If you’re tired of rebuilding the same headers, footers, and cards in every new Webflow project, you’re not alone. Reusable components aren’t just a “nice to have”—they’re the backbone of any efficient web design workflow. This guide is for anyone on a team who wants to stop duplicating work, keep things consistent, and make updates without a ton of busywork.
Let’s skip the theory and get into how you can create, organize, and actually use reusable components in Webflow to save your team time (and sanity).
What Are Components in Webflow, Really?
Webflow calls them “components,” but you might also hear “Symbols” (the old name) or just “reusable elements.” Either way, they’re blocks of design—like navbars, CTAs, cards, or footers—that you can build once and drop anywhere in your site. Change the original, and boom: every instance updates.
But here’s the catch: not every block belongs as a component. Over-componentizing is real. If you make everything a component, you’ll end up with a messy library and more confusion than clarity.
Use components for: - Elements that repeat across pages (headers, nav, footers) - Cards, buttons, or sections that follow the same structure but have different content - Anything your team updates in multiple places
Skip components for: - Unique, one-off layouts - Tiny tweaks that only show up in one spot
Step 1: Decide What Should Be a Component
Before you start building, take 10 minutes to map out what actually needs to be reusable. Slapping everything into a component just because you can is a rookie mistake.
Ask these questions: - Will this design show up in three or more places? - Will you need to update its style or content sitewide later? - Do you want junior designers or non-devs to be able to swap/update it easily?
If the answer is “yes” to most of those, it’s a solid candidate.
Pro tip: Review your existing site and jot down every section you’ve copy-pasted. That’s your starter list.
Step 2: Build the Component Cleanly
Start with one, polished version of your element. Keep it simple. Don’t include page-specific styles or content—think generic, but not bland.
Tips for a clean build:
- Use clear class names (e.g., card-product instead of just card)
- Remove hardcoded copy or images
- Keep structure flat; deeply nested components get confusing fast
Watch out for:
- Unintentional style overrides (if you style instances differently, you’ll break the “update everywhere” magic)
- Making components out of half-finished elements “just because”—get it right first
Step 3: Convert to a Component (Symbol)
Once your block is ready, select the elements, right-click, and choose Create Component (or use the “Create Symbol” shortcut, depending on your Webflow version).
Give it a name that makes sense. Future you—and your teammates—will thank you. “Header/MainNav” beats “Component 17.”
Pro tip: Use a naming convention. For example:
- Layout/Header
- Section/Testimonials
- Card/Product
This keeps things tidy, especially on bigger projects.
Step 4: Make Components Flexible with Overrides
Here’s where the real power comes in. Webflow lets you set “Overrides”—fields inside components that can be changed per instance, like text, images, or links. This means you can drop the same card everywhere, but fill in different content each time.
How to use overrides: 1. Double-click your component. 2. Click on an element (like a headline or image). 3. Set it as an “Override” in the settings panel.
Now, whenever someone drops that component onto a page, they can update just the override fields—without breaking the layout or styles.
What to override: - Text - Images - Links - Sometimes colors (but don’t go wild; style overrides can get messy)
Don’t override:
- Structure (adding/removing columns or blocks inside a component is a recipe for chaos)
- Global styles
Step 5: Organize Your Component Library
A pile of components is almost as bad as none at all. If you’re working with a team, organization is everything.
How to keep your library usable: - Stick to your naming conventions - Group related components (Webflow lets you use folders or slashes in names) - Add descriptions for complex components (“Hero section with left image and right text, use for About/Team pages”)
Pro tip:
Have one or two people own the library. Otherwise, you’ll end up with “Header v2 FINAL FINAL” in no time.
Step 6: Use Components in New Projects or Pages
Now for the payoff. Instead of recreating sections, just drag your component in. Update the overrides, and you’re done.
For teams:
- Make sure everyone knows what’s in the component library (a quick Loom video helps)
- If you’re starting a new project, clone the component library into your new workspace
Things to watch out for: - If someone edits the main component, it changes everywhere. This is good—and dangerous. Communicate big changes. - Don’t detach components unless you’re sure you want a one-off. Detached instances won’t update with the rest.
Step 7: Update and Maintain Over Time
Components aren’t “set it and forget it.” As your site evolves, you’ll need to tweak or add components. That’s fine—but do it thoughtfully.
Best practices: - Schedule a quick review of your components every few months - Remove unused or outdated ones - Document what each component is for (even a sentence helps)
What not to do:
- Don’t let everyone on the team create components without standards. It’ll get messy.
- Don’t create a component for every single thing. If you have 50 components and only use 10, it’s time to clean house.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What works:
- Simple, well-named, and thoughtfully scoped components
- Overrides for text and images—keeps things flexible but controlled
- Regular pruning of your component library
What doesn’t:
- Making components out of one-off designs
- Overriding styles or structure per instance—it just leads to inconsistency
- Ignoring naming conventions (you’ll regret it)
Ignore:
- Fancy “component packs” or templates unless you know exactly what you need. Most are bloated or don’t fit real projects.
Pro Tips for Teams Using Webflow Components
- Centralize your library: Use a single “Style Guide” or “Components” page that everyone can reference.
- Document changes: Keep a changelog of major updates to components, so no one is surprised by a sitewide change.
- Train new team members: Don’t assume everyone “gets” components. Walk them through how and when to use them.
- Keep it lean: Fewer, more flexible components beat a giant library of hyper-specific ones.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Reusable components in Webflow can seriously speed up your workflow—if you use them right. Start small, stay organized, and don’t overcomplicate things. The best component libraries are the ones you actually use. Review, prune, and improve as you go. Most of all, don’t be afraid to trash what’s not working. Clean, simple, and flexible beats clever and complicated every time.