this process to create as many templates as you need—all within one theme.

Method 4: Use iframes or multisite (advanced or extreme cases)

These options should be used carefully and only when the others won’t work.

Use an iframe to display an external theme

If you’ve built a microsite using a different theme or CMS, you can embed it in a page using an <iframe>. But:

You’ll lose SEO benefits
Embedded content won’t match your site’s navigation or headers
Mobile responsiveness can break

Not ideal, but works in a pinch for embedded tools or standalone apps.

Use WordPress Multisite for full theme control

Multisite lets you run multiple websites from a single WordPress install—each with its own theme.

Why on earth would you do that? Common use cases include:

A university with separate themes for each department
A business with localized sites (e.g., /us/, /uk/) using different designs
An agency managing multiple client sites

How to set it up:

Enable multisite in wp-config.php
Create subsites from the Network Admin dashboard
Assign a different theme to each one

This requires technical setup and hosting that supports WordPress Multisite, but it’s the only “clean” way to use completely separate themes on one domain.

What to watch out for

Mixing multiple themes or layouts can be useful, but it also creates new challenges:

Compatibility issues: Themes might include conflicting styles or scripts.
Inconsistent branding: Using different headers, fonts, or footers across your site can confuse visitors.
Slower performance: Loading multiple sets of CSS and JS files can slow your pages down.
Maintenance complexity: You’ll need to update and test each theme separately.

Before committing to multiple themes, weigh these risks against your goals. Often, custom templates or a good page builder are safer, more scalable options.

Next steps for using multiple themes in WordPress

Running more than one theme on your WordPress site is totally possible—but it takes the right strategy. Whether you use a plugin, page builder, or template-level customization depends on your skill level and how different each section needs to be.

If you just want a landing page that looks different from the rest of your site, try using a builder plugin or block theme templates first. For advanced use cases, the Multiple Themes plugin or custom coding gives you deeper control.

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