Every time you rebuild the same testimonial section, promo banner, or contact form on a different page, you’re doing work you’ve already done. Elementor’s template shortcode feature solves this: design a section once, save it as a template, and embed it anywhere on your site using a single code snippet.
An Elementor template shortcode is a snippet formatted as that Elementor generates automatically for every saved template. Paste it into any post, page, or widget area, and Elementor renders the full template in that spot. For standard page and section templates, this works with Elementor Free, no Pro plan required.
This guide covers the exact 3-step process, every location where shortcodes work, and a troubleshooting checklist for when the shortcode stops rendering. All steps verified on WordPress 6.9.4 with Elementor 4.0.3 in April 2026.
What Is an Elementor Template Shortcode?
Shortcodes are WordPress text tags, written inside square brackets like [shortcode], that trigger a function and display its output in place of the tag. Elementor extends this by assigning a unique shortcode to every template you save in the editor. When WordPress processes the page, it replaces the shortcode with the full Elementor template, rendered exactly as designed.
For example: if you build a pricing table section in Elementor and save it as a template, Elementor assigns it a shortcode like . Paste that shortcode into your homepage, product pages, a blog sidebar, or any other location, and the pricing table appears there without any rebuilding. Update the original saved template once, and every shortcode instance on the site updates automatically.
Common use cases for Elementor template shortcodes include: promotional banners that appear on multiple pages, lead capture forms inserted into blog posts, testimonial carousels placed site-wide, CTA sections embedded in theme areas, and author bios reused across all post templates. Shortcodes are especially useful when you need to embed an Elementor-designed section inside a Gutenberg post, a Classic Editor page, or a non-Elementor widget area.
Does Displaying Elementor Templates via Shortcode Require Elementor Pro?
No. For standard page and section templates, the shortcode feature is available in Elementor Free. When you save any page or section template from the Elementor editor, it appears in the Saved Templates list with a shortcode ready to copy, no Pro subscription needed for this.
Elementor Pro is only required for Theme Builder templates, custom headers, footers, single post layouts, archive templates, and popups. Those template types are exclusive to Elementor Pro. For the core use case of embedding reusable page sections and layouts via shortcode, Elementor Free is all you need.
3 Steps to Display Elementor Templates Using a Shortcode
Elementor stores a shortcode for every saved template in your WordPress admin. Here is the complete process, from finding your template shortcode to embedding it on any page or post.
Step 1: Open Templates > Saved Templates in Your WordPress Dashboard
Log in to your WordPress dashboard and click Templates in the left sidebar, then select Saved Templates. This list shows every template you have saved from the Elementor editor, page templates, section templates, and if you have Elementor Pro, Theme Builder templates as well. If you haven’t saved any templates yet, open any page in Elementor, design your section, click the folder icon in the bottom panel, and choose “Save as Template” before returning to this list.
![Navigate to templates in wordpress how to display elementor templates using a shortcode [2026] from the plus addons for elementor](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Navigate-to-Templates-in-WordPress.png "Navigate to Templates in WordPress | The Plus Addons for Elementor")
Recommended Read: How to Use Elementor Global Widget [Make Global Changes]
Step 2: Find and Copy the Template Shortcode
In the Saved Templates list, locate the template you want to embed. On the right side of the table, you will find a Shortcode column listing the unique shortcode for each template. Click on the shortcode to copy it. The format is always , where XXXX is the unique post ID assigned to your saved template.
![Shortcodes for elementor templates how to display elementor templates using a shortcode [2026] from the plus addons for elementor](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Shortcodes-for-Elementor-Templates.png "Shortcodes for Elementor Templates | The Plus Addons for Elementor")
If the Shortcode column is not visible in your templates list, click Screen Options at the top right of the page and check the Shortcode checkbox. The column appears in the table immediately after enabling it.
![Wordpress screen options how to display elementor templates using a shortcode [2026] from the plus addons for elementor](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/WordPress-Screen-options.png "WordPress Screen options | The Plus Addons for Elementor")
Step 3: Paste the Shortcode Into Any Post, Page, or Widget Area
With the shortcode copied, go to the page, post, or widget area where you want the template to display. Paste the shortcode directly into the content. In Gutenberg, add a Shortcode block and paste it there. In the Classic Editor, switch to the Text tab and paste the shortcode at the desired position. In a sidebar, add a Text widget and paste the shortcode inside it. Elementor will render the full saved template wherever the shortcode appears.
Note: Shortcodes only work with saved Elementor templates. Ensure you have saved your design as a template before attempting to use its shortcode.
Where Can You Display Elementor Template Shortcodes?
Elementor template shortcodes work in any location where WordPress processes shortcodes, which covers most editors, widget areas, and page builders. The table below covers the most common placements and the exact method for each.
| Placement Location | How to Add the Shortcode | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gutenberg page or post | Add a Shortcode block, paste the snippet inside it | Embedding Elementor sections inside block-editor content |
| Elementor page layout | Drag the Shortcode widget from the Elementor panel, paste the shortcode in its field | Nesting a saved section template inside a larger Elementor layout |
| WordPress sidebar widget | Add a Text widget to any sidebar, paste the shortcode inside it | Site-wide repeating elements: CTA sections, newsletter forms, announcement banners |
| Classic Editor post or page | Switch to the Text tab in the editor, paste the shortcode at the desired position | Legacy sites still running the Classic Editor |
| PHP theme template files | Use echo do_shortcode(''); in any template file | Developer use, rendering Elementor templates inside custom theme hooks or before/after-content areas |
If you need high-quality template designs to import and save for shortcode reuse, WDesignKit’s Elementor template library includes 1,000+ professionally designed Elementor templates across every page type and industry. Import any template directly to your site, customize it in the Elementor editor, save it as a local template, and it immediately becomes available as a shortcode from the Saved Templates list.
What to Do When the Elementor Template Shortcode Is Not Working
If your Elementor template shortcode is displaying nothing, showing the raw shortcode text on the page, or rendering without styling, work through the following steps in order. Based on the most common Elementor support issues reported on WordPress.org, these five checks cover the root cause in the majority of cases.
- Re-copy the shortcode from the Saved Templates list. A mistyped character, an extra space, or a curly-quote substitution (“ instead of ") will break the shortcode silently. Return to Templates > Saved Templates, click the shortcode to copy it cleanly, and paste it fresh wherever you need it.
- Confirm the template’s publish status. Shortcodes for draft or unpublished templates return no output on the front end, the shortcode area will appear blank. Open the template in Elementor, check the status indicator in the top bar, and click Publish if it shows as Draft.
- Check for a plugin conflict. Deactivate recently added plugins one at a time and reload the front-end page after each deactivation. If the shortcode starts rendering after deactivating a specific plugin, that plugin is interfering with Elementor’s shortcode processor.
- Clear all caches. Caching plugins such as WP Super Cache (2M+ active installs on WordPress.org, April 2026) and LiteSpeed Cache (6M+ active installs on WordPress.org, April 2026) can serve a cached page that predates your shortcode addition. Purge your site cache completely, then go to Elementor > Tools > Regenerate Files in your WordPress dashboard to rebuild Elementor’s CSS and asset files.
- Update Elementor to the latest version. Known shortcode rendering bugs are patched in Elementor Updates. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, check for any pending Elementor Updates, and apply them. Running an outdated version is one of the most common causes of shortcode rendering failures.
![20 checklist for wordpress site maintenance how to display elementor templates using a shortcode [2026] from the plus addons for elementor](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20-Checklist-for-WordPress-Site-Maintenance-1024x1024.jpg "20 Checklist for WordPress Site Maintenance | The Plus Addons for Elementor")
Do you Manage WordPress Websites? Download Our FREE E-Book of 20+ Checklist for WordPress Site Maintenance.
Is Using Elementor Template Shortcodes Worth It?
For any site where the same design appears across three or more pages, template shortcodes are one of the highest-value features in Elementor. You design once, update once, and every embedded instance on the site reflects the change. For sections unique to a single page, there is no advantage over designing directly in the editor.
Template shortcodes make sense when:
- The same section appears on 3 or more pages, promotional banners, testimonial blocks, lead capture forms
- You need to embed an Elementor design inside a Gutenberg post or a Classic Editor page
- You want a consistent widget in sidebar or footer areas managed from a single source template
- You are handing off a site to a client who needs to insert a designed section without accessing the Elementor editor
Skip template shortcodes when:
- The section appears only on one page and will not be reused elsewhere
- You need to show or hide content based on user role, login status, or page context, that requires Elementor Display Conditions (Pro), which handles conditional visibility without duplicating layouts
To get the most from template shortcodes, you need a strong template library to work from. The Plus Addons for Elementor v6.4.13 by POSIMYTH, used on 100,000+ WordPress sites (WordPress.org, April 2026) and rated 4.6/5 stars, includes 1,000+ Starter Templates across every page type and industry. Import any template to your Elementor library, save it, and use its shortcode anywhere on your site. The Plus Addons for Elementor includes 120+ widgets with 35+ available on the Free plan, plus 8+ builders and advanced extras. Pro plans start at $39/year for a single site, the Free plan is available at no cost with no credit card required.
Check out the Complete List of 120+ Widgets and Extensions here. Start building your dream website without coding!
Further Read: How to Display Gutenberg Blocks in Elementor? [Tutorial Included]
