Top 10 Lightweight CSS Frameworks for Building Fast Websites in 2018

When building a website, using a CSS framework is a real time saver as it provides you with tools every web designer needs when crafting a site. But as you know, loading speed is a very important quality factor. Therefore, I have compiled an actualized list of the current top 10 lightweight CSS frameworks, for creating beautiful, functional, and super fast loading websites.

Pure CSS

Only 3.8KB minified and gzipped, but packed with features! Pure CSS has been my lightweight framework of choice for years now, including when working with an outsourcing software development team.

Info and download: https://purecss.io/

Bulma

With 21kB minified and gzipped, Bulma isn’t the most lightweight of this list, but this new framework is so interesting that it totally deserves a mention. Bulma is built with mobile-first approach, which makes every element optimized for vertical reading, and its grid is fully built with Flexbox. Achieving flexible layout with same-size columns is as simple as adding .column class to your HTML element.

Info and download: https://bulma.io/

Mini.css

A lightweight (7kb gzipped) framework for crafting a fast site easily.

Info and download: https://chalarangelo.github.io/mini.css/

UIkit

UIkit is a lightweight and modular front-end framework for developing fast and powerful web interfaces.

Info and download: https://getuikit.com/

Skeleton

With only 400 lines of code, Skeleton is light as a feather. Yet, it features a grid, typography, forms, media queries… all you need for building a quality site in no time.

Info and download: http://getskeleton.com/

Base

Base is a very simple but robust CSS framework. Built with lightweight and minimal code, Base is designed to provide developers and designers an easy way to built cross-browser, mobile-first websites, and apps.

Info and download: http://getbase.org/

Spectre

A lightweight (~10KB gzipped) starting point for your projects, Spectre provides elegantly designed and developed elements, as well as a flexbox-based, responsive, and mobile-friendly layout.

Info and download: https://picturepan2.github.io/spectre/

Milligram

Milligram provides a minimal setup of styles for a fast and clean starting point. With only 2kb gzipped, this tiny but powerful framework is in the top three of the lightweight framework available.

Info and download: https://milligram.github.io/

Dead Simple Grid

Not really a framework but just a simple grid layout that can be used in every project. 250 bytes of CSS code.

Info and download: https://github.com/mourner/dead-simple-grid

Picnic CSS

With a size of only 3kb when gzipped, Picnic is for sure lightweight, but also has everything you need for creating a great looking, functional website.

Info and download: https://picnicss.com/

Any other lightweight frameworks you like? Leave a comment below.