How to set Tailwind CSS v4 global class?

Question

I started a new project using the latest Vite and Tailwind. In version 4.0, I couldn't find the tailwind.config.js file, which made me confused about how to configure global types.

Especially the container class does not appear in the documentation for version 4.0, and testing its values did affect the layout, so it wasn't removed. Now, I want to set its max-width after the xl breakpoint, but I'm not sure how to do that.

Also, how can I add some custom classes with RWD and hover?

Answer 1

New "CSS-first" configuration from v4 (instead of tailwind.config.js)

CSS-First Configuration: Customize and extend the framework directly in CSS instead of JavaScript.

• Which TailwindCSS v4 namespace matches a given TailwindCSS v3's theme keys?

With TailwindCSS v4, you have the option to omit the tailwind.config.js file. You can find many new directives, such as @theme, which allows you to declare your custom settings directly in your CSS file, or @plugin, which lets you import TailwindCSS v4-compatible plugins directly in your CSS file.

I won't list all the new directives, but you can check them out here:

• Functions and directives - TailwindCSS v4 Docs

Customizing your theme

If you want to change things like your color palette, spacing scale, typography scale, or breakpoints, add your customizations using the @theme directive in your CSS:

@theme {
  --font-display: "Satoshi", "sans-serif";
  --breakpoint-3xl: 1920px;
  --color-avocado-100: oklch(0.99 0 0);
  --color-avocado-200: oklch(0.98 0.04 113.22);
  --color-avocado-300: oklch(0.94 0.11 115.03);
  --color-avocado-400: oklch(0.92 0.19 114.08);
  --color-avocado-500: oklch(0.84 0.18 117.33);
  --color-avocado-600: oklch(0.53 0.12 118.34);
  --ease-fluid: cubic-bezier(0.3, 0, 0, 1);
  --ease-snappy: cubic-bezier(0.2, 0, 0, 1);
  /* ... */
}

Learn more about customizing your theme in the theme variables documentation.

• Which TailwindCSS v4 namespace matches a given TailwindCSS v3's theme keys?
• Adding Custom Styles: Customizing your theme - TailwindCSS v4 Docs

@plugin

Use the @plugin directive to load a legacy JavaScript-based plugin:

@plugin "@tailwindcss/typography";

The @plugin directive accepts either a package name or a local path.

• @plugin directive - TailwindCSS v4 Docs

Related questions/answers for new CSS-first theme handling:

• How to use custom color themes in TailwindCSS v4
• How to override theme variables in TailwindCSS v4 - @theme vs @layer theme vs :root
• When should I use * and when should I use :root, :host as the parent selector?
• Should I use @theme or @theme inline?
• How to switch to a CSS-first configuration in Tailwind CSS v4 and above

TailwindCSS v4 is backwards compatible with v3

Using a JavaScript config file

JavaScript config files are still supported for backward compatibility, but they are no longer detected automatically in v4.

If you still need to use a JavaScript config file, you can load it explicitly using the @config directive:

@config "../../tailwind.config.js";

• Using a JavaScript config file - TailwindCSS v4 Update Guide

The configuration setting has changed by default. However, you have the option to declare the location of your tailwind.config.js file using a relative path in your default CSS file so you can use it again.