complete.tools

CSS Formatter

Beautify and format minified or messy CSS code

What this tool does

The CSS Formatter instantly beautifies minified, compressed, or hard-to-read CSS code. Paste in any CSS — whether it came from a build pipeline, was copied from a website, or is just disorganized from years of edits — and get clean, properly indented, human-readable output in seconds.

You can also use it in reverse: paste formatted CSS and click Minify to compress it for production use, stripping all whitespace and comments for the smallest possible file size.

How to use

  1. Paste your CSS into the input box, or click "Load Example" to try a sample
  2. Choose your preferred indentation (2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tab)
  3. Click "Beautify CSS" to format, or "Minify CSS" to compress
  4. Copy the result with the Copy button

Why format CSS?

Minified CSS is great for production — it loads faster because it has fewer bytes. But minified CSS is nearly impossible to read or debug. Formatted CSS is:

  • Easier to read — each property on its own line, rules clearly separated
  • Easier to debug — browser DevTools can map errors to specific lines
  • Easier to diff — version control shows meaningful changes instead of single-line diffs
  • Easier to maintain — other developers can understand your styles quickly

Beautify vs. Minify

Beautify expands CSS so every selector and property is on its own line with consistent indentation. Use this when:

  • You want to read or edit CSS you didn't write
  • You're debugging a style problem
  • You want to understand what a third-party stylesheet does

Minify compresses CSS by removing all whitespace, newlines, and comments. Use this when:

  • Deploying to production for faster page loads
  • You want to reduce file size before inlining CSS
  • Your build tool doesn't already do this automatically

FAQs

Q: Does my CSS get sent to a server?
A: No. All formatting happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your code never leaves your device.
Q: Will this handle CSS with variables and calc()?
A: Yes. The formatter works on any valid CSS syntax, including custom properties (--variables), calc(), and modern features like container queries.
Q: What about SCSS or Less?
A: This tool formats standard CSS only. SCSS and Less syntax (like nested rules, mixins, and variables with $) are not supported.
Q: Can I format a full stylesheet?
A: Yes. Paste as much CSS as you need — there is no size limit.
Q: What indent size should I use?
A: 2 spaces is the most common convention for CSS (used by Google, Airbnb, and most style guides). 4 spaces is common in projects that prefer it for other languages. Tabs are preferred when your team uses tab-based indentation everywhere.

Explore Similar Tools

Explore more tools like this one: