What is causing unexpected margin and padding on multiple sections in my Webflow site?

Unexpected margin and padding on multiple sections in your Webflow site is typically caused by global styles, inherited classes, or browser default styles.

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1. Check for Global Tag Styles  

• In the Style panel, select Body (All Pages) or Section if you're using Webflow's built-in section tag.
• Webflow allows styling of HTML tags (like all <section> or <div> tags) using the Selector Field. Check if there’s a base style applied.
• These global tag styles will affect every instance on your site unless overridden.

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2. Inspect Inherited Classes  

• A section might share a class that applies margin or padding. For example, if multiple sections use a class like .section-padding, check if that class adds unexpected space.
• Multiple combo classes may layer spacing styles; inspect each section to ensure you're not unintentionally stacking margins/paddings.

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3. Look for Nested Containers or Wrappers  

• Sometimes spacing is applied inside wrappers or containers instead of on the section directly.
• Select inner elements and check if they have padding or margin applied.

4. Browser Default Styling  

• Native HTML tags like <section>, <ul>, or <h1> can have browser-specific margins or padding.
• Reset these styles using Webflow’s Base tag styling or by adding a CSS reset via custom code if needed.

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5. Negative Margin Collapsing or Stacking  

• Margin collapse can occur when two sections both have margin-top or margin-bottom, and the browser merges them.
• Inspect the space between two sections in Preview Mode or with Chrome DevTools to detect this behavior.

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6. Check Breakpoints  

• Spacing may differ across breakpoints. Be sure to inspect your layout in Tablet, Mobile Landscape, and Mobile Portrait modes.
• Spacing may be unintentionally added or removed through overwritten styles.

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Summary  

To identify and fix unexpected margin and padding in Webflow, inspect global tag styles (like <section>), inherited class spacing, and nested containers. Always check for browser defaults, spacing inheritance, and responsive breakpoint variations. Use the Style panel and Chrome DevTools to pinpoint the exact source.