---
title: "Gutters - Glossary | MDN"
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source: "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gutters"
category: "reference"
tags: "web, html, css, javascript, documentation"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T05:33:16.026900+00:00"
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  1. [Glossary](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary)
  2. [Gutters](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gutters)

# Gutters
**Gutters** or _alleys_ are spacing between content [tracks](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Grid_Tracks). These can be created in [CSS grid layout](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Grid_layout), [flex layout](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Flexible_box_layout), and [multi-column layout](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Multicol_layout) using the [`column-gap`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/column-gap), [`row-gap`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/row-gap), or [`gap`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/gap) properties.
## In this article
  * [Example](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gutters#example)
  * [See also](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gutters#see_also)

##  [Example](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gutters#example)
In the example below we have a three-column and two-row track grid, with `20px` gaps between both column tracks and row tracks.
In terms of grid sizing, gaps act as if they were a regular grid track however nothing can be placed into the gap. The gap acts as if the grid line at that location has gained extra size, so any grid item placed after that line begins at the end of the gap.
The `row-gap` and `column-gap` properties are not the only things that can cause tracks to space out. Margins, padding, or the use of the space distribution properties in [CSS box alignment](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Box_alignment) can all contribute to the visible gap – therefore the `row-gap` and `column-gap` properties should not be seen as equal to the "gutter size" unless you know that your design has not introduced any additional space with one of these methods.
##  [See also](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gutters#see_also)
  * [CSS grid layout](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Grid_layout/Basic_concepts)
  * Property reference
    * [`column-gap`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/column-gap)
    * [`row-gap`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/row-gap)
    * [`gap`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/gap)
  * [Definition of gutters](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-grid/#gutters) in the CSS grid layout specification