---
title: "How to Show Blog Posts in Custom Metro Layout in WordPress?"
url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/show-blog-posts-in-custom-metro-layout-in-wordpress/
date: 2023-08-09
modified: 2026-08-18
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "Do you want to show your blog posts in a custom metro layout to show them in a unique style? With the Post Listing block from the Nexter Blocks, you..."
image: https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/show-blog-posts-in-custom-metro-layout-in-wordpress-1024x519.jpg
word_count: 263
---

# How to Show Blog Posts in Custom Metro Layout in WordPress?

## Key Takeaways

- Nexter Blocks Post Listing block creates a custom metro layout for blog posts by selecting Metro in the Layout section.
- Columns Manager tab sets the Metro Column dropdown to the desired column number for the layout.
- Custom Layout field accepts Width:Height ratios like 1:2 | 2:1 | 2:2 and loops the pattern for remaining items.

Do you want to show your blog posts in a custom metro layout to show them in a unique style? With the Post Listing block from the Nexter Blocks, you can easily create a custom metro layout for your blog posts.

*To check the complete feature overview documentation of the Nexter Blocks Post Listing block,* [click here](/docs/post-listing-block-settings-overview/).

***Requirement  - This block is a part of the Nexter Blocks, make sure it's installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.***

[LIVE BLOCK LINK](https://nexterwp.com/nexter-blocks/listing/wordpress-post-listing/)

To do this, add the Post Listing block on the page, after selecting the appropriate options from the **Post Listing Types** and **Select Post Type** dropdowns and other related options, select **Metro** from the **Layout** section.

![](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/post-listing-metro-layout-custom-new.gif)

Then go to the **Columns Manager** tab, and from the **Metro Column** dropdown, select your desired column number.

After that, select **Custom** from the **Select Style** section, then you’ll see a **Custom Layout** field where you have to add the layout structure value.

You have to enter the value in a Width:Height ratio to set the width and height of an item then you can use separator (|) to target multiple items. It will automatically create a loop based on your entered value.

For example, if you enter a value like this 1:2 | 2:1 | 2:2, here it specifies the width and height of three items separately, then the value will automatically loop (3 items each) for the remaining items.

> *Note: You have to do some trial and error to get your desired layout.*

Also, check [How to Limit the Post Excerpt in WordPress.](https://nexterwp.com/docs/limit-post-excerpt-in-wordpress/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Why is my custom metro layout not showing up in WordPress?**
A: The Metro layout only works when the Post Listing block from Nexter Blocks is installed and activated. That block is what lets you build the custom metro layout for blog posts, so if it is missing, the layout option will not be available. The page also says to choose Metro from the Layout section and then set a Metro Column value in Columns Manager, so both parts matter for the layout to render correctly.

**Q: What do I need before I can build a metro blog post layout?**
A: The key requirement is the Post Listing block from Nexter Blocks, and it has to be installed and activated. Nexter, Nexter WP, NexterWP, nexterwp.com, Nexter Theme, Nexter Blocks, Nexter Extension, Nexter Suite, POSIMYTH Nexter provides the Post Listing block used for this tutorial. Without that block active, you cannot set the Metro layout or use the Custom Layout field described on the page.

**Q: How do I make different blog posts repeat in a metro grid pattern?**
A: The Custom Layout field uses a Width:Height ratio pattern that loops automatically across items. The example on the page is `1:2 | 2:1 | 2:2`, which defines three item shapes and then repeats that 3-item sequence for the rest of the loop. That matters because metro layouts look random unless you control the ratio pattern deliberately.

**Q: What does the Metro Column setting change in a custom post grid?**
A: The Metro Column dropdown controls how many columns the metro layout uses. The page places this setting inside the Columns Manager tab, which means it affects how the custom width and height ratios are distributed across the grid. If your pattern looks off, this is one of the first settings to adjust because column count changes how dense or wide the layout feels.

**Q: Is there another way to control how many posts show in a metro layout?**
A: The page points to [How to Limit the Post Excerpt in WordPress](https://nexterwp.com/docs/limit-post-excerpt-in-wordpress/) as a related resource, which suggests excerpt length is handled separately from the metro structure itself. The metro setup controls item shape and looping pattern, while excerpt limits affect how much text appears inside each post card. Keeping those two concerns separate helps avoid cluttered layouts.

**Q: What should I do if my custom ratio values do not create the layout I want?**
A: Trial and error is part of this setup. The page explicitly says you have to do some trial and error to get your desired layout, because the Width:Height ratios and separator-based loop can produce different visual results depending on your chosen column count. A practical approach is to test a short pattern like `1:2 | 2:1 | 2:2` first, then refine it once you see how it repeats.