38 Stylish CSS Hamburger Menus Examples

Ever stared at a messy navigation menu on mobile and thought, “there must be a better way”? CSS hamburger menu examples have transformed how I design mobile navigation patterns.

As a front-end developer, I’ve found that these three-line icons aren’t just trendy UI elements—they’re essential components for responsive web design.

When screens shrink, traditional horizontal menus break.

That’s where the hamburger icon shines:

• It preserves screen real estate
• It creates a cleaner mobile interface
• It provides consistent navigation across devices

The burger icon (those three stacked lines) has become the universal symbol for hidden navigation systems. When implemented with proper ARIA attributes, they support website accessibility while maintaining a sleek design.

Today’s menu components go beyond basic functionality—they incorporate CSS3 animations, smooth transitions, and even JavaScript interactivity for enhanced user experience.

I’ll break down various implementation techniques, from pure CSS toggle menus to more complex solutions using jQuery or modern frameworks. You’ll discover how to create navigation experiences that work flawlessly across different browsers and screen sizes.

Let’s explore these powerful navigation patterns that balance form and function while maintaining cross-device experience excellence.

CSS Hamburger Menu Examples

The Showy Menu with a Color Blast by Brandon Ward

See the Pen
Full width menu & SVG animation by Brandon Ward (@brandondward)
on CodePen.

Brandon’s approach combines full-screen navigation with vibrant color transitions that grab attention. What makes this example valuable is how it handles the menu transformation while maintaining strong visual hierarchy.

The Real MVP Hamburger Menu

See the Pen
The ultimate hamburger menu by Charles (@CharlesSmart)
on CodePen.

Charles Smart created what many developers consider the ultimate mobile-friendly navigation. The beauty lies in its simplicity and cross-browser compatibility.

Lean & Mean Sidebar Action

This sidebar menu represents pure efficiency in responsive design. Using only HTML and CSS, it creates a slide-out menu that works across different viewport settings.

Slide it Right with Praveen Bisht

See the Pen
Slide Out Navigation Menu by Praveen Bisht (@prvnbist)
on CodePen.

Praveen’s slide-out navigation menu demonstrates excellent touch interface optimization. The subtle animation provides clear user feedback without feeling overwhelming.

Mobile Menu Vibes with a Central Twist

See the Pen
Mobile Menu Animation by Stas Melnikov (@melnik909)
on CodePen.

Stas Melnikov’s bottom-centered approach challenges conventional navigation UI placement. By positioning the menu button at the screen bottom, it improves touchscreen accessibility for one-handed use.

Playful Menu Moves Over Here

See the Pen
Hamburger Menu Animations by Tamino Martinius (@Zaku)
on CodePen.

Tamino Martinius showcases four distinct menu animations in one interface. Each transformation provides a different visual cue about the navigation state.

The Animated Show by Nicholas M. Smith

See the Pen
Animated Burger/Menu Icon by Nicholas M. Smith (@icutpeople)
on CodePen.

Nicholas created a refined burger icon animation that communicates state changes clearly. The smooth transition from menu to close icon provides excellent user experience.

Dive into the CSS Deep End

See the Pen
CSS Challenge – Day 2 by Elitsa Dimitrova (@elitsa_dimitrova)
on CodePen.

Elitsa Dimitrova’s CSS challenge pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with pure CSS preprocessors. The complex animations showcase advanced front-end development techniques.

The Artistic Touch by Arjan Jassal

See the Pen
Material Design Menu by Arjan Jassal (@arjancodes)
on CodePen.

Arjan’s Material Design approach showcases how to implement established design systems within a hamburger menu context. The animations follow Google’s motion principles closely.

Twist and Shout with this Navigation

This unique approach rotates the entire page content to reveal the navigation. While unconventional, it creates a memorable interaction pattern that users remember.

Sil van Diepen’s Attention Grabber

See the Pen
Menu test – css only – effects by Sil van Diepen (@silvandiepen)
on CodePen.

Sil’s implementation focuses on making the menu icon impossible to miss through clever effects. The animation draws attention at exactly the right moment.

Keep It Classic and Centred

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

This example by Álvaro takes a traditional approach to the menu component but executes it flawlessly. The centered navigation maintains cross-device experience consistency.

The 3D Magic Trick

See the Pen
3D Hamburger Transformicon by Bennett Feely (@bennettfeely)
on CodePen.

Bennett Feely’s 3D transformation creates depth and dimension in what would otherwise be a flat interface element. The menu transformation feels physical and tangible.

From Burger to Book

See the Pen
Hamburger Menu to Book Menu by Halil İbrahim Nuroğlu (@haibnu)
on CodePen.

Halil İbrahim Nuroğlu created an unexpected transformation from hamburger to book icon. This creative approach connects the menu concept to content in a clever way.

Adding Some Dimension

This implementation adds perspective to create a 3D effect that makes the menu feel like a physical object. The combination of CSS and JavaScript creates a sophisticated interaction.

Toggle with Swag

See the Pen
Cool hamburger toggle effect by Kriszta (@vajkri)
on CodePen.

Kriszta’s toggle effect demonstrates how subtle animation details can make interactions feel more satisfying. The clean transformation provides clear user feedback.

Two-toned Delight

See the Pen
Hamburger Menu (CSS only) by Youri Pailloux (@Zorlimar)
on CodePen.

Youri Pailloux’s half-white, half-blue design creates visual interest through color division. The expanding animation transforms the small icon into a full header section.

Purple Rain, Purple Icon

See the Pen
Hamburger Open Animation by Sarath AR (@sarath-ar)
on CodePen.

Sarath AR uses a bold purple backdrop to make the menu icon stand out. The color creates immediate visual hierarchy in the navigation UI.

Bounce it with Jack

See the Pen
Jumping Hamburger Menu Icon by Jack Thomson (@Jackthomsonn)
on CodePen.

Jack Thomson adds playfulness with a bouncing animation. The slight elasticity makes the interface feel more responsive and alive.

Open Sesame! Or…Close?

See the Pen
Hamburger menu open/close animation by Jonathan Suh (@jonsuh)
on CodePen.

Jonathan Suh’s open/close animation provides crystal-clear state indication. The transformation leaves no doubt about whether the menu is open or closed.

Keep it Slick and Pro

See the Pen
CSS(SASS) Hamburger Menu Animation by Derek Morash (@derekmorash)
on CodePen.

Derek Morash’s SASS-based animation creates a professional, refined interaction. The subtle movements convey quality and attention to detail.

Stretch and Conquer

See the Pen
Simple animated navigation menu by Oury (@ourystd)
on CodePen.

Oury’s navigation stretches the toggle into a horizontal bar, creating a satisfying expansion effect that reveals menu items progressively.

Sketch it Out, Dude!

See the Pen
Drawn Hamburger Transition by Jesse Couch (@designcouch)
on CodePen.

Jesse Couch’s drawn effect creates the impression of the hamburger being sketched and erased in real-time. This artistic approach adds character to the interface.

Minimalism for the Win

See the Pen
Single Element Animated Hamburger Menu CSS Only by Josh Fabean (@fabean)
on CodePen.

Josh Fabean’s single-element approach proves that effective UI doesn’t need complex markup. The entire menu icon uses just one HTML element.

Elastic Fantastic

See the Pen
hamburger menu elastic by Davide Cantelli (@cant89)
on CodePen.

Davide Cantelli’s elastic menu creates a stretching effect that feels physical and satisfying. The animation mimics real-world materials.

Keep it Morphing

See the Pen
Morphing Hamburger Menu with CSS by lmgonzalves (@lmgonzalves)
on CodePen.

The morphing menu by lmgonzalves demonstrates how shape transitions can clearly communicate state changes in navigation.

Burger Party by Mikael

See the Pen
Flippin’ burgers by Mikael Ainalem (@ainalem)
on CodePen.

Mikael Ainalem’s collection of eight different hamburger animations demonstrates the variety possible within this UI pattern. Each animation has distinct personality and behavior.

All-screen All-star

See the Pen
100% CSS Hamburger Animation by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

Álvaro’s full-screen takeover creates an immersive navigation experience that transforms the entire viewport when activated.

Atomic Boom Boom!

See the Pen
Atomic Hamburger Menu CSS by Alex Coven (@alcoven)
on CodePen.

Alex Coven’s atomic hamburger menu uses a particle effect to transform the icon, creating a memorable and distinctive interaction.

Go Circular or Go Home

See the Pen
CSS Gooey Menu (Version 4) by Lucas Bebber (@lbebber)
on CodePen.

Click and BOOM! A circle bursts into a bunch of mini-circles, each with its own secret.

Groove with the Moves

See the Pen
hamburger menu css animation by jun xu (@junxu)
on CodePen.

Animation so smooth, it’ll have you swaying side to side. Feel the rhythm with every click!

Slide and Ride

See the Pen
Adaptive menu on CSS only by Álvaro (@alvarotrigo)
on CodePen.

Slide into the web scene with this snazzy sliding menu. All flash without the dash of heavy code.

Double Trouble: CSS & jQuery

See the Pen
Hamburger Menu – CSS and jQuery by rv7 (@Rahul_V7)
on CodePen.

Mix a dash of CSS with a sprinkle of jQuery, and voila! A banging burger menu, complete with a header bar.

Highlight the Night

See the Pen
Click highlighter on menu button using :after by Rhys Matthew (@rhyspacker)
on CodePen.

Kudos to Rhys Matthew for this gem. Click and get that cool highlight effect, all Google Material Design-esque.

Triple Threat

See the Pen
Hamburger animation & Triple background color using CSS by Himalaya Singh (@himalayasingh)
on CodePen.

From a burger to an X with a whole mood switch for the background. Talk about drama!

Wild Child Burger

See the Pen
Obnoxious Burger by Adam Kuhn (@cobra_winfrey)
on CodePen.

Adam Kuhn brings the wild side with this burger. Click and get ready for some chaos!

One More for the Road

See the Pen
Another Hamburger 🍔 Animation | CSS by Joshua Ward (@joshuaward)
on CodePen.

If you’re still hungry for more, check out this piece. It’s another burger with all the right moves.

FAQ On CSS Hamburger Menus

How do I create a CSS hamburger menu?

Creating a mobile-friendly navigation using the hamburger pattern requires three key components:

1. HTML structure for the menu and toggle button
2. CSS for styling and animations
3. Optional JavaScript for enhanced interactions

The simplest implementation uses this pattern:

<button class="menu-toggle" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="main-menu">
  <span class="bar"></span>
  <span class="bar"></span>
  <span class="bar"></span>
</button>
<nav id="main-menu">
  <!-- Your menu items here -->
</nav>

With CSS like:

.menu-toggle {
  display: none; /* Hide on desktop */
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .menu-toggle {
    display: block;
  }
  #main-menu {
    display: none;
  }
  .menu-open #main-menu {
    display: block;
  }
}

Adding CSS transitions and transforms creates more appealing interactions. For state management, use either the checkbox hack with pure CSS or add a bit of JavaScript to toggle classes.

What’s the best practice for making it accessible?

Accessibility isn’t optional. When building a hamburger menu, I always:

1. Add aria-expanded to indicate the menu’s state
2. Include aria-label if the button has no visible text
3. Ensure keyboard navigation works properly
4. Test with screen readers

<button class="menu-toggle" 
        aria-expanded="false" 
        aria-controls="primary-menu"
        aria-label="Open main menu">
  <span class="bar"></span>
  <span class="bar"></span>
  <span class="bar"></span>
</button>

Focus management is critical. When a user opens the menu with keyboard navigation, focus should move to the first menu item. Without this, keyboard users may get trapped or lost in your navigation system.

Testing with actual assistive technology reveals issues that code inspection misses.

Can a CSS hamburger menu be animated?

Yes! CSS3 animations add significant usability improvements to toggle menus. Common animation patterns include:

1. Line rotation to form an X
2. Fading the middle line
3. Sliding transitions for the menu itself

Here’s a simple example of line animations:

.bar {
  display: block;
  width: 25px;
  height: 3px;
  background: #333;
  margin: 5px 0;
  transition: transform 0.3s, opacity 0.3s;
}

.menu-open .bar:nth-child(1) {
  transform: rotate(45deg) translate(5px, 5px);
}

.menu-open .bar:nth-child(2) {
  opacity: 0;
}

.menu-open .bar:nth-child(3) {
  transform: rotate(-45deg) translate(7px, -8px);
}

These transforms provide clear visual feedback about the menu state, improving the overall user experience.

How do I make it work on all devices?

Cross-device experience requires attention to:

1. Responsive design principles
2. Touch target sizes
3. Viewport settings

Start with a mobile-first approach:

/* Mobile styles first */
.menu-toggle {
  display: block;
  /* Ensure touch target is at least 44×44px */
  min-width: 44px;
  min-height: 44px;
}

/* Then adapt for larger screens */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .menu-toggle {
    display: none; /* Hide toggle on desktop */
  }
  #main-menu {
    display: flex; /* Show horizontal menu */
  }
}

Always include the viewport meta tag:

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

Testing on actual devices catches issues that browser emulation misses. Pay special attention to touch interfaces and different screen sizes.

Do I need to use JavaScript for a hamburger menu?

Not always. Pure CSS solutions work for basic implementations using the “checkbox hack”:

<input type="checkbox" id="menu-toggle" class="hidden">
<label for="menu-toggle" class="menu-button">
  <span class="bar"></span>
  <span class="bar"></span>
  <span class="bar"></span>
</label>
<nav class="menu">
  <!-- Menu items -->
</nav>

.menu {
  display: none;
}

#menu-toggle:checked ~ .menu {
  display: block;
}

However, JavaScript offers better:

• State management
• Accessibility support
• Animation control
• DOM manipulation

For complex menus with nested dropdowns or advanced animations, a small JS script vastly improves functionality and user experience.

How do I style the menu items inside a hamburger menu?

Styling menu items requires attention to:

1. Typography and spacing
2. Touch target sizes
3. Visual feedback

Basic styling example:

.menu a {
  display: block;
  padding: 15px;
  font-size: 16px;
  color: #333;
  text-decoration: none;
  border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}

.menu a:hover, 
.menu a:focus {
  background-color: #f5f5f5;
}

For mobile interfaces, increase touch targets:

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .menu a {
    padding: 20px 15px; /* Taller on mobile */
  }
}

Visual hierarchy helps users scan the menu quickly. Use subtle variations in weight, size, or color to distinguish between primary and secondary items.

What is the recommended size for the hamburger icon?

The hamburger icon should be:

1. Large enough to tap comfortably (≥44×44px touch target)
2. Visually proportionate to your site architecture
3. Consistent with your design system

.menu-toggle {
  width: 44px;
  height: 44px;
  padding: 10px;
  background: transparent;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.bar {
  width: 24px;
  height: 2px;
  margin: 5px 0;
  background: #333;
}

The visual icon itself (the three lines) can be smaller than the tappable area. A common pattern is 24px wide lines within a 44px button, providing adequate touch space while maintaining visual balance.

Position matters too. Top corner placement is standard, but some mobile interfaces place it at the bottom for easier thumb access.

How does a hamburger menu impact user experience?

The hamburger menu has both benefits and drawbacks for user experience:

Benefits:

• Saves valuable screen space
• Provides a clean, uncluttered interface
• Works well for secondary navigation

Drawbacks:

• Hides navigation options from view
• Adds an extra tap to access menu items
• Lower discovery of important features

User engagement data shows that hidden options get fewer interactions. For mobile users, I often recommend:

1. Keep truly critical actions visible outside the menu
2. Use the hamburger for secondary navigation
3. Consider a bottom tab bar for primary actions on mobile

A/B testing different navigation patterns on your site can provide concrete data about what works best for your specific users and content.

What are the alternatives to a CSS hamburger menu for navigation?

Several navigation patterns provide alternatives to the standard hamburger:

1. Bottom navigation bars with key destinations (mobile app style)
2. Horizontal scrolling menus that show a subset of options
3. Tab interfaces with important sections
4. Priority+ navigation (shows important items, collapses others)

Example of bottom navigation:

.bottom-nav {
  position: fixed;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  display: flex;
  background: white;
  box-shadow: 0 -2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}

.bottom-nav a {
  flex: 1;
  padding: 10px;
  text-align: center;
}

.bottom-nav svg {
  display: block;
  margin: 0 auto 5px;
}

Each pattern has specific use cases where it excels. Consider your users’ needs, device usage patterns, and the number of navigation items when choosing the right approach.

How do you ensure the hamburger menu loads quickly?

Page load speed affects both user experience and SEO. To optimize a hamburger menu:

1. Minimize HTML structure
2. Reduce CSS complexity
3. Avoid heavy JavaScript libraries
4. Use performant animations

Performance optimization techniques:

/* Use transforms instead of animating width/height */
.menu {
  transform: translateX(-100%);
  transition: transform 0.3s;
}

.menu-open .menu {
  transform: translateX(0);
}

Avoid jQuery if possible; modern browsers support necessary features natively:

// Native JS instead of jQuery
document.querySelector('.menu-toggle').addEventListener('click', function() {
  document.body.classList.toggle('menu-open');
  this.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 
    this.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true' ? 'false' : 'true'
  );
});

Lazy-loading non-critical CSS and JS can further improve initial load times. For complex menus, consider loading additional resources only after the page’s critical content is rendered.

Conclusion

CSS hamburger menus fundamentally changed how we approach mobile navigation. After exploring numerous examples and techniques, I’ve found that successful implementations balance technical requirements with user needs.

The key takeaways for creating effective hamburger menus:

• HTML structure should prioritize semantic markup for accessibility
• CSS animations add useful visual feedback when transitioning between states
• JavaScript interactivity enhances the experience but isn’t always necessary
• Accessibility requires proper ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation
• Mobile-first thinking ensures your menu works across all screen sizes

Beyond technical implementation, consider the user experience impact. Hidden navigation reduces discoverability. Sometimes, visible navigation elements perform better for critical pathways.

Testing different navigation patterns with actual users provides valuable data. Many sites find hybrid approaches work best: keeping primary actions visible while using the hamburger for secondary menu items.

For front-end development, performance matters too. Heavy animations can affect page load speed, especially on lower-end devices. Optimize your code and test on multiple devices.

The hamburger menu remains a powerful UI pattern when implemented thoughtfully. The examples in this article demonstrate various approaches, from minimal to complex. Choose the implementation that best fits your users’ needs and your site’s objectives.

Remember that responsive design isn’t just about making elements fit smaller screens—it’s about creating intuitive navigation systems that work for everyone.

If you liked this article about CSS hamburger menus, you should check out this article about CSS tabs.

There are also similar articles discussing CSS arrows, CSS modals, CSS accordions, and CSS link styles.

And let’s not forget about articles on CSS button hover effects, CSS forms, JavaScript carousels, and CSS background patterns.