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eslint-plugin-tailwindcss vs Stylelint in 2026

eslint-plugin-tailwindcss and Stylelint compared on what each does, its price, how to install it and what to check before you pick one.

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eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is an ESLint plugin for Tailwind CSS usage [1]. Stylelint is a CSS linter that helps avoid errors and enforce conventions [2]. Stylelint's page says it has over 100 built-in rules [2]. eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is available to everyone for free [1]. NormWind is free with no paid tier [3] and finds Tailwind class pairs that can be written as one shorthand [3].

OptionFree to usePaid planAutofixInstall
eslint-plugin-tailwindcssAvailable to everyone for free [1]Not stated in the facts hereNot stated in the facts herenpm i -D eslint-plugin-tailwindcss [1]
StylelintPrice not stated in the facts hereNot stated in the facts hereAutomatically fixes problems where possible [2]Not stated in the facts here
NormWindFree with no paid tier [3]No paid tier [3]--fix in Vue, Svelte, Astro, HTML; --fixall also in JS/TS/JSX/TSX [3]Install from npm as a dev dependency, or run with npx [3]

The short answer

For a developer, eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is an ESLint plugin that checks how Tailwind CSS classes are used in code [1]. Stylelint is a CSS linter, a tool that checks stylesheets for mistakes, and it helps avoid errors and enforce conventions [2]. NormWind finds Tailwind class pairs like px-4 py-4 that can be written as one shorthand like p-4 [3].

On needs, eslint-plugin-tailwindcss's page says it is made for Tailwind CSS v4 [1] and currently provides 9 rules [1]. Stylelint's page says it can parse CSS-like languages such as SCSS, Sass, Less and SugarSS [2]. It can also automatically fix problems where possible [2]. NormWind works with Tailwind CSS v4 projects [3]. It can print its findings as text, JSON or SARIF 2.1.0 for GitHub code scanning [3].

What eslint-plugin-tailwindcss, Stylelint is built for

eslint-plugin-tailwindcss calls itself an ESLint plugin for Tailwind CSS usage [1]. Its page says it is made for Tailwind CSS v4 [1] and that it supports ESLint v10 [1]. For Tailwind CSS v3 and/or older ESLint versions, the page says to use [email protected] [1]. Because it is a development-only package, its page says it will not affect the final bundle size, the code a site sends to visitors [1].

Stylelint calls itself a CSS linter that helps you avoid errors and enforce conventions [2]. Its page says it has over 100 built-in rules for modern CSS syntax and features [2]. It supports plugins so you can create your own custom rules [2], and it supports shareable configs that you can create or extend [2]. It can parse CSS-like languages such as SCSS, Sass, Less and SugarSS [2].

What NormWind is built for

NormWind is made by the team that publishes this site.

It finds Tailwind class pairs like px-4 py-4 that can be written as one shorthand like p-4 [3]. It flags arbitrary values like rounded-[24px] that match a named Tailwind utility like rounded-3xl, using Tailwind's own canonicalizeCandidates engine [3].

The --fix flag rewrites findings in Vue, Svelte, Astro and HTML files, and --fixall also covers JS/TS/JSX/TSX files [3]. The --dry-run flag shows which files a fix would change without writing to disk [3]. Before merging classes it compares the generated CSS before and after, and skips the merge if they differ [3].

It prints output as text, JSON or SARIF 2.1.0 for GitHub code scanning [3]. It ships as a GitHub Action that annotates pull requests inline [3]. The --diff-base flag reports only findings on lines changed since a git ref such as origin/main [3]. The --baseline flag records current per-file finding counts so only new findings fail CI [3]. The audit exits 1 when it finds anything, so it can fail a CI job [3].

Pricing and fees

eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is available to everyone for free [1]. Its page says that, as a development-only package, it does not affect the final bundle size [1]. The facts given here say nothing about any paid option for it.

The facts given for Stylelint do not state a price, so no price is published here. Check Stylelint's own pages for pricing details.

NormWind is free with no paid tier [3]. It is released under the MIT licence [3]. No dollar price appears in its sources, and the only price they give is free [3].

Setting it up and daily use

eslint-plugin-tailwindcss can be installed as a development-only package with npm, using npm i -D eslint-plugin-tailwindcss [1]. It can also be installed with other package managers such as pnpm [1]. The plugin must be pointed at your Tailwind CSS configuration, and that path can be absolute or relative [1] [1]. Its page says linting can run inside an automated pipeline of your hosted repository [1].

Stylelint can automatically fix problems where possible [2], and many of its rules can be autofixed [4]. Its page says it supports plugins for creating custom rules [2] and shareable configs [2]. The facts given here say nothing about its installation steps.

NormWind is installed from npm as a dev dependency, or run with npx [3]. Its automated checks run on Ubuntu, Windows and macOS [3]. Day to day, you run the audit, use the fix options to rewrite findings, and use the dry-run option to preview changes before anything is written to disk [3] [3].

Things to check before you choose

Ask which files you need checked. eslint-plugin-tailwindcss checks Tailwind CSS usage in code [1], while Stylelint parses CSS and CSS-like languages such as SCSS, Sass, Less and SugarSS [2]. NormWind's fixes cover Vue, Svelte, Astro and HTML files, and JS, TS, JSX and TSX files through its fixall option [3].

Check your Tailwind CSS version. eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is made for Tailwind CSS v4 [1], and its page points older setups to [email protected] [1]. NormWind works with Tailwind CSS v4 projects [3].

Check your ESLint version. The plugin supports ESLint v10 [1], so confirm your project matches before you install.

Check how fixes are applied. Stylelint can automatically fix problems where possible [2]. Ask whether you want to preview changes first, and whether you need the report limited to changed lines, which NormWind's diff-base option supports [3].

How to choose

If you need to check Tailwind CSS usage inside an ESLint workflow, eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is an ESLint plugin for that purpose [1]. Its page says it is made for Tailwind CSS v4 [1] and supports ESLint v10 [1].

If you need to lint CSS and CSS-like languages such as SCSS, Sass, Less and SugarSS, Stylelint's page says it does that [2]. It has over 100 built-in rules for modern CSS syntax and features [2].

If you need to find Tailwind class pairs that can be written as one shorthand, NormWind's claims describe that [3]. If you need to flag arbitrary values that match a named Tailwind utility, NormWind's claims describe that too [3].

If you need fixes across Vue, Svelte, Astro, HTML, JS, TS, JSX and TSX files, NormWind's fix options cover those file types [3]. If you need to report only findings on changed lines, its diff-base option does that [3].

If you need a free tool, eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is available to everyone for free [1], and NormWind is free with no paid tier [3].

Frequently asked questions

Is eslint-plugin-tailwindcss free to use?

eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is available to everyone for free [1]. It is installed as a development-only package, and its page says it will not affect the final bundle size, meaning the code a site sends to visitors [1]. The facts here say nothing about any paid option for it, so check its own pages for the latest details before you set it up for a team.

Is NormWind free to use?

NormWind is free with no paid tier [3]. It is released under the MIT licence [3]. No dollar price appears in its sources, and the only price they give is free [3]. For anything beyond what it states, check the project's own pages before you rely on it.

How do you install eslint-plugin-tailwindcss and NormWind?

eslint-plugin-tailwindcss is installed as a development-only package with npm, using npm i -D eslint-plugin-tailwindcss [1], and it can also be installed with other package managers such as pnpm [1]. NormWind is installed from npm as a dev dependency, or run with npx [3]. The facts given here do not cover the steps after installation for either tool.

Which eslint-plugin-tailwindcss package is for older Tailwind CSS setups?

For Tailwind CSS v3 and/or older ESLint versions, the project provides [email protected] [1]. The plugin is made for Tailwind CSS v4 [1]. NormWind works with Tailwind CSS v4 projects [3]. Check your current Tailwind CSS version before you choose a package.

What does Stylelint's own page say it covers?

Stylelint's page says it is a CSS linter that helps you avoid errors and enforce conventions [2]. It has over 100 built-in rules for modern CSS syntax and features [2], and it can parse CSS-like languages such as SCSS, Sass, Less and SugarSS [2]. Its page also says many of its rules can be autofixed [4].

NormWind is free with no paid tier. [3]

Try NormWind

Sources

  1. eslint-plugin-tailwindcss, github.com/francoismassart/eslint-plugin-tailwindcss, read 2026-10-07
  2. Stylelint, stylelint.io, read 2026-10-09
  3. NormWind's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  4. Stylelint, stylelint.io/user-guide/rules, read 2026-10-09

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