Ever clicked a button that seemed to jump off the screen? That’s the magic of CSS 3D transforms at work. Modern web design has evolved beyond flat interfaces, embracing depth and visual feedback through 3D button animations.

CSS 3D buttons combine perspective propertyshadows, and transformations to create elements that respond to user interaction with realistic depth. Whether you’re building a portfolio, e-commerce site, or mobile app interface, these interactive elements can significantly enhance your user experience.

This collection showcases stunning CSS 3D button examples that use pure CSS3 without relying on JavaScript or complex libraries. You’ll discover:

  • Pushed buttons with realistic press effects
  • Elegant hover states with depth perception
  • Flip buttons with 3D card animations
  • Responsive designs that work across devices

Perfect for front-end developers seeking to elevate their UI design skills or find inspiration for their next project. Let’s explore these button design techniques that add another dimension to your web creations.

CSS 3D Button Examples To Check Out

Subtle Glam by Robin

See the Pen
3D button
by Robin Delaporte (@robin-dela)
on CodePen.

Gradient elegance and hover-effect finesse in one neat package.

A Button that’s Pure Art by Alex Zaworski

See the Pen
Single-element 3d button
by Alex Zaworski (@alexzaworski)
on CodePen.

Okay, ever thought one piece of code could be both fun and super eye-catching? Alex Zaworski surely did with this one. Every online store looking to jazz things up, look right here!

When a Button Does the Flip!

See the Pen
3D flip button
by imvisrut (@imvisrut)
on CodePen.

Bam! Click and it flips, showing you some cool 3D animations and even loading images. All backed up with HTML, CSS, and pure Javascript magic.

Blendin’ 3D Modes Like a Boss by Lisi

See the Pen
CSS 3D Blend Mode Buttons
by Lisi (@lisilinhart)
on CodePen.

Just one name: Lisi. When design meets function, you get buttons like these.

Jacob Beers’ Take on 3D

See the Pen
3d Button
by Jacob Beers (@jbeers)
on CodePen.

Need to spruce up your website? Trust Jacob Beers to do it with this lively CSS effect. A real game changer for those dull web pages.

Sweet Candy Gradient Love

See the Pen
💐 Colorful Gradient Flex Buttons 💐
by 0guzhan (@0guzhan)
on CodePen.

Hover to switch from 3D to 2D. This round button plays with gradients and looks like it’s straight out of a candy store. Sweet!

The Skew Genius of Burmese Potato

See the Pen
Skew Button @aainterior
by Burmese Potato (@BurmesePotato)
on CodePen.

Skew it like Burmese Potato! No, seriously, check it out.

Scroll Magic with 3D by Jonas Sandstedt

See the Pen
3D buttons with scroll effect – Neumorphism
by Jonas Sandstedt (@sandstedt)
on CodePen.

Jonas Sandstedt combines 3D buttons and scroll effects to give your website the oomph it needs.

Arcade Nostalgia Packed in a Button

See the Pen
Arcade Button
by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

Take a trip down memory lane with this 3D arcade button. Oh, and it has a rad effect when you press it!

Takane Ichinose’s Hologram Spectacle

See the Pen
CSS Only “hologram” effect Button 3D Icon
by Takane Ichinose (@takaneichinose)
on CodePen.

Who said buttons can’t be futuristic? Takane Ichinose makes it possible with a hologram effect.

Shadows and Highlights with Justin Castaneda

See the Pen
3D buttons with Highlights and Shadows
by Justin Castaneda (@DagorathUryens)
on CodePen.

Justin Castaneda brings to life 3D buttons that have it all: highlights, shadows, and loads of character. Perfect for those looking to spice up their online store.

That Toggle Round Button by Alvaro

See the Pen
Light power button
by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

Oh, snap! Here’s a checkbox-based, round CSS beauty. Simple structure, super reusable, and wrapped in pure HTML elegance. What’s not to love?

Ghosty to Glinty Magic by Jessica Biggs

Imagine a ghost button that’s, well, ghostly. Hover over, and bam! It turns all 3D and shiny. That glint transition? Pure sorcery!

The Abyss Known as Darkness

See the Pen
Darkness
by Chance Squires (@chancesq)
on CodePen.

Some secrets are better left untold. Like the magic behind this button by Chance Squires.

G-Style 3D Masterpiece by Niklas

See the Pen
Google 3D Button
by Niklas (@nikname)
on CodePen.

Hey online store owners! Wanna grab some eyeballs? This Google-inspired CSS button by Niklas is where it’s at!

Round, Checked, and Just CSS

See the Pen
3D Button
by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

No extras, just pure CSS magic. Plus, did I mention it’s portable?

Go Loco with Comical 3D by Robert Miller

See the Pen
Button Drop Shadow
by Robert Miller (@iamrobertmiller)
on CodePen.

Turn your site into a comic strip with this cartoon-styled 3D CSS button. Fun? Check. Stylish? Check. Awesome? Double check.

Realism with Skeumorphism by Vlad Racoare

See the Pen
Skeumorphic Button
by Vlad Racoare (@vladracoare)
on CodePen.

Simplicity meets design, courtesy of Vlad Racoare.

Gradient Galore by Sietse

See the Pen
3D Gradient Buttons
by Sietse (@firepenguin)
on CodePen.

Looking to decorate your site with some fancy buttons? These 3D gradient buttons are what dreams are made of!

Toggle Fun in Round 3D

See the Pen
Toggle switch with checkbox:checked
by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

Flip it and see that 3D magic! It’s animated, it’s cool, and it’s all things engaging.

Metallic Majesty by Comehope

See the Pen
Metallic glossy 3d button effects
by Comehope (@comehope)
on CodePen.

For online peeps wanting their sites to shine, this metallic 3D button is a must-have!

Circle of Minimalism by Alvaro

See the Pen
Minimal Circular 3D Buttons
by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

Straightforward CSS and a design that’s easy on the eyes. No fuss, just pure art.

A Bit of Chemistry with Ash Creator

See the Pen
ケミカルなボタン
by あしざわ – Webクリエイター (@ash_creator)
on CodePen.

This isn’t just a button. Hover over and see a new color each time. Exciting, right?

Wibble Wobble, Old Meets New

See the Pen
3d Button
by Piet (@pietvanzoen)
on CodePen.

Remember the old-style 3D color offsets? Now, mix it with some modern CSS 3D button vibe. Voila!

Drus Unlimited’s 3D Showstopper

See the Pen
3d button effect
by drus unlimited (@drus)
on CodePen.

Online store owners, if you’re on the hunt for something to jazz up your site, look no further.

The Big Jelly Shake by Arronhunt

See the Pen
BIG Jelly Button – original by madgraphism
by Arron Hunt (@arronhunt)
on CodePen.

Jelly meets HTML and CSS, and it’s a match made in heaven.

Morphing Magic by Amit Sheen

See the Pen
Morphing Button
by Amit Sheen (@amit_sheen)
on CodePen.

Hover, click, and be mesmerized. A button that’s a show in itself!

Chic and Sleek Animated Goodness

Powered by CSS3 and Google fonts, this 3D button is more than just a button. It’s a style statement.

3D Button That Throws Shade

See the Pen
3D Button with Shading (Experiment)
by Takane Ichinose (@takaneichinose)
on CodePen.

No kidding, Takane Ichinose crafted this beauty. This CSS 3D button has some rad shading, making it pop like no other.

Wobbly Wiggle Button Over Here

See the Pen
Wiggle Wiggle
by Gabriel Cyrillo (@gcyrillo)
on CodePen.

gcyrillo’s Wiggle Button is more than just fun to say. Made with HTML and CSS, this baby wiggles like it’s at a party.

Journey Through Space with this Button

See the Pen
Hyperspace Button Effect
by Maurice Melchers (@mephysto)
on CodePen.


Ever clicked a button and felt like you’re traveling in hyperspace? No? Well, now’s your chance!

3D Button, Plus or Minus

See the Pen
3d Button with +/- transform
by Christos Hrousis (@christoshrousis)
on CodePen.

Big shoutout to Christos Hrousis for this piece. The transformation it brings? Oh man, it’s out of this world!

See Things Differently with Perspective Button

See the Pen
Perspective button hover effect
by Comehope (@comehope)
on CodePen.

It tweaks your view just a tad, kinda like looking at traffic signs from a different angle. Crazy, right?

Going Old School with 3D Retro Buttons

See the Pen
3D Retro Buttons
by Mike @ Titan Global Tech (@b1tn3r)
on CodePen.

Mike took us back in time with these. Vintage vibes and 3D? Sign me up!

CSS3’s Gift: The Pseudo Button

See the Pen
3D CSS3 Button using :before & :after
by Simon Clavey (@simoncla)
on CodePen.

Simoncla shows off the power of CSS3 pseudo elements. The results? Mind-blowing!

FAQ on CSS 3D Button Examples

How do I create a basic 3D button with CSS?

Create a button element and apply CSS transforms with the perspective property. Use box-shadow for depth and translate3d for movement. Add hover states and transitions for interactivity. The key properties are transform-style: preserve-3d and appropriate z-axis transforms to achieve the 3D effect.

What CSS properties are essential for 3D button effects?

CSS3 offers several crucial properties for creating 3D buttons:

  • transform with rotatetranslate3d, and scale
  • perspective
  • transform-style: preserve-3d
  • box-shadow for depth
  • transition for smooth animations
  • backface-visibility
  • Gradient buttons often use linear-gradient

Do 3D buttons work on all browsers?

Cross-browser compatibility varies. Modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge support CSS 3D transforms well. Older browsers may not render effects properly. Use vendor prefixes (-webkit--moz-) and test across platforms. Mobile responsiveness considerations are also important for consistent button design across devices.

How can I make my 3D buttons accessible?

Focus on button accessibility by:

  • Maintaining adequate color contrast
  • Including focus states
  • Keeping text readable
  • Using semantic HTML
  • Adding appropriate ARIA attributes

Remember that excessive animations may cause issues for some users. Provide options to reduce motion where possible.

What’s the difference between 2D and 3D button effects?

2D buttons use transform properties limited to the x and y axes (rotate, scale, translate). 3D buttons add depth through perspectivetransform-style: preserve-3d, and z-axis manipulation. They create more realistic interactive elements with depth perception and can simulate physical button press animation.

Can I create 3D buttons without JavaScript?

Absolutely! Pure CSS buttons can achieve impressive 3D effects without JavaScript. Using CSS keyframestransitions, and transform properties, you can create interactive hover effects and click effects. For complex button interactions, minimal JS might enhance functionality, but the visual effects are possible with CSS3 alone.

How do I make a button appear pressed when clicked?

Use the :active pseudo-class with transform translate to move the button slightly down and inward. Reduce box-shadow values to minimize the perceived height. Create realistic visual feedback by adjusting the button shadows and possibly darkening the background color slightly to simulate pressure.

Where can I find inspiration for 3D button designs?

Explore CodePenGitHub repositories, and designer portfolios for examples. Front-end frameworks like Bootstrap and Tailwind CSS offer customizable components. Web design blogsMDN Web Docs, and CSS tutorials provide guidance. Material design buttons offer standardized approaches to 3D button examples.

How do I create a flip button effect?

Use transform-style: preserve-3d and set up two sides with backface-visibility: hidden. Apply rotateY(180deg) to the back face initially. On hover states or click, animate the parent container’s rotation. This creates 3D card flip buttons that reveal different content on each side.

Do 3D buttons impact website performance?

Complex CSS animations and numerous box-shadow effects can affect performance, especially on mobile devices. Optimize by:

  • Using hardware acceleration with transform: translateZ(0)
  • Limiting animation scope
  • Considering will-change property
  • Testing on various devices

The impact is usually minimal compared to images or JavaScript heavy features.

Conclusion

CSS 3D button examples demonstrate how far web interfaces have evolved beyond static elements. These interactive UI components transform ordinary websites into engaging experiences through clever use of CSS properties like transform-scale and transition effects. The magic happens when depth perception meets user interaction.

Implementing these techniques offers several benefits:

  • Improved UX design through meaningful micro-interactions
  • Enhanced visual hierarchy with raised buttons and beveled edges
  • Greater engagement through button states and visual feedback
  • Distinctive branding opportunities using custom button designs

Remember that effective button styling balances aesthetics with accessibility guidelines. Test your creations across different web browsers and devices to ensure cross-browser compatibility.

Whether you’re using SCSS/SASS or vanilla CSS3, these techniques work beautifully within modern design systems. The best 3D button examples don’t just look good—they feel good to use, creating those small moments of delight that elevate the entire web experience.

If you liked this article about CSS 3D buttons, you should check out this article about CSS page transitions.

There are also similar articles discussing CSS toggle switches, CSS image effects, CSS galleries, and CSS input text examples.

And let’s not forget about articles on CSS blur effects, CSS select examples, CSS charts, and CSS spinners.

Author

Bogdan Sandu is the principal designer and editor of this website. He specializes in web and graphic design, focusing on creating user-friendly websites, innovative UI kits, and unique fonts.Many of his resources are available on various design marketplaces. Over the years, he's worked with a range of clients and contributed to design publications like Designmodo, WebDesignerDepot, and Speckyboy among others.