A template kit is a set of ready-made page designs for the Elementor page builder that you bring into your own WordPress site and fill with your own content. To install one, set up the theme and plugins the kit requires, upload the kit file in an importer, import the global kit styles first and then the templates, and insert those templates into your own pages. Kits are a common starting point for small business sites because they give you a consistent set of pages, such as a home page, about page, services page and contact page, that already share colors, fonts and spacing.
They are also a common source of confusion. A kit is not a theme, it does not build a whole site by itself, and the import process has a few steps where things go quietly wrong. This guide explains what a kit is, what to prepare and how to install one in a way that leaves you with pages you understand and can maintain.
Key takeaways
- Read the kit’s requirements first: theme, Elementor version, required plugins and whether any templates need a paid add-on.
- Import the global kit styles before the page templates, so colors and fonts carry through.
- Imported templates are saved designs, not live pages. You create pages and insert templates into them.
- Demo images may not be licensed for your use. Replace them unless the license clearly covers you.
- Try the import on a staging copy if the site already has content.
What a template kit contains
When you download a kit, you usually get a .zip file. Inside it are several smaller files, one per template, plus a file that describes the kit and lists what it needs. Some downloads wrap that .zip inside a larger package with license text and documentation, which matters later when you upload.
| Part | What it is | Where it ends up after import |
|---|---|---|
| Page templates | Designs for home, about, services, contact, blog and similar pages | Elementor’s template library (saved templates) |
| Section or block templates | Smaller pieces such as a hero, pricing table or call to action | Elementor’s template library |
| Header and footer templates | Site-wide parts, if the kit includes them | Template library; need a way to display them site-wide |
| Global kit styles | The kit’s colors, fonts, button styles and other site settings | Elementor’s site settings, applied across the site |
| Kit manifest | A file listing templates and required plugins | Read by the importer; you do not edit it |
| Images | Demo photos and graphics, sometimes included, sometimes linked | The media library, if they are imported at all |
Kits commonly come from marketplaces such as Envato Elements and ThemeForest, from theme developers, and from Elementor’s own template library. The exact contents vary, so treat the table as typical rather than guaranteed.
Kit, theme and page builder: who does what
People often expect a kit to behave like a theme. It does not.
- The theme controls the overall WordPress output: the page shell, default styles, and often the header and footer if nothing else replaces them.
- Elementor is the page builder plugin that lets you design page content visually.
- The kit is a collection of designs made with Elementor. It needs Elementor to open, and it relies on the theme getting out of the way.
That is why most kits recommend a lightweight theme built to pair with Elementor, and the free version of Elementor itself. Our guide to choosing a WordPress theme for a page builder site explains what to look for if you are not using the recommended theme.
Before you start
Check the requirements
Kit listings and the documentation inside the download usually state:
- the recommended theme
- the minimum Elementor version
- required plugins, such as a forms plugin or a header and footer plugin
- whether any templates need a paid version of Elementor or another paid add-on
Templates that rely on a paid feature will import, but the parts that use it may show as empty or display a notice in the editor. Knowing this before you start saves a lot of troubleshooting.
Check your hosting limits
Imports upload a file and then fetch or create a lot of data. Low upload limits, short time limits and low memory can stop an import halfway. Your host’s control panel or WordPress’s Site Health screen (under Tools in recent versions) shows values such as maximum upload size and PHP memory. If they look low, ask your host before you begin. Our template kit troubleshooting guide covers what each limit affects.
Back up or use staging
On a brand new site there is little to lose. On a site with existing pages, take a full backup, or better, try the import on a staging copy first. Importing global kit styles changes site-wide settings, which can change the look of pages you already built.
How to install a template kit
The steps below describe a typical process. Names of menus and buttons differ between versions of Elementor and between importer plugins, so look for the closest match and check the current documentation if something is missing.
- Install and activate the recommended theme. If the kit suggests a minimal theme, use it, at least while you learn how the kit is built. You can switch later once you know which parts depend on the theme.
- Install and activate Elementor. Use the version the kit requires or newer. Install any other required plugins listed in the documentation, but hold off on optional extras.
- Install the importer plugin. Kits are imported with an importer plugin, such as the Elementor Template Kit importer used for many marketplace kits. In recent versions of Elementor there is also a built-in import option for full website kits, often found under Elementor’s tools or templates menus. Use whichever the kit’s documentation names.
- Find the right .zip file. If your download contains license files and documentation alongside a .zip, the kit is usually that inner .zip. Upload the kit file itself, not the whole package, and do not unzip the kit file.
- Upload the kit. In the importer, choose the option to upload or import a kit and select the .zip. The importer reads the manifest and shows the list of templates.
- Install any plugins the importer flags. Many importers check for required plugins and offer to install them. Install what is required; question anything that looks unrelated to the kit.
- Import the global kit styles first. This is usually a separate item in the list, often labelled as global kit styles or site settings. Importing it first means the colors and fonts are in place when you look at the templates.
- Import the templates you need. You do not have to import all of them. Start with the pages you will actually use. Each import adds a saved template to Elementor’s library.
- Create your real pages. In WordPress, add a new page, give it a title, and open it in Elementor. Use the template library option in the editor (usually a folder or “add template” icon) and insert the matching saved template from your own templates.
- Set the page layout. Many kit templates expect a full-width layout without the theme’s title and sidebar. In the page settings within the editor, look for a layout option such as full width or canvas. Canvas usually removes the header and footer too, so use it only where you want that.
- Set up the header and footer. If the kit includes them, follow its documentation. They may need Elementor’s theme builder (a paid feature) or a free header and footer plugin, and they need display conditions so they appear on every page.
- Set the home page and menus. Under Settings and Reading in WordPress, choose your new home page. Build your menus under Appearance, then point the header’s menu widget at the right menu.
After the import: making it yours
A freshly imported kit is a demo with your logo missing. The work that turns it into a real site happens next.
Replace demo content
Go through every template and replace headings, text, buttons and links. Search for placeholder phrases and dummy links such as “#” so nothing ships pointing nowhere. Our landing page anatomy guide and homepage layout guide help decide which sections to keep and which to remove.
Replace or license images
Kits often ship with low-resolution or watermarked placeholders, or with photos that are licensed only for previewing the kit. Unless the kit’s license clearly covers using an image on your published site, replace it. Our guide to free Elementor templates and licenses explains why the license for a kit’s code and the license for its photos can be different.
Adjust the global styles
Do not restyle each widget one at a time. Change the kit’s global colors and fonts in Elementor’s site settings, and every element linked to them updates together. The guide on global colors, fonts and site settings covers how to do this without breaking the links.
Remove what you did not use
Delete unused templates from the library and deactivate plugins you installed only for templates you skipped. Fewer plugins mean fewer updates and fewer things to slow the site down.
A quick reference: where things live
| You want to change | Where to look in recent versions |
|---|---|
| Site-wide colors and fonts | Elementor’s site settings, opened from inside the editor |
| A page’s content | Edit the page with Elementor |
| A saved template | Elementor’s templates area in the WordPress dashboard |
| Header and footer | Theme builder, or your header and footer plugin |
| Page width and title display | Page settings inside the editor |
| Home page | WordPress Settings, then Reading |
Common mistakes
- Uploading the outer download package instead of the kit .zip.
- Skipping the global kit styles, then wondering why fonts and colors look wrong.
- Editing the saved template and expecting the live page to change. Once inserted into a page, the content is a copy.
- Importing every template “just in case” and leaving dozens of unused designs and plugins behind.
- Publishing with demo photos whose license does not cover your site.
- Using the canvas layout everywhere and losing the header and footer.
FAQ
Do I need Elementor Pro to use a template kit?
Not always. Many kits are built for the free version. Some templates, especially headers, footers, forms and dynamic blog layouts, may rely on paid features or on a separate plugin. The kit’s documentation should say which.
Can I use a template kit with a theme other than the one recommended?
Often yes, but the theme’s own styles, containers and titles can interfere. Expect to adjust page layout settings and possibly disable some theme options.
If I edit the saved template, will my pages update?
No. Inserting a template copies its content into the page. Elementor’s global widgets or theme builder parts behave differently, but ordinary page templates do not stay linked.
Can I import a kit into a site that already has content?
Yes, but the global kit styles can change the look of existing pages. Test on a staging copy first.
Bottom line
A template kit is a bundle of Elementor designs plus a set of site-wide styles. Check the requirements, prepare your hosting, import the global styles first, then bring in only the templates you need and build real pages from them. The import itself is quick. Replacing demo content and images, tuning the global styles and removing leftovers is where the site becomes yours.