Add related posts with thumbnails by placing a secondary post query in your single-post template, choosing a rule for what counts as “related,” and outputting each result’s title and featured image. This code-based approach uses WordPress’s built-in functions; it requires a theme that supports post thumbnails and needs adapting to your theme’s template, taxonomy, and design.
Before you add the code
- Use a classic theme template. The examples below are for PHP-based single-post templates. Block themes may use a different template workflow, so these snippets may not fit without adapting the theme.
- Choose a relevance rule. Shared categories are a straightforward starting point. Shared tags or a custom taxonomy can make the matches narrower. WordPress can retrieve posts using query criteria, but it cannot decide your editorial definition of “related.”
- Confirm featured-image support. A theme generally needs to declare
add_theme_support( 'post-thumbnails' )for the featured-image controls to appear in the editor. The theme should register support in its setup callback onafter_setup_theme, beforeinit. See WordPress’s featured image documentation and theadd_theme_support()reference. - Make a backup and use a child theme or another update-safe customization method. Editing a parent theme directly risks losing the change when the theme is updated.
If you are developing your own theme and thumbnails are not enabled, register support in its setup function, for example:
function mytheme_setup() {
add_theme_support( 'post-thumbnails' );
}
add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'mytheme_setup' );Do not add a second setup function blindly if your theme already has one; add the support declaration to the theme’s existing setup logic instead.
Choose how WordPress will find related posts
The query needs a concrete relationship rule. This example finds published posts in any category shared with the current post. It excludes the current post and limits the result to four entries:
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<?php
$current_id = get_queried_object_id();
$category_ids = wp_get_post_categories( $current_id );
if ( $category_ids ) {
$related_posts = get_posts( array(
'post_type' => 'post',
'post_status' => 'publish',
'posts_per_page' => 4,
'post__not_in' => array( $current_id ),
'category__in' => $category_ids,
'ignore_sticky_posts' => true,
) );
}
?>category__in means a result can match any category in the current post’s category list. If that is too broad, use a tag or custom-taxonomy rule instead. The query parameters and retrieval functions are documented in the WordPress get_posts() reference.
For tags, retrieve the current post’s tag IDs and use the corresponding tag query argument, such as tag__in. For a custom taxonomy, use a tax_query that names the taxonomy and terms your site uses. Make sure the taxonomy is registered for the post type being queried.
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Render titles and thumbnails with get_posts()
Place the query and output in the appropriate single-post template, where the related-post section should appear. Add this markup after the query above:
<?php if ( ! empty( $related_posts ) ) : ?>
<section class="related-posts" aria-labelledby="related-posts-title">
<h2 id="related-posts-title">Related posts</h2>
<ul>
<?php foreach ( $related_posts as $related_post ) : ?>
<?php if ( has_post_thumbnail( $related_post->ID ) ) : ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo esc_url( get_permalink( $related_post->ID ) ); ?>">
<?php echo get_the_post_thumbnail( $related_post->ID, 'medium' ); ?>
<span><?php echo esc_html( get_the_title( $related_post->ID ) ); ?></span>
</a>
</li>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
</section>
<?php endif; ?>The explicit post ID in has_post_thumbnail(), get_the_post_thumbnail(), and get_the_title() matters: it ensures each card uses the related result rather than the current post. This version omits results without a featured image. If every result should display a visual, replace that condition with a designed fallback image or another deliberate placeholder.
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Use CSS in your theme to turn the list into the layout you want. The PHP supplies the content and links; it does not prescribe a grid, card style, spacing, or responsive behavior.
Choose an image size that fits the layout
The second argument to get_the_post_thumbnail() selects a registered image size. WordPress documents these defaults in its featured image guide:
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| Size | Documented default dimensions | Typical consideration |
|---|---|---|
thumbnail |
150 × 150 pixels maximum | Small cards; the default is cropped to a square. |
medium |
300 × 300 pixels maximum | Compact cards; the image retains its proportions within the maximum. |
medium_large |
768 pixels wide maximum, no height limit | Wider display areas. |
large |
1024 × 1024 pixels maximum | Larger cards or layouts with more image area. |
full |
Full uploaded image dimensions | Use only when the design needs the original size; it may be unnecessarily large for a small card. |
These are documented defaults, and the dimensions can be changed in WordPress Media settings. Themes can also register custom image sizes. If you add a custom size, remember that registering it does not automatically create that size for images already uploaded; existing thumbnails may need to be regenerated using an appropriate method. The WordPress thumbnail-size reference documents size configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to use WP_Query instead
get_posts() returns an array and suits a simple list. A separate WP_Query is a good choice when you want to write the output as a conventional WordPress loop or need loop-oriented query behavior. WordPress specifically recommends a new WP_Query or get_posts() for secondary listings such as related posts; see its documentation for query_posts().
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<?php
$current_id = get_queried_object_id();
$category_ids = wp_get_post_categories( $current_id );
if ( $category_ids ) {
$related_query = new WP_Query( array(
'post_type' => 'post',
'post_status' => 'publish',
'posts_per_page' => 4,
'post__not_in' => array( $current_id ),
'category__in' => $category_ids,
'ignore_sticky_posts' => true,
) );
if ( $related_query->have_posts() ) : ?>
<section class="related-posts" aria-labelledby="related-posts-title">
<h2 id="related-posts-title">Related posts</h2>
<ul>
<?php while ( $related_query->have_posts() ) : $related_query->the_post(); ?>
<?php if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) : ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">
<?php the_post_thumbnail( 'medium' ); ?>
<span><?php the_title(); ?></span>
</a>
</li>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php endwhile; ?>
</ul>
</section>
<?php endif;
wp_reset_postdata();
}
?>wp_reset_postdata() restores the global post data after the secondary loop. Do not use query_posts() for this feature: it changes the main query rather than creating a separate listing.
Quick Recap
Common problems to check
- No featured-image controls in the editor: verify that the active theme declares post-thumbnail support and that its setup callback runs on
after_setup_theme. - No related posts appear: confirm the current post has terms in the taxonomy you query, and that other published posts share those terms.
- The current post appears in the list: check that the current post ID is passed to
post__not_in. - Cards appear without images or some results disappear: the sample omits posts without featured images. Add featured images or implement a fallback if all cards must have a visual.
- Images look too small, too large, or cropped unexpectedly: choose a size that fits the card and account for the selected size’s crop behavior and your theme’s registered sizes.
- The main template behaves strangely after the related section: if using
WP_Query, make surewp_reset_postdata()runs after the secondary loop.
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