About CSS Formatter & Minifier
CSS Formatter & Minifier is a powerful online tool that formats, beautifies, and minifies CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) code. Whether you're cleaning up messy stylesheets or optimizing CSS for production, this tool helps you maintain readable code during development and reduce file size for deployment.
Features
- Format CSS with customizable indentation
- Minify CSS to reduce file size
- Remove comments and unnecessary whitespace
- Optimize CSS for production
- Multiple indentation options (2, 4, 8 spaces)
- File size comparison and savings calculator
- One-click copy to clipboard
- Character, line, and byte count
- Load example CSS
- 100% browser-based (no server uploads)
How to Use
- Paste your CSS in the input box
- Select your preferred indentation size
- Click "Format CSS" to beautify your CSS
- Click "Minify CSS" to compress your CSS
- View optimization stats and file size savings
- Copy the formatted output to clipboard
Format vs Minify
Format CSS:
Adds proper indentation, line breaks, and spacing to make CSS human-readable. Use this during development for better code maintainability.
.button {
background-color: #3b82f6;
padding: 10px 20px;
}Minify CSS:
Removes all unnecessary characters (whitespace, comments, newlines) to reduce file size. Use this for production to improve page load times.
.button{background-color:#3b82f6;padding:10px 20px}CSS Best Practices
- Use consistent indentation and formatting
- Group related properties together
- Use shorthand properties when possible
- Avoid !important unless absolutely necessary
- Use meaningful class names
- Organize CSS by component or section
- Remove unused CSS rules
- Minify CSS for production
When to Format vs Minify
Use Format CSS when:
- Working in development environment
- Debugging CSS issues
- Collaborating with team members
- Learning or teaching CSS
- Maintaining code readability
Use Minify CSS when:
- Deploying to production
- Optimizing page load speed
- Reducing bandwidth usage
- Improving website performance
- Meeting performance budgets
CSS Optimization Tips
- Combine Files: Merge multiple CSS files to reduce HTTP requests
- Remove Duplicates: Eliminate duplicate rules and properties
- Use Shorthand: Replace multiple properties with shorthand versions
- Remove Comments: Strip comments in production builds
- Compress Colors: Use 3-digit hex codes when possible (#fff vs #ffffff)
- Remove Units: Omit units for zero values (0 vs 0px)
Common CSS Issues
- Inconsistent indentation and formatting
- Missing semicolons
- Unclosed braces
- Invalid property values
- Duplicate selectors
- Overly specific selectors
- Unused CSS rules
Performance Benefits
Minifying CSS can significantly improve website performance:
- Reduces file size by 20-40% on average
- Decreases page load time
- Reduces bandwidth usage
- Improves SEO rankings
- Better user experience
- Lower hosting costs
Privacy & Security
All CSS formatting and minification happens locally in your browser. Your CSS code is never sent to our servers or any third-party services. This ensures complete privacy and security for your stylesheets and proprietary code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will minifying CSS break my styles?
No, minification only removes whitespace and comments. It doesn't change the CSS logic or functionality.
Should I minify CSS for development?
No, keep CSS formatted during development for easier debugging and maintenance. Only minify for production.
How much smaller will my CSS be?
Typically 20-40% smaller, depending on formatting style and comment density. Check the stats after minification.
Can I format minified CSS?
Yes! Paste minified CSS and click "Format CSS" to make it readable again.
Does this support CSS preprocessors?
This tool works with standard CSS. For SCSS/SASS/LESS, compile to CSS first.