Empty P Tag
Remove empty paragraph and break tags, and optionally disable WordPress automatic formatting (wpautop).
The facts
- Rating
- 5★ from 7
- Active installs
- 800+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 12 Aug 2026
- Added
- Oct 2017
- Requires WP
- 5.0
- Tested up to
- WP 6.8.8
- Requires PHP
- 7.2
- Downloads
- 8,529
Our analysis
AI-assistedEmpty P Tag is a WordPress plugin designed to clean up front-end markup by removing unwanted empty paragraph and line break tags. It addresses issues where themes or page builders insert these tags, leading to awkward spacing on web pages. The plugin provides a settings screen that allows you to control where the cleanup occurs and whether WordPress's automatic paragraph formatting should be disabled in certain areas.
This plugin is suitable for users who manage websites with custom HTML layouts or those using the classic editor, particularly when they want to maintain clean formatting without unnecessary vertical space. It is lightweight and runs only where enabled, making it a practical choice for maintaining tidy content presentation.
Best for: This plugin is best for WordPress users looking to tidy up their site's front-end markup.
What it does well
- ✓Removes unwanted empty paragraph and line break tags
- ✓Allows disabling of WordPress automatic paragraph formatting
- ✓Includes a settings screen for customisation
- ✓Lightweight operation only where enabled
- ✓Maintains default settings for existing sites after upgrade
Where it falls short
- •Limited information on specific use cases or user experiences
Verdict
Empty P Tag offers a straightforward solution for managing unwanted empty tags in WordPress, making it a useful tool for those focused on content presentation.
From the developer
Husain Ahmed's own description of Empty P Tag, lightly tidied.
Empty P Tag helps you keep clean front-end markup when WordPress, themes, or builders insert unwanted empty <p> / <br> tags that create awkward spacing.
What it does
- Removes empty paragraph tags (including whitespace-only and
paragraphs) - Optionally disables WordPress
wpautopon content, excerpts, and text widgets - Gives you a Settings screen so you can choose exactly where cleanup runs
- Stays lightweight: front-end cleaning runs only where you enable it
Useful when
- Page builders or custom HTML layouts pick up extra vertical space
- Classic editor / mixed content leaves empty paragraphs behind
- You want
wpautopoff in some places, but normal paragraphs elsewhere
Default settings match older versions of this plugin, so existing sites keep the same behavior after upgrading.
Release Notes
Version 5.0.0 – Major update
This release rebuilds Empty P Tag around a proper settings experience while keeping the previous default behavior for existing sites.
Highlights
- New admin page at Settings → Empty P Tag
- Turn WordPress automatic paragraphs (
wpautop) on or off for content, excerpts, and text widgets - Choose where empty paragraph cleanup should run
- Improved matching for empty paragraphs that contain only spaces,
, line breaks, or invisible characters - Option to also remove empty paragraphs that include HTML attributes (for example a class)
- Optional setting to collapse consecutive / stray line break tags
- Quick Settings link on the Plugins screen
- Translation-ready (text domain:
empty-p-tag) - Settings are removed cleanly on uninstall
- Compatibility updates: requires PHP 7.2+, tested up to WordPress 6.8
Upgrade notes
- After updating, review Settings → Empty P Tag
- Defaults match the older always-on behavior, so most sites will look the same after upgrade
- If your theme needs normal WordPress paragraphs, disable the
wpautopoptions and leave empty-tag cleanup enabled