To display child pages under a parent page in WordPress, add a Page List block and select the parent page in the block settings. If you are editing a classic theme or a PHP template, use wp_list_pages(): its child_of argument includes descendants at every level, while parent limits the list to direct children.
First, assign the pages to a parent
A child page is a WordPress Page whose parent is another Page. The relationship is set in the editor’s Page Attributes panel using the Parent selector; it organizes Pages into a hierarchy, but does not automatically add a child-page list to the parent’s visible content. See WordPress documentation on Pages.
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Open the page you want to make a child in the WordPress editor.
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In the Page settings, find Page Attributes and choose the intended parent in the Parent field. The panel’s location can vary by editor or theme.
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Save or update the page. Repeat for each child page.
To control a deliberate sequence, set the pages’ Order values in Page Attributes. This is distinct from the parent relationship: Parent establishes hierarchy; Order determines sequence when the listing is sorted by menu order.
Use the Page List block for a no-code list
For most editors, the core Page List block is the simplest option. Insert it into the parent page, a post, or a sidebar, then select the parent page in the block settings. The block displays that parent’s child pages without PHP. WordPress documents the block in its Page List block guide.
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Edit the page or template area where the list should appear.
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Insert a Page List block.
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Open the block settings and choose the parent page whose children should appear.
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Save and preview the page to confirm the selection and presentation.
This is appropriate when a standard page list meets the design need. If you need custom markup, conditional output, or a specific sorting rule, use the PHP approach below.
Use wp_list_pages() in a theme or template
wp_list_pages() is WordPress’s core function for rendering Pages as an unordered list. The key choice is scope: child_of includes child pages and deeper descendants; parent returns only direct children. The developer reference documents both arguments at wp_list_pages() and the parent query argument.
List children and deeper descendants
Use this when the navigation should include the full branch below a parent. In a template where the current page is the intended parent:
<?php
wp_list_pages([
'child_of' => get_the_ID(),
'title_li' => '',
'sort_column' => 'menu_order, post_title',
]);
?>The function generates list-item markup, including the surrounding list structure when used in its standard context. title_li => '' removes the default “Pages” heading. The sort setting follows the editor’s Order values and uses the title as a tie-breaker.
List direct children only
Use parent when grandchildren and other deeper pages should not appear:
<?php
wp_list_pages([
'parent' => get_the_ID(),
'title_li' => '',
'sort_column' => 'menu_order, post_title',
]);
?>If the code is not running on the parent page, replace get_the_ID() with the parent Page’s numeric ID. The PHP snippet belongs in a theme or template context; do not paste PHP into the visual page editor.
Print a list only when children exist
To avoid outputting an empty list, request the generated markup as a string and test it before printing:
<?php
$children = wp_list_pages([
'child_of' => get_the_ID(),
'title_li' => '',
'echo' => 0,
]);
if ($children) {
echo '<ul>' . $children . '</ul>';
}
?>Here, echo => 0 returns the markup rather than immediately printing it. Because the snippet supplies its own <ul>, use this conditional pattern as shown rather than adding another list wrapper around the function’s normal output.
Choose a shortcode or plugin for reusable layouts
If the block is not available in your editing context or you want a reusable shortcode, WordPress.com documents [list-pages], [sibling-pages], and [child-pages]. Some plugin-enabled WordPress.com sites may require the Display Posts Shortcode plugin for shortcode use; check the relevant WordPress.com list-pages shortcode guidance.
On self-hosted WordPress, plugins can provide additional layouts or insertion methods. The WordPress.org listing for CC Child Pages describes a shortcode, block, and Elementor widget for child-page lists or grids. Page-list offers [pagelist], [subpages], and [siblings] shortcodes built around wp_list_pages(). Confirm a plugin’s current compatibility and features on its listing before installing it.
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Set the order and match the method to the job
For an editor-controlled sequence, assign Order values to the Pages and sort by menu_order. For alphabetical navigation, sort by post_title instead. The Page Attributes Order field and the function’s sorting options are described in the developer reference and the Pages documentation.
| Method | Best for | Scope and layout | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page List block | Editors who want a built-in, no-code list | Select a parent; list presentation | Less control over custom markup than PHP |
wp_list_pages() |
Theme or template customization | Direct children with parent, or descendants with child_of; list markup |
Requires editing PHP in an appropriate theme or template context |
| Shortcode or plugin | Reusable insertion or extra layouts such as a grid or widget | Depends on the shortcode or plugin | Adds a plugin dependency where a plugin is used |
These methods provide ways to render a hierarchy; none guarantees a particular visual design, speed improvement, or SEO result. Theme CSS, the number of pages, caching, and plugin implementation affect the result.
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