Table of contents
What is a sticky post in WordPress?Why use sticky posts?How to make a sticky post in WordPress (block editor)How to make a sticky post using the classic editorHow to find and manage sticky postsHow to style sticky posts differently with CSSHow to create sticky posts programmaticallyUse sticky posts for custom post typesCommon problems and how to fix themSmart ways to use sticky postsGetting startedAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → Post → Sticky Posts

WordPress sticky posts: what they are and how to use them

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Want to make sure a specific blog post always stays at the top of your site? That’s exactly what sticky posts are for.

WordPress makes it easy to “pin” any post to the top of your blog, no matter when it was published. Whether you’re highlighting an announcement, a popular guide, or a seasonal offer, sticky posts give you an easy way to control what your visitors see first.

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What is a sticky post in WordPress?

A sticky post is a blog post that stays pinned to the top of your blog archive page—even if newer posts have been published. WordPress shows your latest posts in reverse chronological order by default, but sticky posts override that and remain at the top.

Sticky posts are only available for blog posts, not pages or custom post types (unless you customize that behavior with code). They work with most WordPress themes and are ideal for highlighting content that needs extra visibility.

Why use sticky posts?

Sticky posts are great when you want to:

  • Feature important content like a welcome post or “Start Here” guide.
  • Keep evergreen content at the top of your blog to get more views.
  • Promote time-sensitive announcements like a sale or event.
  • Share updates or notices without changing the publish date.

You can also use sticky posts to guide new visitors toward your best or most helpful content, which can improve your bounce rate and keep people engaged longer.

How to make a sticky post in WordPress (block editor)

If you’re using the standard WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), here’s how to pin a post to the top of your blog:

  1. Go to Posts > All Posts from your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Click Edit under the post you want to make sticky.
  3. In the right-hand sidebar, expand the Post settings.
  4. Scroll down to the Summary section and check the box for “Stick to the top of the blog.”
  5. Click Update or Publish to save your changes.

That post will now appear above all other posts on your homepage and blog archive pages.

How to make a sticky post using the classic editor

If you’re using the Classic Editor plugin or an older version of WordPress:

  1. Go to Posts > All Posts and click Edit under the post you want to feature.
  2. Look for the Publish box on the right side.
  3. Click Edit next to Visibility: Public.
  4. Check the box for “Stick this post to the front page.”
  5. Click OK, then Update or Publish your post.

How to find and manage sticky posts

WordPress adds a “Sticky” label next to posts that are pinned when you view Posts > All Posts in your dashboard. That makes it easy to spot which posts are currently sticky.

To unstick a post:

  • Hover over the post and click Quick Edit.
  • Uncheck the box labeled “Make this post sticky.”
  • Click Update to save.

If you make more than one post sticky, WordPress will show all of them at the top in reverse chronological order (most recent first).

How to style sticky posts differently with CSS

Want your sticky posts to stand out visually? WordPress automatically adds a special CSS class—.sticky—to any pinned post. You can use that class to style it with a different background, border, or font.

Here’s an example:

.sticky {
  background-color: #f9f9f9;
  border-left: 4px solid #0073aa;
  padding: 15px;
}

To add custom CSS:

  1. Go to Appearance > Customize.
  2. Click Additional CSS.
  3. Paste your CSS code and click Publish.

This change only affects how sticky posts appear. It won’t change their position or functionality.

How to create sticky posts programmatically

If you’re comfortable editing code, WordPress offers functions to make posts sticky or remove sticky status. You can add these in your theme’s functions.php file or in a custom plugin.

// Make post with ID 42 sticky
stick_post(42);

// Unstick a post
unstick_post(42);

This is helpful if you want to automatically pin certain types of posts—like ones in a specific category—or if you’re building custom admin features for clients.

Use sticky posts for custom post types

Sticky posts don’t work with custom post types by default. If you want similar behavior for a portfolio, product, or other post type, you’ll need to customize your theme.

You can use custom fields or taxonomies to flag “featured” content, then modify your theme’s query to display them at the top.

Common problems and how to fix them

If your sticky post isn’t working as expected, here are a few common issues:

  • Sticky post not appearing at the top: Your theme may not support sticky posts in the blog loop. Make sure it’s using query_posts() or WP_Query without ignore_sticky_posts => true.
  • Sticky post shows twice: This can happen if your theme manually displays sticky posts and includes them in the regular loop. You’ll need to exclude them from the second loop using post__not_in.
  • Sticky post doesn’t show on a static homepage: If your homepage is a static page instead of your latest posts, you’ll need to create a custom blog section and modify the query to include sticky posts at the top.

Smart ways to use sticky posts

Here are a few ideas depending on your site type:

  • Bloggers: Pin a “Start Here” guide or a post that introduces your niche.
  • News sites: Keep breaking news or featured stories at the top.
  • Ecommerce sites: Highlight current promotions or best-selling products.
  • Membership sites: Feature announcements or onboarding info for members.
  • Portfolios: Showcase your most impressive or recent project.

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