Pages are one of the basic building blocks of a WordPress website. How to create a page in WordPress
Whether you are creating an About page, Contact page, Services page, or a custom homepage, WordPress lets you build and publish pages directly from the administration area without manually creating HTML files.
In this beginner-friendly tutorial, you will learn how to create a new page in WordPress using the block editor, add text and images, configure important page settings, preview your work, and publish the finished page.
Note: The exact editor interface and available options can vary depending on your WordPress version, active theme, plugins, and user permissions.
What Is a Page in WordPress?
A WordPress page is a content type generally used for standalone or relatively timeless content.
Common examples include:
- Home
- About
- Contact
- Services
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions
Unlike blog posts, pages are not primarily organized by publication date.
Pages also do not use categories and tags by default.
WordPress pages can be organized hierarchically, meaning one page can be assigned as the parent of another page.
For example:
Services
could be the parent of:
Web Design
and:
SEO Services
This can help organize related website content.
WordPress Pages vs Posts: What’s the Difference?
Pages and posts use similar editing tools, but they serve different purposes.
| Feature | Pages | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purpose | Standalone content | Blog or regularly published content |
| Organized by date | Not primarily | Usually |
| Categories | Not by default | Yes |
| Tags | Not by default | Yes |
| Parent-child hierarchy | Yes | Not by default |
| Examples | About, Contact, Services | Tutorials, news, blog articles |
A simple rule is:
Use a page for relatively permanent website information and a post for content that belongs in a publishing stream.
This is not a technical law, but it is a useful starting point for beginners.
How to Create a New Page in WordPress
To create a page, first log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Then navigate to:
Pages → Add Page
Depending on your WordPress version and interface, the wording may appear slightly differently.
WordPress will open the page editor.
Let’s build the page step by step.
Step 1: Add Your Page Title
At the top of the editor, enter a clear title for your page.
For example:
About Us
Contact
Our Services
WordPress Tutorials
The title can influence several parts of your website, including how the page is identified in the dashboard and potentially how it is displayed by your theme.
After you save the page, WordPress can also use the title to generate the page’s URL slug.
For example:
Page title:
About Us
Possible URL:
example.com/about-us/
You can usually customize the slug separately if required.
Step 2: Understand the WordPress Block Editor
WordPress uses a block-based editing system for creating content.
Instead of treating the entire page as one large content field, individual elements are added as blocks.
Common blocks include:
- Paragraph
- Heading
- Image
- List
- Button
- Quote
- Table
- Columns
- Gallery
- Video
- Spacer
Themes and plugins can add additional blocks.
This approach allows you to build page layouts by combining different content elements.
Step 3: Add Text to Your Page
Click inside the content area and start typing.
WordPress will normally create a Paragraph block automatically.
You can use paragraph blocks for regular body text.
For example:
Welcome to our website. We provide practical WordPress tutorials designed to help beginners build and manage their websites.
Pressing Enter typically creates another block.
You can continue writing or change the new block into a different type.
Step 4: Add a New Block
There are several ways to add blocks.
One common method is to click the + block inserter.
You can then browse or search for the block you need.
For example, search for:
Image
and select the Image block.
You can also type a forward slash inside an empty paragraph block to quickly search for a block.
For example:
/image
or:
/heading
This slash command can make content creation significantly faster once you become familiar with it.
Step 5: Add Headings
Headings help organize longer pages into understandable sections.
Add a Heading block and enter your heading text.
For example:
Our Story
What We Do
Why Choose Us
Depending on the block settings, you can choose a heading level such as:
- H2
- H3
- H4
Your page title is commonly presented as the primary H1 heading by many themes, although the exact markup depends on your theme and template.
For normal page content, use headings in a logical hierarchy.
For example:
H1: About Us
H2: Our Story
H2: Our Services
H3: WordPress Development
H3: Website Maintenance
Avoid choosing heading levels purely because one looks larger or smaller. Use them to represent the structure of your content.
Step 6: Add an Image
To add an image, insert an Image block.
Depending on your setup, you may have options such as:
- Upload
- Media Library
- Insert from URL
Upload
Use this option to upload a new image from your computer.
Media Library
Choose an image that has already been uploaded to WordPress.
Insert from URL
This can display an externally hosted image in certain situations, although relying on third-party image URLs can introduce availability, performance, privacy, or permission considerations.
For images you own and manage, uploading them to an appropriate media environment is generally more reliable.
Step 7: Add Alternative Text to Images
After adding an informative image, review its alternative text.
Alternative text, commonly called alt text, can help communicate an image’s purpose or content when the image cannot be seen.
Good alt text should describe the image according to its context.
For example:
WordPress page editor showing the block inserter
Avoid stuffing keywords into alt text.
Decorative images may not require descriptive alternative text and can often use an empty alt attribute when implemented appropriately.
Accessibility should be the primary reason for writing alt text.
Step 8: Add a Link
To create a link, select the text you want to make clickable.
For example:
Read our WordPress dashboard tutorial
Click the link icon in the block toolbar or use the appropriate keyboard shortcut.
Then enter or search for the destination URL.
WordPress may allow you to search for existing content on your website directly from the link interface.
Internal links are useful because they help visitors discover related content.
For example, this tutorial can naturally link to:
- How to Log In to WordPress
- WordPress Dashboard Tutorial
- Essential WordPress Settings
- How to Create a Blog Post
Only add links when they are genuinely useful to the reader.
Step 9: Add a Button
Buttons can be useful for important actions such as:
- Contact Us
- Get Started
- View Services
- Download a Resource
Insert a Buttons or Button block, depending on the interface available.
Enter the button text and add the destination link.
Use clear button labels.
For example:
Better:
View WordPress Tutorials
Less useful:
Click Here
A visitor should have a reasonable idea of what will happen before clicking.
Step 10: Move and Rearrange Blocks
One advantage of the block editor is that content elements can be rearranged.
Select a block and use the available movement or drag controls.
You may also use the editor’s document overview or List View to understand the page structure.
List View can be particularly useful when working with:
- Groups
- Columns
- Nested blocks
- Complex layouts
Instead of repeatedly cutting and pasting content, you can move entire blocks within the page structure.
Step 11: Use List View to Manage Your Page Structure
Look for the List View icon in the editor toolbar.
Opening it displays the blocks used on the page in a structured list.
For example:
Heading
Paragraph
Image
Group
Buttons
You can select blocks directly from this list.
For complex pages, List View can feel like switching on the lights in a crowded attic. Suddenly, the nested structure becomes much easier to understand.
It can also help you select a parent container when clicking directly on the page keeps selecting an inner block.
Step 12: Customize Individual Blocks
When you select a block, WordPress can display settings for that specific block.
Depending on the block and your theme, options may include:
- Typography
- Colors
- Dimensions
- Alignment
- Border
- Spacing
Not every block or theme provides the same design controls.
Avoid over-customizing every individual block.
A consistent design system generally creates a more professional website than manually giving every paragraph its own visual personality.
Step 13: Configure the Page URL
WordPress generates a URL for your page.
For example:
https://example.com/about-us
Depending on the editor state and WordPress version, you may be able to edit the page slug through the page settings.
For most pages, use a short and descriptive slug.
For example:
Good:
/about/
/contact/
/services/
Unnecessarily complicated:
/this-is-our-company-about-information-page/
If a page is already published and receiving traffic, do not change its URL casually.
Changing an existing URL can create broken links unless the old address is redirected properly.
Step 14: Choose a Featured Image
Depending on your theme, page template, and plugins, you may have an option to set a Featured Image.
A featured image can be used in areas such as:
- Page headers
- Content cards
- Search results within your website
- Social sharing previews
However, the exact behavior depends on your theme and other tools.
If your theme does not display featured images on pages, setting one may not visibly change the page itself.
Use a relevant, properly optimized image when a featured image is required.
Step 15: Set a Parent Page
WordPress supports hierarchical pages.
This means you can assign another page as the parent.
For example:
Services
could be the parent of:
Website Design
The hierarchy can help organize content, although whether it affects your navigation or URL structure depends on your configuration.
Do not create complicated page hierarchies without a clear organizational reason.
For many websites, a relatively shallow structure is easier for visitors to navigate.
Step 16: Choose a Page Template
Depending on your active theme, WordPress may allow you to assign a template to the page.
Templates can control the overall structure used to display the page.
For example, a theme might provide different templates for:
- Standard pages
- Full-width layouts
- Pages without a sidebar
- Landing pages
Block themes can provide templates managed through the Site Editor.
The exact options depend entirely on your theme.
If you do not see multiple template choices, this does not necessarily indicate a problem.
Step 17: Review the Discussion Settings
Depending on your configuration, you may be able to control whether comments are allowed on an individual page.
Comments are usually more common on blog posts than on pages such as:
- About
- Contact
- Services
If you do not see discussion options, check whether they are available through the editor preferences or your website’s configuration.
Your global comment defaults can be managed through:
Settings → Discussion
Step 18: Save Your Page as a Draft
You do not need to publish a page immediately.
Use the Save draft option to store your work without making the page publicly available as a normal published page.
Drafts are useful when:
- The content is incomplete
- Someone needs to review it
- Images are still missing
- The page requires additional design work
Saving regularly is a good habit even when WordPress provides autosave functionality.
Step 19: Preview the Page
Before publishing, preview your page.
The preview feature lets you inspect how the content may appear outside the editor.
Depending on the available interface, you may be able to preview different device sizes.
However, editor previews are not always a perfect substitute for testing the actual published or safely staged page.
Pay attention to:
- Headings
- Images
- Links
- Buttons
- Spacing
- Mobile layout
- Spelling
- Page structure
For important pages, test links and forms rather than simply checking whether they look attractive.
A button that looks magnificent but leads nowhere is just decorative furniture.
Step 20: Publish Your WordPress Page
When the page is ready, click Publish.
WordPress may display a pre-publish confirmation panel where you can review important settings.
Confirm the publication.
Your page is now live and can be accessed through its URL.
Open the published page and review it on the public side of your website.
Check both desktop and mobile layouts when possible.
How to Schedule a WordPress Page
WordPress can allow you to schedule content for future publication.
Instead of publishing immediately, select a future publication date and time.
Then confirm the schedule.
WordPress will attempt to publish the page at the selected time.
Make sure your website timezone is configured correctly under:
Settings → General
An incorrect timezone can cause scheduled content to appear at an unexpected time.
How to Edit an Existing WordPress Page
To edit a page, navigate to:
Pages → All Pages
Find the page you want to change.
Click its title or the available Edit option.
Make your changes and then save or update the page.
For a published page, the button will typically indicate that you are updating existing content rather than publishing it for the first time.
After updating, check the public page to confirm that your changes appear correctly.
How to Use Quick Edit
From:
Pages → All Pages
WordPress may provide a Quick Edit option.
This allows you to modify certain page information without opening the full editor.
Depending on your setup, available options can include:
- Title
- Slug
- Date
- Parent
- Template
- Status
Quick Edit is useful for small administrative changes.
Use the full editor when you need to modify the actual page content.
How to Delete a WordPress Page
Navigate to:
Pages → All Pages
Find the page you want to remove and choose:
Trash
The page will be moved to the Trash rather than necessarily being permanently deleted immediately.
You can then:
- Restore it
- Delete it permanently
Be careful when deleting published pages.
If a deleted page has backlinks, internal links, search traffic, or bookmarks, visitors may encounter a 404 error.
For established pages, consider whether an appropriate redirect is needed.
How to Restore a Deleted Page
Open:
Pages → All Pages → Trash
Find the deleted page and select:
Restore
The page will return to the appropriate content list.
If you permanently delete the page from the Trash, recovery may require a backup.
Essential Pages Every WordPress Website May Need
The pages your website needs depend on its purpose.
Common examples include:
Homepage
The main entry point for many visitors.
About Page
Explains who you are, what the website does, or what the organization represents.
Contact Page
Provides appropriate ways for visitors to contact you.
Privacy Policy
Explains relevant data practices according to your website and applicable requirements.
Services or Products
Business websites may need dedicated pages explaining their offerings.
Terms and Other Legal Pages
Whether these are necessary and what they should contain depends on your business, website activities, location, and applicable requirements.
Do not copy legal pages blindly from another website.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating WordPress Pages
Using Pages for Every Piece of Content
Blog posts, tutorials, and news articles may be better organized as Posts.
Choose the appropriate content type before publishing at scale.
Ignoring the URL Slug
Review the URL before publishing important pages.
Short, descriptive URLs are generally easier to understand and manage.
Using Headings Only for Visual Size
Headings communicate content structure.
Use H2 and H3 levels logically rather than choosing them purely for appearance.
Uploading Huge Images
Large image files can unnecessarily increase page weight.
Optimize images appropriately before or during your publishing workflow.
Publishing Without Testing Links
Check internal links, external links, buttons, and forms before considering a page complete.
Changing Published URLs Without Redirects
If an established page URL changes, the previous URL may stop working.
Plan URL changes carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How do I add a new page in WordPress? |
|---|
| Log in to your dashboard and navigate to Pages → Add Page. Add a title and content, configure the page settings, preview the page, and click Publish when it is ready. |
| What is the difference between a WordPress page and a post? |
| Pages are generally used for standalone or relatively timeless content, while posts are typically used for blog entries and regularly published content organized within a publishing stream. |
| Can I create a WordPress page without publishing it? |
| Yes. Save the page as a draft until it is ready to be published. |
| Can I schedule a WordPress page? |
| Yes. WordPress allows content to be scheduled for a future publication date and time. |
| Can I change a page after publishing it? |
| Yes. Open the page from Pages → All Pages, make your changes, and update it. |
| Can WordPress pages have categories and tags? |
| Pages do not use the standard post categories and tags by default. Plugins or custom development can add taxonomies to pages if a project requires them. |
| Can I make one page a child of another page? |
| Yes. WordPress supports hierarchical pages, allowing you to assign a parent page. |
| Why does my page editor look different? |
| The editor can vary because of your WordPress version, active theme, plugins, user permissions, and whether additional editor tools are installed. |
Final Thoughts
Creating a page in WordPress is straightforward once you understand the block editor.
The basic workflow is:
Pages → Add Page → Add Title → Create Content → Configure Settings → Preview → Publish
Start with the pages your website genuinely needs rather than creating dozens of empty pages in advance.
As you become more comfortable with blocks, List View, templates, and page settings, you can build increasingly sophisticated layouts without manually coding every page.
Now that you know how to create standalone pages, the next step is learning how WordPress handles regularly published content.
In the next tutorial, we will show you how to create and publish a blog post in WordPress, including categories, tags, featured images, excerpts, scheduling, and other important publishing settings.
