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Tailwind CSS Common Class Cheat Sheet

This quick reference guide summarizes the most commonly used utility classes in Tailwind CSS.


1. Layout and Display

Class Name CSS Output Equivalent
flex display: flex
grid display: grid
hidden display: none
block display: block
inline-block display: inline-block

2. Spacing Axis Modifiers (Margin and Padding)

Spacing increments use a base-4 conversion scale (e.g., 4 is 16px / 1rem):

Class Equivalent Value Class Equivalent Value
p-1 padding: 4px / 0.25rem m-1 margin: 4px / 0.25rem
p-2 padding: 8px / 0.5rem m-2 margin: 8px / 0.5rem
p-4 padding: 16px / 1rem m-4 margin: 16px / 1rem
px-4 horizontal padding: 16px mx-auto horizontal margin: auto
py-8 vertical padding: 32px my-0 vertical margin: 0

3. Typography and Formatting

Class Name Visual Behavior
text-xs Font size: 12px / 0.75rem
text-base Font size: 16px / 1rem (default)
text-2xl Font size: 24px / 1.5rem
font-normal Font weight: 400
font-bold Font weight: 700
text-center Center align text
uppercase Convert characters to uppercase

4. Visual Effects (Borders, Shadows, and Rounds)

Class Name Style Behavior
rounded Border radius: 4px
rounded-lg Border radius: 8px
rounded-full Circular border boundary radius
border Border width: 1px
border-dashed Dashed border styling
shadow Standard elevation box shadow
shadow-xl Heavy elevation box shadow

5. Interaction State Prefixes

Prepend these prefixes to apply styles dynamically based on visitor interactions:

  • hover: (e.g., hover:bg-blue-600)
  • focus: (e.g., focus:ring-2)
  • active: (e.g., active:scale-95)
  • dark: (e.g., dark:bg-slate-900)
  • md: (e.g., md:w-1/2 - applies styles starting from tablet screens up)
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