A slow Elementor website can hurt your SEO, frustrate visitors, and lower your conversions. But speeding it up doesn’t require guesswork.
In this guide, we’ve answered the 12 most common questions users ask about optimizing Elementor performance. From choosing the right hosting to removing unused CSS, every solution is clear, actionable, and backed by real-world results.
Key Takeaway
- Use LiteSpeed or Rocket.net + Cloudflare Enterprise for best hosting performance
- Turn on lazy loading, remove unused CSS, and delay non-critical JavaScript
- Avoid bloated themes, excessive inner sections, and unnecessary third-party widgets
- Optimize fonts (WOFF2 + preload), use WebP images, and clean your database regularly
- Enable Elementor’s “Improved Asset Loading” and “External CSS Print Method” settings
- Audit your site with PageSpeed Insights, WebPageTest, and tools like Perfmatters or Query Monitor
1. What Hosting Is Best for Elementor Performance?
To speed up an Elementor website, the right hosting is essential. Use a hosting provider that offers LiteSpeed servers with NVMe SSD storage. This setup ensures faster data access and improved server response times.
For the best global performance, use Rocket.net with Cloudflare Enterprise. This combination can deliver a global TTFB (Time to First Byte) under 100ms, even for international visitors.
Also, make sure full-page caching and object caching are enabled. These features reduce server load and speed up repeat visits by serving cached versions of your pages.
2. Which Elementor Settings Should You Enable for Speed?
Elementor has built-in performance settings that can significantly reduce page load times when configured correctly:
- Set CSS Print Method to “External File” – This loads styles as separate files instead of inline code, improving caching and reducing HTML size.
- Disable Default Icons and Fonts – If you’re using custom fonts or icon sets, turn off Elementor’s built-in ones to avoid loading extra files.
- Enable “Improved Asset Loading” – This ensures Elementor only loads the files needed for each page, not everything sitewide.
- Turn On Lazy Load for Images and Sections – This delays the loading of off-screen content, speeding up the initial page render and improving Core Web Vitals.
These settings can be found under Elementor → Settings → Experiments and help streamline your website for better speed and SEO.
3. How to Reduce Elementor Bloat in Layouts
Elementor layouts can become bloated if they use too many widgets, sections, or nested structures. To improve speed and reduce unnecessary code:
- Use Fewer Widgets and Columns – Only add elements that are essential. Extra widgets increase DOM size and slow down rendering.
- Avoid Using Inner Sections Repeatedly – Too many nested sections make the page heavier. Use the Flexbox Container feature instead for cleaner layout and less code.
- Limit Global Widgets and Dynamic Content – These features add database calls and increase processing time. Use static content where possible.
- Code Headers and Footers with CSS – If you’re comfortable with CSS, design your header and footer manually instead of using Elementor for those sections.
A lighter layout leads to faster load times, better Core Web Vitals, and improved rankings.
4. Should You Use a Lightweight Theme with Elementor?
Yes — your choice of theme directly affects site speed. A lightweight theme reduces the amount of code loaded with each page.
- Use Minimal Themes like Hello, Astra, or Blocksy. These are built for speed and work well with Elementor.
- Avoid Bloated Themes that come with sliders, page builders, or dozens of features you don’t need. They slow down your site even if you don’t use all the extras.
A clean, fast theme combined with Elementor ensures better performance, faster page loads, and fewer conflicts with optimization plugins.
5. How to Defer and Delay JavaScript in Elementor
JavaScript can slow down your site if it loads too early or unnecessarily. Delaying non-essential scripts improves load speed and Core Web Vitals.
- Use Delay JavaScript Execution in plugins like WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or FlyingPress. This stops non-critical scripts from blocking page rendering.
- Exclude Essential Elementor Scripts from delay (like those controlling layout and interactivity) to prevent design issues.
- Unload Unused Scripts on Specific Pages using tools like Asset CleanUp or Perfmatters. This removes JavaScript from plugins that aren’t needed on that page.
Proper script management reduces Time to Interactive (TTI) and improves user experience without breaking your design.
6. What’s the Best Way to Optimize Fonts in Elementor?
Optimizing them improves both speed and stability.
- Host Fonts Locally – Download and serve fonts (preferably in WOFF2 format) from your own server instead of Google’s CDN.
- Preload Critical Fonts – Use preload tags in your site’s <head> to load above-the-fold fonts early and reduce layout shifts.
- Use display=swap for Google Fonts – If you’re using Google Fonts, this setting helps render text immediately with a fallback font, improving perceived speed.
- Disable Elementor’s Default Fonts – If you’re using custom or theme fonts, disable Elementor’s default font loading to avoid duplicate requests.
These steps help reduce CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) and improve First Contentful Paint (FCP), two key Core Web Vitals.
7. How to Optimize Images in Elementor
Large or unoptimized images are a common reason Elementor pages load slowly. Proper image handling significantly improves performance.
- Upload Images in WebP Format – WebP offers smaller file sizes without losing quality, which helps reduce load time.
- Use an Image CDN – Tools like Optimole, ShortPixel Adaptive Images, or Cloudflare Polish automatically compress and serve images based on the visitor’s device.
- Preload Above-the-Fold Images – Preloading your hero section image ensures it appears faster and improves Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).
- Exclude Important Images from Lazy Load – Don’t lazy-load images that appear in the first viewport. Delaying them can hurt your Core Web Vitals.
Smart image optimization can cut page weight by up to 70% and make your site feel instantly faster.
8. Can You Enable Lazy Rendering in Elementor?
Yes — Elementor supports lazy rendering, and it’s a powerful way to speed up your site by loading only what’s needed.
- Enable Lazy Render for Sections and Widgets – This defers rendering of off-screen elements until the user scrolls near them, reducing initial DOM size.
- Reduce Time to First Byte (TTFB) – By skipping non-visible sections during the first load, lazy rendering improves backend response time.
- Combine with Lazy Load for Images – Together, these techniques minimize both HTML and media load for faster performance.
Lazy rendering improves First Contentful Paint (FCP) and keeps your site light without removing any content.
9. How to Remove Unused CSS from Elementor
Elementor loads global styles by default, even if they’re not used on the page. Removing unused CSS helps reduce file size and improve loading speed.
- Enable “Remove Unused CSS” in Elementor’s Experiments tab. This feature generates custom styles for each page.
- Use Exclusions for Critical Classes – Sometimes essential styles (e.g., from headers or popups) may get stripped. Add exclusions to prevent layout issues.
- Combine with a CSS Optimizer Plugin – Tools like WP Rocket or FlyingPress can further compress and manage CSS efficiently.
Cleaning up CSS reduces Total Blocking Time (TBT) and improves Core Web Vitals, especially on mobile.
10. Which Animations Are Best for Performance in Elementor?
Not all animations are performance-friendly. Some cause layout shifts or block rendering, especially on mobile.
- Use transform: translate() Instead of margin or top – CSS transforms are GPU-accelerated and don’t trigger layout recalculations, making them smoother and faster.
- Avoid Entrance Animations for Above-the-Fold Elements – These can delay paint times and increase Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
- Keep Animation Durations Short – Long or layered animations slow down interaction and can feel sluggish on low-powered devices.
Performance-optimized animations improve user experience without sacrificing visual appeal — especially important for mobile SEO.
11. How to Clean Elementor’s Database for Better Speed
A bloated WordPress database can slow down your Elementor site, especially if you’ve built and edited pages frequently.
- Delete Post Revisions, Transients, and Spam Comments – Use tools like WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner to safely remove this clutter.
- Schedule Regular Cleanups – Automate database maintenance weekly or monthly to keep performance consistent
- Disable Unused Elementor Modules – Go to Elementor → Settings → Features and deactivate any widgets or features you’re not using to reduce overhead.
A clean database improves server response time and helps your site stay fast as it grows.
12. What Tools Help Audit and Improve Elementor Performance?
To optimize your Elementor website effectively, use performance tools that show what’s slowing it down and how to fix it.
- PageSpeed Insights – Google’s tool highlights Core Web Vitals issues and gives actionable speed suggestions.
- WebPageTest.org – Offers detailed waterfall charts, TTFB, and render start metrics.
- GTmetrix – Shows page structure, total load time, and helps spot large files or unoptimized scripts.
- Query Monitor – A WordPress plugin that detects slow plugins, high memory usage, and database bottlenecks.
- Asset CleanUp or Perfmatters – Let you unload unused CSS/JS per page and reduce bloat.
Regular performance audits help maintain speed, catch issues early, and ensure your Elementor site remains optimized over time.
Conclusion
You’ve now seen the answers to the 12 most important questions about speeding up Elementor. Whether it’s hosting, layout choices, font handling, or JavaScript optimization—every fix helps your site load faster and perform better in Google’s Core Web Vitals.
Use these steps as your checklist. Apply them one by one, track your site speed with PageSpeed Insights, and re-test monthly. A fast Elementor site isn’t just possible—it’s expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Elementor run fast on shared hosting?
Elementor can work on shared hosting, but performance will be limited. For faster speeds, use LiteSpeed or cloud hosting with NVMe SSDs and full-page caching.
Is a CDN necessary if my traffic is only from one country?
Even with local traffic, a CDN like Cloudflare helps by reducing server load and accelerating static file delivery. It’s still recommended.
What’s the best font format for Elementor websites?
Use WOFF2 fonts. They are compressed, load faster than TTF or OTF, and are supported by all modern browsers.
Do too many inner sections in Elementor affect speed?
Yes. Excessive nesting increases DOM size and rendering time. Use Flexbox Containers instead of multiple inner sections for better performance.
Does Elementor lazy load background images by default?
No. Elementor doesn’t lazy load background images automatically. You’ll need to enable this via custom code or a performance plugin like WP Rocket.
