Customizing your calculator: design tips to make it pop ✨
Calculator Studio has a ton of options to help you customize the look and feel of your calculator. But some of these options can be easy to overlook, especially when you’re just starting out. In this blog, I’m sharing a few of my favorite design tips to level up your calculator’s visual game. This isn’t an exhaustive list of all the customization options we offer, but trust me, these tips will take you far. Let’s dive in!
Layout elements: The MVP of calculator design
Layout elements might just be the most underrated feature in Calculator Studio. While they’re essential for creating multi-column layouts, their versatility makes them equally powerful for single-column designs. Here’s why they’re awesome—and yes, it's quite a list!
Unified spacing & padding: No more fiddling with individual element spacing—layout elements keep your design clean and consistent. You can easily set vertical and horizontal padding in the column options menu.
Custom background colors: Highlight key sections by adding background colors to layout elements. Apply color to a single column or the entire container for a cohesive design. Perfect for making forms or results stand out.
Drop shadows & borders: My go-to move is adding a subtle drop shadow to make key sections pop. You can also set a border color for layout elements, offering even more flexibility for creating visually distinct sections.
Corner rounding: Add corner rounding to individual columns for a polished, modern look. This detail really shines when paired with a custom background color or drop shadow.
Adjustable width: Select the entire layout container and adjust its width to make it extra-wide or full-width, depending on your calculator’s design needs.
Resizable columns: Resize individual columns within a layout element to get the exact proportions you need. Whether you’re balancing content or emphasizing key elements, it’s easy to customize.
Responsive design: Layout elements ensure your calculator looks great on any screen size, even with multiple columns.
Here’s the best part: for many of these design options—background or border colors, drop shadows, and more—you can apply your settings to individual columns or the entire layout container.
Pro tip: Use layout elements liberally. They’re not just functional—they’re your secret weapon for structure, style, and standout design.
Fonts: Subtle but important
Fonts are an easy way to reinforce your brand identity. In the project settings, you can select fonts to align your calculator with your website or branding. A well-chosen font can make your design feel cohesive and professional without any extra effort.
Background colors: Seamlessly match your website
There are three main ways to customize background colors in Calculator Studio. Each one offers flexibility depending on your website’s design:
Solid background color: Set a single background color for your entire calculator in the project appearance settings. This is the easiest option for websites with solid-colored backgrounds.
Transparent background: Got a textured or gradient background on your website? Enable the "Transparent background" option in the Embed Options modal. This makes your calculator blend perfectly with the website’s existing design.
Custom section backgrounds: As mentioned above, use layout elements to apply unique background colors to specific sections. Highlight key areas or visually separate content with ease.
Why not mix and match? For example, you could set a calculator-wide background color that matches your website and then use custom section backgrounds to make important parts stand out.
Accent color: Small change, big impact
The accent color is a simple yet powerful way to tie your calculator’s design to your website. You can apply an accent color in the project appearance settings, and it will update elements like sliders, buttons, and interactive features.
Pro tip: Match your calculator’s accent color to your website’s button color. This creates a seamless visual experience for your visitors, signaling interactivity in a consistent way.
Example: Check out this Marketing ROI Calculator that matches the accent color with a column background and combines it with a drop shadow for a polished look.
Chart colors: Brand your data visualizations
If your calculator includes charts, you can customize their color palette to align with your brand. This feature lives under the "Customize" tab when editing a chart. Enter hex codes manually, or use the dropper tool to match colors directly from your website.
Example: Take a look at this Solar Energy ROI Calculator, which uses custom red and green chart colors to hammer home the benefits of going solar.
Buttons & inputs: Details that count
Your calculator’s buttons and input fields are another opportunity to showcase your design chops. Customize button colors, fonts, sizes, widths, and even corner rounding to match your website’s style. It’s these little details that can make your calculator feel like an integral part of your site rather than an afterthought.
Example: Check out this Price Quote Calculator that uses a button color to align it perfectly with the rest of the calculator.
Ready to customize?
These tips are just the beginning. Whether you’re creating a simple ROI calculator or a data-heavy interactive tool, design customizations can elevate the experience for your users. So, experiment, have fun, and make your calculator uniquely yours. Happy building! 🎉
Alexandra Diljá Bjargardóttir
VP Product, GRID