General dimensions of website design

Site size – meaning and influence

First, let's determine what role the site page size plays in the life of a modern user in order to have a foothold for the correct choice of future parameters for our page.

The width of a web page is directly related to usability, that is, the ease of use of the resource. For example, static resources with a width of more than 1366px simply do not fit on the screens of tablets and smartphones, and therefore are inconvenient for users who are used to accessing the Internet via a phone. And search operations, in addition to the usefulness of the content, also take into account usability, reducing in the search results pages that the guest does not want to linger on.

Conclusion: If the page is too narrow or too wide, then the likelihood that the user will leave the page after the first three seconds of viewing increases.

Adaptation and rubber layout – what is it and why?

Today there are several types of layout that allow you to adjust web resource blocks to any monitor and extension:

  1. «Rubber layout» – a favorite pastime for newcomers to design and a reason for skepticism among the older generation. Fluid layout automatically adjusts the page size to the number of pixels of the device from which the web resource was opened. At first it will seem that this is an ideal option and choosing the size of the site should disappear by itself. But this option has a drawback, namely – changing arrangement of blocks with content, which can ruin any thoughtful design;
  2. Rubber layout with restrictions – the option involves expanding and narrowing the page to specific boundaries specified by the designer. The good thing about this method is that the usability of the page becomes stable and looks good on different devices. Loading a web resource on small screens is accompanied by the appearance of a scroll bar, allowing you to easily view each element located within the page. Optimal restrictions for this type of layout: maximum – 1366px, minimum – 500px;
  3. Adaptive design – difficult to operate and at the same time most suitable for all types of devices. The main advantage of adaptation is the automatic positioning of all content blocks, fonts, images and headings. A Website whose size automatically and harmoniously adjusts to resolution is viewed on smartphones, laptops and tablets, which increases the profitability of the page. In addition, a mobile version based on adaptive design can complement a site made on a “rubber-based” basis.

The given types of layout will allow you to create beautiful and convenient websites without really bothering with the question of how to choose the size of the site. However, do not forget that, unlike search robots, the target audience of a web resource will be more demanding.

Optimal site size – is he or not?

When deciding what website size in pixels is best for a given site, an experienced designer usually starts from several guidelines: content, target audience and usability. Beginners in web design can start from the standard page size of 960 pixels.

Adding another piece of disagreement to the debate about website sizes, I would like to say that more and more designers are basing it on the size of an ordinary book page, which in digital form is approximately 650px. But in any case, the final decision on page size is up to you.