How to Override Bootstrap CSS in Hubspot Projects

Working with Bootstrap in a Hubspot project gives you a fast design starting point, but you often need to override default styles to match your brand. This guide explains practical, reliable ways to change Bootstrap CSS without breaking your layout.

Why Override Bootstrap in Hubspot Websites

Bootstrap offers a powerful grid, components, and utilities. However, when you build a theme, landing page, or custom module, you usually need more control over:

• Colors, typography, and spacing
• Buttons, forms, and navigation styles
• Component behavior on different screen sizes

Overriding Bootstrap correctly lets you keep its benefits while delivering a custom look in your Hubspot assets.

Core Principles for Overriding Bootstrap CSS in Hubspot

Before editing any code, keep these principles in mind:

• Do not edit Bootstrap core files (for example, bootstrap.css).
• Load your custom stylesheet after Bootstrap so your rules win.
• Use specific selectors and the cascade instead of relying on !important.
• Keep overrides organized in dedicated CSS or SCSS files tied to your Hubspot theme or template.

Step 1: Add a Custom Stylesheet in Hubspot

The most stable approach is to create a separate stylesheet that overrides Bootstrap rather than modifying its source.

Create a Custom CSS File for Hubspot Templates

1. Open your design tools or theme structure.
2. Create a new stylesheet, for example custom-overrides.css or theme-overrides.css.
3. Upload or save the file in your Hubspot design manager within your theme or project folder.

This file will contain all Bootstrap override rules used across your Hubspot pages.

Load the Custom Stylesheet After Bootstrap

To ensure the cascade works correctly, your override file must load after Bootstrap:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="/path/to/bootstrap.min.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/path/to/custom-overrides.css">

In Hubspot templates, you typically configure this order inside the theme layout or template header so every page inherits it automatically.

Step 2: Use More Specific Selectors Than Bootstrap

Bootstrap styles often rely on simple class selectors such as .btn, .navbar, or .form-control. To override these in your Hubspot theme, make your selectors more specific.

Example: Overriding Bootstrap Buttons in Hubspot

Default Bootstrap button:

.btn-primary {
  background-color: #0d6efd;
}

Override it in your custom file:

.site-wrapper .btn-primary {
  background-color: #ff6600;
  border-color: #ff6600;
}

Because .site-wrapper .btn-primary is more specific than .btn-primary, your Hubspot layout will use the new styles without needing !important.

Example: Overriding Form Inputs in Hubspot Forms

form.hs-form .form-control {
  border-radius: 0;
  box-shadow: none;
}

Here, qualifying with form.hs-form ensures only Hubspot form fields are changed, avoiding side effects across other components.

Step 3: Control Overrides with Wrapper Classes in Hubspot

Sometimes you want Bootstrap defaults in most places but custom styles in a specific module or page. Use a wrapper class around that area.

Scoped Overrides with a Hubspot Wrapper

<div class="hs-landing-wrapper">
  <button class="btn btn-primary">Get Started</button>
</div>

In your override stylesheet:

.hs-landing-wrapper .btn-primary {
  background-color: #222;
  border-color: #222;
  text-transform: uppercase;
}

This pattern keeps your overrides tightly scoped to specific Hubspot landing pages or sections.

Step 4: When (and When Not) to Use !important in Hubspot

The !important flag can force your styles to override Bootstrap, but it should be a last resort.

Guidelines for Using !important

• First, try increasing selector specificity or adjusting stylesheet order.
• Use !important sparingly for utility classes or very targeted fixes.
• Never blanket-override base components with global !important rules.

Targeted utility example in a Hubspot template:

.text-brand-override {
  color: #ff6600 !important;
}

Apply this class only where needed, such as inside a specific rich text module.

Step 5: Override Bootstrap Variables with Preprocessors

If your Hubspot workflow allows Sass or another preprocessor, you can customize Bootstrap at the variable level before compilation.

Using Sass Variables for Hubspot Themes

1. Import Bootstrap’s source Sass files into your build pipeline.
2. Set or override Bootstrap variables (colors, spacing, breakpoints) before the main Bootstrap import.
3. Compile to CSS and connect the generated file to your Hubspot theme.

Example Sass snippet:

$primary: #ff6600;
$font-family-base: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;
@import 'bootstrap';

This approach bakes your branding directly into the compiled Bootstrap used in Hubspot pages, reducing the need for separate overrides.

Step 6: Testing Bootstrap Overrides in Hubspot

After creating overrides, confirm that everything works across devices and browsers.

Checklist for Testing in Hubspot

• Preview templates and pages using your theme in the content editor.
• Test common components: buttons, forms, navbars, cards, and modals.
• Check responsive behavior on mobile, tablet, and desktop views.
• Look for conflicts between Bootstrap classes and Hubspot-specific classes or modules.

Regular testing ensures your override strategy stays maintainable as your Hubspot implementation grows.

Best Practices for Maintaining Overrides in Hubspot

Keep your project clean and easy to update by following these habits:

• Group related rules (buttons, forms, navigation) with clear comments.
• Avoid duplicating rules across multiple override files.
• Document special cases where you had to use !important or unconventional selectors.
• Align with your design system so that Hubspot modules, Bootstrap components, and brand guidelines stay in sync.

Learn More About Overriding Bootstrap CSS

For deeper technical background and examples closely related to this topic, see the original reference on how to override Bootstrap CSS here: How to Override Bootstrap CSS.

If you want expert help implementing a scalable override strategy, performance optimization, or advanced SEO around your Hubspot stack, you can explore consulting services at Consultevo.

By following these steps and best practices, you can confidently override Bootstrap CSS in Hubspot, preserve the power of the framework, and still deliver a design that matches your brand and user experience goals.