Like fluid grids, responsive grids change dynamically based on the screen size. Up to a point, columns change the size to fill available space. A breakpoint is the specific range of screen sizes where the layout readjusts to the available screen size for the best possible layout view. Column structure, column widths, gutter widths, and margins depend upon breakpoint.

Responsive grids take more forethought than fixed or fluid grids. To create them, designers need to consider at what screen sizes they need to rearrange the grid and how to best do that to serve users. As a result, a well-designed responsive grid is significantly more user-friendly on a small display than a fixed or fluid grid.