When a user clicks a button on your website, what happens? In modern Web Development, static responses no longer cut it. CSS ripple effect examples show how simple animations can transform user interaction into something memorable.
Inspired by Material Design’s philosophy of mimicking real-world physics, ripple animations provide instant visual feedback mechanisms that make interfaces feel responsive and alive. These pure CSS ripple implementations require no heavy libraries—just clever use of CSS3 properties like transforms and transitions.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
- Ready-to-use button click animations for your projects
- Performance-optimized animation techniques
- Mobile-friendly animations that work across devices
- Interactive UI elements that enhance User Experience
Whether you’re building with React, Vue.js, or plain HTML, these examples will help you create more intuitive, engaging interfaces that users love.
CSS Ripple Effect Examples To Check Out
CSS Paper Boat Sailing In The Rain
See the Pen
CSS paper boat sailing in the rain by Karim Maaloul (@Yakudoo)
on CodePen.
Karim Maaloul takes us on a journey with his mesmerizing rain ripple creation.
CSS-Only Ripple Toggle With Dynamic Text Colour
See the Pen
CSS-only ripple toggle with dynamic text colour by Liam (@liamj)
on CodePen.
Have a peek at Liam’s handiwork! A snazzy ripple animation that changes text color dynamically. Ideal for all online biz bosses wanting that ripple flair.
Pure CSS – Ripple Effect
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Pure CSS • Ripple Effect by devatorres (@devatorres)
on CodePen.
Shoutout to devatorres for this wicked cool ripple vibe.
Simple Water Drop Ripple Effect
See the Pen
CSS ripple effect by Anthony DAlessio (@daless14)
on CodePen.
Meet Anthony DAlessio’s masterpiece – a tweakable water drop ripple. Want it a bit different? You can twist it your way.
Ripple effect using CSS Variables
See the Pen
Ripple effect using CSS Variables by Jakob Eriksen (@jakob-e)
on CodePen.
Jakob-e is serving us some solid ripple goodness. If you’re a web store owner aiming for that fun splash, look no further.
Circle Ripples
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Circle Ripples by Fabien Motte (@FabienMotte)
on CodePen.
Circles and ripples? Fabien Motte’s got your back. Made solely with HTML and CSS.
Ripple Animation On Input Type Radio And Checkbox
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Ripple animation on input type radio and Checkbox by WILDER TAYPE (@wtaype)
on CodePen.
WILDER TAYPE is dropping the beats with this input ripple animation. And yes, mold it to fit your taste.
Ripples by Jack Thomso
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Ripples by Jack Thomson (@Jackthomsonn)
on CodePen.
Jack Thomson is making the web waves with his ripple magic. Perfect for those e-commerce sites needing some pizzazz.
Toggle Button With Ripple
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toggle button with ripple by Irem Lopsum (@iremlopsum)
on CodePen.
Toggle and ripple? Say less. Irem Lopsum came through with this tweak-friendly design.
Neumorphism – Ripple
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004: Neumorphism – Ripple by antwon (@antoniolee)
on CodePen.
Antwon crafted this sleek ripple using both HTML and that stylish SCSS.
Button Ripple Effect
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Button Ripple Effect by Luke Diamantopoulos (@LukeDiamantopoulos)
on CodePen.
Luke Diamantopoulos is making waves with his button ripple. An absolute gem for all e-shop owners out there.
Slider with Ripple Effect
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Slider with Ripple Effect v1.1 by Pedro Castro (@aspeddro)
on CodePen.
Props to Pedro Castro for this ripple-infused slider. Smooth, right?
Pure CSS Ripple Animation
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Pure CSS Ripple Animation by Leah Singh (@lrsingh)
on CodePen.
Leah Singh went all out with this pure CSS ripple. Best part? You can spin it your way.
Dripping by Kyle Diggs
See the Pen
Dripping by Kyle Diggs (@Kyle772)
on CodePen.
Check out Kyle Diggs’ drippy ripple animation. A must-have for all online business peeps wanting that extra drip.
CSS Only: Water Droplet/Ripples
See the Pen
CSS Only: Water Droplet/Ripples by Kit Jenson (@kitjenson)
on CodePen.
Kit Jenson shows us less is more. With just HTML and CSS, make ripples dance on your fav page.
Water Drop Loader CSS Animation
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Water drop loader CSS animation by Rachel Smith (@rachsmith)
on CodePen.
Last but not least, Rachel Smith drops by with her water drop loader. Pure artistry!
Simple CSS Ripple Animation
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Css Ripple effect by SkillHub (@skillhubbd)
on CodePen.
So, SkillHub dropped this ripple gem. It’s all sleek and stuff. And, you know what’s cool? You can give it your own flavor!
Hover Ripple
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Hover Ripple by magnificode (@magnificode)
on CodePen.
Alright, this is some wizardry by magnificode! If you’re an online biz boss and crave that ripple magic, boom! This one’s got the sauce.
CSS Ripple Infinite Animation
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CSS Ripple Effect infinite animation by abdelrahman (@1abdelrahman)
on CodePen.
abdelrahman went all infinite with this ripple animation. Fancy tweaking it? Dive in and make it yours!
Slider Tab Menu – Ripple
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Slider Tab Menu by Alex Rutherford (@Ruddy)
on CodePen.
Props to Alex Rutherford for this snazzy ripple touch on a slider tab menu.
PIXIE Ripple Effect using TweenMax
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PIXIE ripple effect using TweenMax by Maurice Melchers (@mephysto)
on CodePen.
Here’s a twist – Maurice Melchers introduces the PIXIE ripple using just HTML and CSS. Fancy a ripple sprinkled with some TweenMax? Say less.
Ripple Effect Onclick
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Ripple effect onclick by Ketki (@ketki)
on CodePen.
Ketki turned up the heat with this onclick ripple. If you’re aiming to have heads turn, this will do the trick!
SVG CSS Ripple Loader
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svg css ripple loader by Denise (@theNIZ)
on CodePen.
Denise crafted this ripple loader, and oh boy, it’s a sight! Play around with it; shape it the way you vibe.
Material Design (CSS-based) – Tiles
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Material Design (CSS-based) – Tiles by Sergey Kupletsky (@zavoloklom)
on CodePen.
Big applause for Sergey Kupletsky. The tiles, the material design, it’s just… chef’s kiss.
Logo With Ripple Effect
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Logo with ripple effect by Mikael Ainalem (@ainalem)
on CodePen.
Mikael Ainalem whipped up this ripple-infused logo. Ever dreamt of a logo that ripples? Here it is!
Navigation Bar Ripple Effects
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Navigation Bar ripple effects by Pranali (@pranali7)
on CodePen.
Pranali sprinkled some ripple magic onto navigation bars. It’s like giving your site’s nav bar some dancing shoes!
SVG Material Ripple
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SVG Material Ripple by DroidPinkman (@dennisgaebel)
on CodePen.
DroidPinkman drops this SVG ripple goodness. Want to tweak? Jump in, the ripple’s fine!
CSS Ripple Effect by Venkat
See the Pen
CSS Ripple effect by Venkat (@venkatpro)
on CodePen.
Venkat’s ripple effect is making waves. It’s sleek, it’s fresh, it’s everything!
Ripple Animation Button
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Ripple Animation Button by Chris Underdown (@chrisunderdown)
on CodePen.
Chris Underdown came through with this button ripple animation. Want your buttons to have that ‘wow’ factor? Check this out!
Pure CSS Card Ripple Effect
See the Pen
#25 – Pure CSS Card Ripple Effect by Daiquiri.io (@daiquiri)
on CodePen.
daiquiri.io dropped this absolute stunner of a ripple! Want it with your own twist? Dive in and mold it!
Infinite Ripple Animation using HTML & CSS
Listen up! This ripple is on a loop – all day, every day. Aqua-colored circles dancing forever. Wanna mix up the color or rhythm? You totally can.
Ripple Effect By Sabitha Kuppusamy
See the Pen
Ripple effect by Sabitha Kuppusamy (@sabitha_kuppusamy)
on CodePen.
Sabitha got some mad skills. She used the Jquery ripples library. Check out the ripple raves she’s making!
A Loader With Ripple Effect
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A loader with ripple effect by Egy Chandra (@ecl91)
on CodePen.
Egy Chandra’s loader has that ripple magic sprinkled on it. Because who said loaders have to be boring?
Material Design Ripple Effect using CSS and JS
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Material Design Ripple Effect using CSS and JS by Nitish Khagwal (@nitishkmrk)
on CodePen.
Nitish Khagwal’s bringing in the heat with this ripple. All those online shops looking for that sparkle, you’ve found your match!
Material Circle Menu With Ripple Effect
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Circle Menu by Willmer Barahona (@wbarahona)
on CodePen.
Willmer Barahona crafted this circle menu and, man, that ripple is popping! Want a different flavor? Dive in and sprinkle some of your own magic.
CSS Ripple Effect by Rplus
See the Pen
[Animation][8] css ripple effect by Rplus (@Rplus)
on CodePen.
Rplus went all mad scientist with this one. Used some wicked math to make those ripples groove. The result? Pure art.
CSS Ripple Effect by csPoint
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CSs Ripple Effect by csPoint (@csPoint)
on CodePen.
csPoint just made ripples look cooler. Check out the vibe they’ve spun!
Ripple Loading Effect Image Slider
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Image Overlay Slider by Yugam (@pizza3)
on CodePen.
Yugam designed this jaw-dropper! It’s like an image slider, but with that extra zing thanks to the ripple load-up.
Cool Buttons With A Material Ripple Effect
See the Pen
Cool buttons with material ripple effect by Krisha Lal (@krisha23)
on CodePen.
Krisha Lal’s buttons aren’t just buttons. They ripple, they groove, they dance. Because, why not?
FAQ on CSS Ripple Effect Examples
How do I create a basic CSS ripple effect without JavaScript?
A pure CSS ripple can be achieved using pseudo-elements and CSS transitions. Create an element with position: relative, add an :after pseudo-element, then use transform: scale() with transition properties to animate the expansion. This technique works well for simple button click animations without requiring JavaScript.
What’s the difference between Material Design ripples and custom CSS ripples?
Material Design ripples follow specific guidelines with precise animation timing functions and behaviors, creating a consistent experience across platforms. Custom CSS ripple effect examples can be more flexible but may lack the refinement of Material’s implementation. Both enhance User Interface feedback and improve overall User Experience.
How can I optimize ripple animations for performance?
For optimal animation performance optimization:
- Use
transformandopacityproperties - Avoid animating
width/height - Add
will-changefor GPU acceleration - Keep animations under 300ms
- Test on actual devices, especially for mobile-friendly animations
- Consider using
requestAnimationFramefor complex interactive website elements
Can ripple effects work on mobile and touch devices?
Yes! Create touch-friendly interfaces by:
- Adding both
clickandtouchstartevent listeners - Positioning the ripple at touch coordinates
- Testing on actual devices
- Ensuring large enough touch targets
- Keeping animation duration short
- Using
pointer-eventsappropriately for touch responsive designs
How do I make the ripple effect start from the click position?
To create position-aware click response animations, use JavaScript to:
- Capture click event coordinates
- Calculate position relative to the button
- Position the ripple element at that point
- Trigger the animation
- Remove the element after animation completes
This creates more realistic water ripple CSS effects.
What are common mistakes when implementing ripple effects?
Common mistakes include:
- Forgetting
overflow: hiddenon the container - Animation durations that are too long
- Poor browser compatibility for animations
- Not handling multiple rapid clicks
- Performance issues from inefficient CSS animation techniques
- Neglecting animation accessibility considerations
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
How do I add ripples to custom UI components like cards or menus?
Apply the same front-end animation techniques to any interactive element by:
- Ensuring the container has
position: relative - Creating a ripple element dynamically
- Positioning it correctly within the component
- Handling interaction events appropriately
- Testing across different component sizes
React, Vue.js and Angular all offer ways to implement this.
How can I customize the color and opacity of ripple effects?
Customize your modern UI effects by adjusting:
- Background color (use rgba for transparency)
- Initial and final opacity values
- Radial gradient animations for more complex effects
- Animation speed and easing
- Size of the maximum scale
- Border-radius for non-circular ripples
Try different combinations for unique interactive feedback effects.
Are there any good libraries for implementing ripple effects?
Several excellent animation libraries exist:
- MDBootstrap provides Material Design ripples
- jQuery has plugins like jQuery.ripples
- Bootstrap includes wave effects in some versions
- Standalone libraries on GitHub
- Examples on CodePen you can adapt
- Framework-specific solutions for React and other libraries
How do I ensure ripple effects are accessible?
For accessibility:
- Ensure animations can be disabled via prefers-reduced-motion
- Keep animations under 5 seconds
- Don’t rely solely on animation for feedback
- Provide alternative indicators
- Maintain sufficient color contrast
- Test with screen readers and keyboard navigation
- Follow WCAG guidelines for interaction design
Conclusion
The CSS ripple effect examples we’ve explored demonstrate how simple animation techniques can dramatically improve user engagement. These dynamic button effects create intuitive interfaces that respond naturally to user actions, bridging the gap between digital interactions and physical expectations.
Implementing these animation keyframes in your projects offers several advantages:
- Enhanced user interface feedback makes websites feel more responsive
- Proper use of CSS transition properties ensures smooth performance across devices
- Touch-friendly interfaces create better experiences for mobile users
- Strategic animation delay techniques can guide user attention effectively
Remember that thoughtful interaction design isn’t about flashy effects—it’s about creating meaningful connections with users. As frontend development continues to evolve, these subtle visual feedback mechanisms will remain essential tools for building interfaces that users intuitively understand and enjoy using.
Start small, experiment with the CSS animation best practices we’ve discussed, and watch how these subtle enhancements transform your digital experiences.
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