19 Greatest WordPress Starter Themes for Builders in 2024

Are you in search of the most effective WordPress starter theme for builders?

A WordPress starter theme helps programmers begin with a strong basis. It may turn out to be the bottom on your theme growth course of and offer you a very good head begin.

On this article, we’ve handpicked a number of the finest WordPress starter themes that builders can use to create their theme from scratch.

What Is a WordPress Starter Theme?

A WordPress starter theme is a clean theme with minimal design components and a fundamental or completely no structure. These themes normally include probably the most generally used templates in a WordPress theme.

They’ve code to show posts, archive pages, single posts, and feedback, however with minimal or no styling. This enables theme builders to shortly begin including their very own kinds and construct a brand new theme, with out having to code a web site from scratch.

You need to keep in mind that starter themes don’t include styling, so you aren’t in a position to make use of them as they’re with out customization. Nevertheless, they can be utilized as a mother or father theme.

Utilizing a Starter Theme for Builders in WordPress

You possibly can simply use a starter theme to construct your individual theme with WordPress. It’s the finest web site builder available on the market and is utilized by over 43% of websites on the web.

WordPress is a self-hosted and open-source platform that provides you full artistic freedom to construct a web site based on your liking.

To get began, you will have a internet hosting account the place all of your web site recordsdata can be saved. After that, it’s essential to get a site identify, which can be your web site’s deal with on the net like wpbeginner.com or www.instance.com.

We suggest choosing Bluehost for internet hosting as a result of they’re one of many largest webhosting corporations on the earth and an formally beneficial WordPress internet hosting supplier.

Plus, they’re providing a HUGE low cost to WPBeginner readers with a free area identify and SSL certificates.

After you have bought a internet hosting plan, you possibly can transfer on to putting in WordPress. Then, you possibly can verify our step-by-step information on easy methods to make a WordPress web site.

Now, it’s time so that you can choose a starter theme that you would be able to construct upon. You possibly can choose any theme from our knowledgeable picks under. In the event you need assistance putting in them, then you possibly can see our tutorial on easy methods to set up a WordPress theme.

That being stated, let’s check out a number of the finest starter themes for WordPress that you should use on your theme growth.

1. Astra

Astra is a premium WordPress theme for builders. It comes with quite a few starter themes and templates to launch a web site shortly.

The starter themes by Astra are constructed for various enterprise niches, and also you’ll almost certainly discover a excellent demo website to match your necessities. Plus, the theme is optimized for code and gives highly effective design choices, Google Fonts, and button presets.

Astra even has built-in dropdown carts, grid settings, gallery choices, and an off-canvas sidebar for WooCommerce. These options will be useful if you’re constructing a starter theme for a web-based retailer.

If you’re a newbie in search of one thing purposeful to begin with, then Astra will make issues loads simpler for you.

2. SeedProd

SeedProd is the most effective WordPress theme builder available on the market, and it comes with a drag-and-drop builder and 300+ premade templates. It gives a selected starter theme template that builders can use to create their very own theme from scratch.

It permits a single-click import for any template that you would be able to then customise with its builder and use options like customized sections, world kinds, and superior structure choices.

Moreover, SeedProd may also combine with e mail advertising providers, making it your best option for constructing a starter theme with none coding.

3. Genesis

Genesis is a WordPress theme framework by StudioPress that may present a strong basis for constructing a customized theme. It comes with a 1-click theme setup with tons of helpful sources, demo content material, plugins, and Gutenberg blocks.

You possibly can make the most of the 6 structure designs, featured content material widgets, customized web page templates, and highly effective theme choices panel. Plus, it focuses on code high quality and efficiency, making it a super alternative for builders who wish to construct an Search engine marketing-friendly website.

StudioPress is now part of WP Engine, the most well-liked managed WordPress internet hosting firm. You may get this framework together with all 35+ StudioPress themes once you join WP Engine internet hosting to create a web site.

Bonus: WPBeginner customers additionally get an extra 20% OFF. Get began with WP Engine at the moment!

4. Underscores

Underscores might be the most well-liked of all of the WordPress starter themes. It comes with a minimalist design and is tremendous light-weight, with solely important theme recordsdata and functionalities.

This starter theme is written in HTML5 and CSS and is totally free. The clear code is supposed to get out of your means and make it easier to shortly construct a standard-compliant WordPress theme. It additionally gives template tags, actions, and hooks to additional assist builders.

Moreover, Underscores has an energetic group and intensive documentation, making it tremendous straightforward to construct a theme.

5. Sage

Sage is a contemporary WordPress starter theme based mostly on Gulp, Bootstrap, and Bower. It makes use of a Theme Wrapper, which helps you keep away from repeating the identical code in each template.

It additionally comes with Tailwind CSS integration to permit builders to construct layouts shortly. Plus, Sage gives template tags, actions and hooks, and block editor assist.

It’s actively maintained and has a powerful following amongst WordPress front-end builders.

6. Understrap

Understrap is a WordPress starter theme based mostly on Underscores and Bootstrap 4. It comes with a cellular responsive design and grid framework making it tremendous straightforward to customise.

Moreover, it has a light-weight basis and gives a Sass (CSS pre-processor) integration to create extra organized stylesheets.

UnderStrap can be absolutely appropriate with WooCommerce, which makes it an amazing alternative for a web-based retailer.

7. WP Rig

WP Rig is one other WordPress starter theme and growth equipment that helps you construct themes which can be extremely optimized for efficiency.

It comes with a construct course of that lints, optimizes, and minifies your code for higher efficiency. WP Rig additionally lazy hundreds your photographs till they’re within the consumer view to spice up web page load time.

The theme may even combine with Gulp to automate repetitive duties in your growth course of, equivalent to compiling Sass and minifying JavaScript and CSS.

8. Catch Starter

Catch Starter is a monochrome WordPress starter theme for builders. It comes with a set of options, together with a content material slider, portfolio, providers, and testimonials.

Plus, it gives a theme choices panel, customized widgets assist, and favicons, making it excellent to kickstart your growth with WordPress.

Catch Starter can be tremendous beginner-friendly and translation-ready. We suggest utilizing this theme if you wish to create a multilingual web site.

9. Highstarter

Highstarter is a light-weight starter theme with out libraries or frameworks. It gives many customization choices for the header picture and helps nested drop-down submenus, pagination, and breadcrumbs.

The theme has a cellular responsive design, RTL language assist, and hooks and filters to assist builders.

Total, it’s a nice starter theme if you wish to create a minimalist theme that prioritizes code high quality and efficiency.

10. Beans

Beans is an modern WordPress starter theme for builders. It’s extremely versatile with responsive content material and adaptive photographs.

The theme is Search engine marketing-friendly and constructed with an final frontend library to arrange and customise your web site. As an alternative of pre-built layouts, Beans gives reusable elements like content material sections, sidebars, and headers.

It additionally helps you to create customized put up sorts and add new functionalities to your web site utilizing shortcodes.

11. JointsWP

JointsWP is a rock-solid WordPress starter theme. It’s based mostly on the Basis 6 framework and is available in CSS or Sass variations.

The theme additionally has an choices panel, customized widgets, and baby theme assist. Plus, it will probably combine with Gulp to automate growth duties.

12. Nebula

Nebula is a sophisticated WordPress starter theme that’s extra like a theme framework. It has customized performance like a advice engine for 404 and no-search-result pages, autocomplete search, and extra.

Its’ easy syntax code may also function a studying supply for brand new builders.

13. Generic

Generic is a minimal WordPress starter theme. This theme is right for constructing customized web sites on your clients or utilizing it as a base to create a brand new theme.

It’s tremendous Search engine marketing-friendly and comes with its personal light-weight CSS grid, making it an amazing alternative for all types of internet sites.

14. BlankSlate

BlankSlate is an easy and very versatile WordPress starter theme that’s designed with builders in thoughts.

Whereas it’s easy, it comes with a strong basis on your themes to depend on. It makes use of semantic HTML code and likewise gives customized CSS kinds and Search engine marketing optimization.

15. Gantry

Gantry is a strong WordPress theme framework for builders. It means that you can create CMS-friendly themes shortly.

It’s an open-source software program with loads to supply, together with mega menu assist, a structure supervisor, theme inheritance, a user-friendly interface, and extra. Plus, it comes with a visible menu editor and limitless undo/redo function, making it a brilliant highly effective theme.

16. Air-Mild

Air-Mild is a minimalist WordPress starter theme based mostly on Underscores. It’s absolutely purposeful with minimal design choices, leaving room for builders so as to add their very own kinds to create a brand new theme.

Moreover, the plugin is absolutely appropriate with customized put up sorts, the block editor, and plugins like Superior Customized Fields (ACF) that may make it easier to construct customized fields on your web site.

17. Responsive

Responsive is a free starter theme that gives 100+ Elementor and WordPress block templates.

It may additionally assist with search engine rankings as a result of it’s absolutely optimized for Search engine marketing and helps schema markup. Plus, the theme can combine with well-liked plugins like BuddyPress, WooCommerce, and LearnDash to construct any form of web site you need.

18. Tonik

Tonik is an incredible starter theme that comes with the Sass and CSS frameworks to simplify styling for you. It additionally makes use of Webpack to handle, compile, and optimize theme recordsdata.

Tonik additionally gives enhanced templating and PHP namespaces. Plus, it helps you to construct baby themes, making it an amazing start line for builders.

19. Blockbase

Blockbase is a well-liked starter theme by Automattic that helps full website modifying. It makes use of block templates to outline your web site construction, together with header, footers, navigation menu, and extra.

It additionally comes with world kinds and PHP integration, making it an amazing block theme for builders.

Regularly Requested Questions About Starter Themes

Listed here are some questions which can be continuously requested by our readers about WordPress starter themes.

1. Who ought to use starter WordPress themes?

Ideally, a starter theme needs to be utilized by builders and net designers who’ve a very good understanding of growth and wish to create a customized theme.

These themes usually are not a sensible choice for customers with no coding information as a result of they primarily provide minimal styling the place you need to add customization with coding.

If you’re a newbie in search of a web site theme, then you possibly can take a look at our knowledgeable picks for the most well-liked WordPress themes.

2. Do these themes include assist or documentation?

A number of the extra well-liked and premium starter themes provide intensive documentation and assist to assist arrange the theme in your web site.

Nevertheless, if you’re going for one of many free starter themes, then it’s essential to remember the fact that assist and documentation can be restricted and will even be unavailable in some circumstances.

3. Can builders absolutely customise these themes?

WordPress starter themes are constructed for full customization. They arrive with a minimalistic structure and provide full artistic freedom to builders to construct their very own themes.

We hope this text has helped you discover the most effective WordPress starter themes for builders. You might also wish to take a look at our different WordPress guides for starter themes and enterprise websites.

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