Guide · Open source

How to use Materialize CSS: install, build pages and tips

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Materialize is a free, open-source CSS framework built on Material Design, Google's visual design system. It gives you pre-styled components and layout tools so your pages look consistent without writing all the styling yourself. This guide covers the install options listed in the project README, how to run the documentation locally, and when Materialize is a good fit.

MaterializeDogfalo/materialize · ★ 38.8k · MIT Install options & downloads

Quick start

1Read the getting started guide. Open the getting started guide on materializecss.com to see how the framework is meant to be used.
2Choose an install method. Use npm, a cdnjs link, a GitHub download or git clone, depending on your project setup.
3Install the package. For npm, run npm install materialize-css in your project folder.
4Include the files in your page. Add the Materialize files to your HTML using the method you picked, following the getting started guide.
5Browse the component docs. Use the documentation at materializecss.com to find components and layout classes.
6Run the docs locally if needed. Clone the repo, run npm install, then grunt monitor and open localhost:8000.

What Materialize is and who it suits

Materialize is a CSS framework: a library of ready-made styles and components you add to a web page. It follows Material Design, so buttons, cards and layout follow that visual style out of the box.

It is a good match for developers building a web page or app who want a Material Design look quickly, and for teams that prefer a ready-made component set over custom styling.

Best for: developers who want a Material Design look fast
Best for: teams that want a ready-made component set
Not for: projects that need a distinctive custom look, because the framework imposes Material Design styling
Not for: anyone wanting a non-coding design tool, since this is a code library

Install Materialize with npm, a CDN, Bower or download

The README lists several ways to get the files. Pick the one that fits your project. npm is the most direct route for projects that already use Node.js.

Other options in the README are downloading the latest release from GitHub, including the files through cdnjs, or cloning the repository with git. Bower is listed but marked deprecated, and Atmosphere is available for Meteor projects.

Download the latest release directly from GitHub releases
Include the files via cdnjs (a CDN link; the cdnjs page has the details)
Install with npm (requires Node.js)
Clone the repository with git

npm install materialize-css

Clone the repository and get the source

If you want the full source code, clone the repository from GitHub. The README gives this command.

git clone https://github.com/Dogfalo/materialize.git

Run the documentation locally

The documentation is online at materializecss.com. To run it on your own machine, you need Node.js installed. Clone the repository, move into the folder, and install its dependencies.

Then run grunt monitor to compile the documentation. When it finishes, open a browser window and go to localhost:8000. The README says BrowserSync is used to display the documentation.

Node.js is required only for npm install or for running the documentation locally
Run grunt monitor, then open localhost:8000

git clone https://github.com/Dogfalo/materialize
cd materialize
npm install

Check browser support before you commit

The README lists these browsers as compatible. It notes IE 11 support, which matters if you need to reach older browsers.

Those minimums are older than current browsers. If your project only needs modern browser features, check whether these minimums are a constraint for you.

Chrome 35+
Firefox 31+
Safari 9+
Opera
Edge
IE 11+

What people use it for

Building a landing page or marketing site with a Material Design look
Creating an internal web app that needs consistent, pre-styled components
Prototyping a page quickly without writing all the CSS by hand
Adding Material Design styling to an existing Meteor project via Atmosphere

Frequently asked questions

Is Materialize CSS free to use?

Yes. The README says the code is released under the MIT license, which is a permissive open-source licence. Check the license file in the repository for the full terms.

How do I install Materialize CSS?

The README lists npm (npm install materialize-css), a cdnjs link, a direct GitHub download and git clone. Choose the method that fits your project.

Do I need Node.js to use Materialize?

Not for every method. The README says Node.js is only needed for npm install or to run the documentation locally.

Which browsers does Materialize support?

The README lists Chrome 35+, Firefox 31+, Safari 9+, Opera, Edge and IE 11+. Check these minimums against your audience.

What are alternatives to Materialize CSS?

The project is compared with Bootstrap, Bulma, Foundation and Material UI. Pick based on whether you want Material Design styling and how much custom look you need.

Is Materialize good for a custom-looking website?

Usually not. The framework imposes Material Design styling, so projects needing a distinctive custom look may prefer another option.

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Our verdict

Materialize suits developers and teams who want a free, MIT-licensed Material Design component set and quick, consistent styling. Skip it if you need a distinctive custom design or only target modern browsers, and consider alternatives like Bootstrap, Bulma, Foundation or Material UI.

Install options & downloads