Should you still be designing your website for tablet?
- Lucy
- May 21
- 4 min read
Let’s talk about tablets. Or more specifically, whether designing for tablet screen sizes is still worth your time in 2025.
Because if we’re going off usage stats alone, we all know that tablet traffic is rapidly declining. Most sources estimate it now accounts for around 3% of all website traffic worldwide (StatCounter Global Stats, 2024). That’s a tiny slice of your audience. So it’s no surprise most people wonder if they can just... skip it.
But just because it’s a small slice doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter. In fact, I still think designing for tablet (even if it’s more of a tweak than a full design process) is absolutely worth it. Just maybe not in the way you think.
So who even uses tablets anymore?
Honestly? Not many people. (If you don't count my boyfriends parents who are avid tablet users). At least, not compared to mobile and desktop.
But there’s a caveat here. In the past year, I’ve seen a rise in what I call "tablet-adjacent experiences." I'm still working on a better term for that.
Think:
Split-screen desktop use (especially on larger monitors or laptops, I personally do this all the time).
Larger mobile devices (hello, iPhone 15 Pro Max) that can trigger tablet-style layouts.
Older devices with outdated screen dimensions that don’t neatly fit mobile or desktop breakpoints.
In other words, your website might be viewed in tablet dimensions even if the device isn’t technically a tablet. Which is why a well optimised tablet view can still impact your users.
Recently, one of my clients (who I built a Squarespace website for), questioned the design on one page that he was viewing on his new 'max' sized phone, and I had to review the breakpoints of his website because it was actually in between the mobile and desktop sizes, and on Squarespace you can't add in a personalised tablet view like you can in Wix. So it's still a rarer use case for mobile to show the tablet view, but it does happen.
Why I still design for tablet (even lightly)
I design websites almost exclusively on Wix Studio and Squarespace.
Squarespace only lets you design for desktop and mobile breakpoints.
Wix Studio lets you build responsive designs for desktop, tablet, and mobile (and gives you full control over each).
On most projects, I use the same approach:
I design for mobile first, because it forces you to simplify, and because this is where you'll get your most visitors.
I then adapt that for desktop, since more screen space means more flexibility.
And finally, if I’m using Wix Studio, I tweak either the mobile or desktop layout to suit tablet views. This isn’t a full redesign – just small layout changes, spacing adjustments, and making sure nothing breaks.
I don’t go all-in on custom tablet features, but I always check the tablet view and make it look good enough that it won’t ruin someone’s experience.
Because even if tablet use is only 3%, imagine having a physical shop and turning away 3% of your customers. You wouldn’t, right? So why do it online?
What happens when you skip tablet design for your website?
If you ignore the tablet view completely, here’s what can happen:
Squished or stretched layouts: Elements that looked great on mobile suddenly feel too wide, too spaced out, or just awkward.
Broken sections: Images or text blocks might overlap or shift out of place.
Clunky spacing: Mobile-sized padding looks huge on tablets. Desktop layouts look squashed.
Unpolished feel: The experience doesn’t feel smooth. Which affects how people perceive your brand.
For small businesses where trust and professionalism matter, that messy middle ground can hurt your conversions.
But isn't it more work?
It doesn’t have to be. If you’re designing in Wix Studio especially, the tablet breakpoint is already there. You’re not starting from scratch. It just needs light editing to make sure nothing looks off.
Even 10–15 minutes spent tweaking layout blocks can make a big difference. And if you're using Squarespace? Since there's no separate tablet view, this is even more reason to test your design across multiple screen widths. Use responsive testing tools (like Chrome DevTools or a tool like Screenfly) to make sure your content flows well at every breakpoint.
When is it OK to skip tablet design?
Every web designer will feel differently about this. But in my opinion, I won't prioritise tablet if I'm working on an ultra-basic site in Squarespace, like a portfolio or CV page.
Or if you're looking to design your own website and just need to get something live asap, then as long as your mobile and desktop experiences are strong, you're still covering 95 to 97% of your users so you could come back to tablet after you've hit your launch date.
But if you're using Wix Studio, offering premium services, or have a site where layout precision really matters? I’d always recommend giving that tablet view at least a bit of love.
My final thoughts: The 3% rule
Designing for tablet isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about not dropping the ball for a small (but still real) portion of your audience.
3% might not sound like much. But if you had 1,000 monthly visitors, that’s 30 people. And if your website isn’t usable for them, that’s potentially 30 missed opportunities every single month.
So yes, the tablet views are fading. But it's not gone yet. And in my opinion? A little extra effort goes a long way.
If you’re not sure how to make your website responsive across all screen sizes, that’s exactly what I help with. I design mobile-first websites for small businesses that look and work brilliantly across every device. Even the half-forgotten tablet.
