How to Create a Masonry Gallery in the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

How to Create a Masonry Gallery in the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

Updated: February 17th, 2026 for FolioBlocks Version 1.2

The Masonry Gallery Block in FolioBlocks lets you build stunning, Pinterest-style image grids directly inside the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) — no short-codes, no settings screens, no fuss.

Designed for photographers, designers, and creatives, it automatically arranges images in an organic, responsive layout that adapts beautifully across screen sizes.

Note: This guide covers features available in the Professional (Pro) version of FolioBlocks. Some options and settings described here may not be included in the free version.


The Masonry Gallery Block is part of the FolioBlocks plugin, a professional suite of Gutenberg blocks for photographers and visual creators.

Unlike the default WordPress Gallery block, the Masonry layout doesn’t crop or resize your images to fit a strict grid. Instead, it stacks them naturally to preserve their original proportions, creating a dynamic visual rhythm that feels both modern and editorial.

Perfect for:

  • Photography portfolios
  • Editorial image collections
  • Behind-the-scenes or event galleries
  • Creative agency and artist websites

1. Insert the Block

In the WordPress Block Editor, click the ➕ Add Block button at the top left of your screen and search for “Masonry Gallery”. You’ll find it under the FolioBlocks section which should appear right after the Media section.

2. Upload or Select Images

With the block now added into the central editor use the Media Library or Upload option to add your images into the gallery. You can select multiple images at once, and reorder them later using drag and drop.

With your images added into the Masonry Gallery Block, use the Alignment button in the block’s toolbar to choose content width, wide width, or full width layouts to match your page design.

Since the Masonry Gallery Block renders images as inner blocks you can easily re-arrange images in the gallery by selecting them in the List View (on the left hand side) and dragging and dropping images into your preferred order.


Image Resolution

Choose between ThumbnailMediumLarge, or Full resolution images, this gives you control over both image quality and page load speed.

Columns and Remove Image Gap

The Masonry Gallery Block is fully responsive. You can define separate column counts for Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile, ensuring your galleries always look balanced. You can also choose to disable the gaps entirely for a flush, edge-to-edge look.

Randomize Image Order

Allows you to shuffle image order dynamically, giving returning visitors a fresh viewing experience each time the page loads.


Lightbox & Hover Overlay Settings in the Masonry Gallery Block

Enable Lightbox

Enable the built-in Lightbox to let visitors view your images full-screen when the user clicks on them.

It supports keyboard navigation and swipe gestures. When activated an additional toggle to show image captions within the Lightbox view is enabled.

Note: Show Caption in Lightbox control only displays when Enable Lightbox is active

Show Overlay on Hover

The Show Overlay on Hover toggle enables an overlay effect with the Image title to display when you hover over an image.

An additional Select Control allows you to set the Hover Style where you can select from a Blur, Fade, Gradient, Chip, or Color Overlay. With the Color Overlay selected you can additionally customize the color of the text and background on the Overlay.

You can edit each image’s Caption, Title, or Alt Text directly from the image block settings.

Note: Changes made to Image’s caption, title, or alt text currently do not sync back to the WordPress Media Library.


Enable Image Filtering

When filtering is enabled, you can assign categories to images (e.g., “Sports,” “Portraits,” “Events”) and allow visitors to toggle between them.

First you have the Filter Bar Alignment settings which allows you set the alignment of the bar with your added categories (e.g., “All, Sports, Portraits, Events”).

Then you have the Filter Categories input. Here you can add your filter categories (e.g. “Portraits, Events, Landscape”) separated by commas.

Once you have added your categories you can now select the individual images inside your Masonry Gallery Block and in their block settings there will be a new Filter Categories dropdown select control where you can apply one of the categories to the image.

Note: Additional style options for the Filter Bar are available in the blocks style settings panel.

The Gallery Filter Settings panel in the Masonry Gallery Block.

Enable Image Downloads

Allows you to add a download icon to each image thumbnail and inside the Lightbox, allowing clients or visitors to save high-resolution versions of your work.

When enabled an extra drop-down select control is enabled which allows you to specify if you want to always display the download icon or display it only when the user hovers over the image.

Settings for setting the icon & background color of the Download icon can be found in the Masonry Gallery Block’s styles panel when the Enable Image Downloads setting is active.

Note: Enable Image Downloads can not be used when Enable WooCommerce Integration is active.

Enable WooCommerce Integration

This toggle enables WooCommerce Integration allowing you to link gallery images with WooCommerce products on your website. Instructions for WooCommerce integration are included later in this tutorial.

Note: Toggle for Enable WooCommerce Integration will only display if WooCommerce plugin is installed and active on your website. Enable WooCommerce Integration can not be used when Enable Image Downloads is active.

E-Commerce Settings Panel on the Masonry Gallery Block

Before & After Block - Advanced Settings

Disable Right-Click on Page

Attempts to disable right-click on the page to discourage casual image downloads.

Note: The “Disable Right-Click” feature helps discourage casual users from saving your images, but it cannot fully prevent access to image files through browser tools or the page source.

Enable Lazy-Load of Images

When lazy load is enabled, images only load as the visitor scrolls, improving page load speed.


Background

The Background setting allows you to customize the backdrop behind your Modular Gallery block. You can choose any color from your theme palette or define a custom color to help your images stand out or blend seamlessly with the surrounding layout.

A subtle background tone can make white borders or drop shadows more visible, while a dark background often enhances contrast and gives a cinematic look.

Dimensions – Padding & Margin

The Padding and Margin controls give you fine-grained control over the spacing inside and around your Masonry Gallery block.

Use Padding to create breathing room between your gallery content and its edges — useful for highlighting the gallery within a colored background.

Use Margin to control the outer spacing between the gallery and adjacent blocks or page sections, ensuring perfect alignment and balance within your overall page design.

The Gallery Styles Panel of the Masonry Gallery Block.

The Gallery Image Styles panel in the Masonry Gallery Block.

Border Color, Width, & Radius

These settings allow you to add custom borders to the images in your gallery. Select the color of your border and then adjust the border width slider to your liking.

The images in the editor update in real time so you can see how they look without having to visit the front end of the site.

Border Radius slider allows you to add a radius to the corner of the images to further create special effects.

Enable Drop Shadow

Enable Drop Shadow adds a subtle drop shadow to your images that helps them pop off the page.


Filter Bar Styles

When Enable Image Filtering is active the Filter Bar Styles panel will be present in the Grid Gallery Block’s style panel.

Font-Family, Font Size, Appearance, Line Height, Letter Spacing, Decoration, & Letter Case

When using a block based theme that uses theme.json FolioBlocks will detect available fonts and let you set the font for the Filter Bar. Additional controls allow you to set Font Size, Appearance, Line Height, Letter Spacing, Decoration, and Letter Case styles.

Active – Text Color & Active – Background Color

These two settings allow you to set the color and background color for the active term in the Filter Bar.

Inactive – Text Color & Inactive – Background Color

These two settings allow you to set the color and background color for the inactive terms in the Filter Bar.

Note: The font used in the Filter Bar for Active and Inactive terms is pulled from your theme’s body font.

Filter Bar Styles Panel in Masonry Gallery Block

WooCommerce Integration

Display Add To Cart icon

With Enable WooCommerce Integration turned on you will be presented with a new select control that lets you choose if you want to always display the Add To Cart button or Display it only Hover.

You can set the icon & background color for the Add To Cart icon by going to the Grid Gallery Block’s styles panel when Enable WooCommerce Integration is active.

Set Add To Cart icon Behavior

The Default Add to Cart Icon Behavior select control allows you to set the default behavior of Add to Cart Icons for the entire gallery. You can choose between the default “Add To Cart” or linking to the product page.

This setting can be overridden on an image per image basis. Giving you the option to set one behavior for the gallery and then override it on images as needed.

Additional settings controls are added in Lightbox & Hover Settings when Enable WooCommerce Integration is active.

If you Enable Lightbox you will now have an additional option to Show Image Caption or Product Info inside the Lightbox.

The same applies to Show Overlay on Hover, it now gives you the option to display the Image Title or to display the Product Name & Price.

These two options downgrade gracefully so there is no need for you to link every image in your gallery to a WooCommerce product. Image linked to products will display the Product Description in Lightbox or Product Name & Price on Hover and Images not linked to WooCommerce products will default to showing the Image Caption in the Lightbox and the Image Title on Hover.

Linking Images to WooCommerce Products

Linking your images to products is super simple, with Enable WooCommerce Integration turned on simply select one of the images in your gallery and look in it’s blocks settings.

You will see a new setting available, Linked WooCommerce Products, with an input field that allows you to search through the all of the WooCommerce Products on your site.

Simple search for your product and select it to link it with the image.

Override Default Add to Cart Behavior

Once you have linked your image to a WooCommerce product an additional select control gives you the option to override the gallery’s default Add to Cart behavior. Giving you the option to have the gallery default to adding the product to your cart, but this image defaulting to making the icon go to the product page.

Note: The settings for Linked WooCommerce Products only appear when Enable WooCommerce Integration is active on the parent gallery block.


Below is an example of a Masonry Gallery created with FolioBlocks:


Common Questions

How many images can I add?

There are no limits on how many images you can add.

Can I reorder images after adding them?

Yes — simply drag and drop within the editor or rearrange via the List View panel.

Does it work with my theme?

For the best experience it is recommended to use a block based theme. However FolioBlocks does work with classic themes provided they support wp_block_styles and the block editor.

Can I use this with WordPress 6.x or newer?

Absolutely. All FolioBlocks are built for the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) and are fully compatible with the latest WordPress versions.


Get Started

Ready to create your first masonry gallery? Get FolioBlocks and start building modern galleries in the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) today.