Ever tried finding something on a website with a clunky search box? Frustrating, right? A well-designed search interface transforms user experience, making content discovery smooth and intuitive.
Custom CSS search boxes go beyond basic functionality—they enhance your site’s visual appeal while improving navigation and user engagement. With modern CSS3 search features and responsive design techniques, you can create search components that work beautifully across all devices.
This guide showcases practical CSS search box examples that combine form and function. You’ll learn:
- Essential HTML search form structure
- Search field design principles using CSS Grid and Flexbox positioning
- Search icon implementation with SVG and Font Awesome
- Search box animation and transition effects
- Accessibility standards for search components
Whether you’re building a minimal search design or a complex search box with autocomplete, these examples will help you implement search functionality that aligns with current UX design patterns and frontend development best practices.
CSS Search Boxes Examples To Check Out
Basic CSS Search Bar
See the Pen
Basic css search bar by Özlem Altınışık (@Ozlem_Altinisik)
on CodePen.
Ever thought of keeping it plain and simple? Well, here’s a classic two-layered design that spells out “I’m basic and proud.”
Search Bar Animation
See the Pen
Search bar animation by Milan Milošev (@MilanMilosev)
on CodePen.
Ain’t animations just the best? From a humble magnifying glass to a full-blown search bar, this lil’ thing is a treat, especially for those teeny screens. And guess what? A click on the “X” and poof! It’s a magnifying glass again.
Desktop Search Box
See the Pen
Desktop search box – HTML5 – CSS3 – JS – JQuery by The National Archives (@TNA-WEB-TEAM)
on CodePen.
Looking for something snazzy yet pro? Straight from the creative minds at The National Archives, this template is a charm.
Minimal Search Bar
See the Pen
Minimal Search Bar by Lil Skywalkr (@ragnvaldpl)
on CodePen.
A touch of simplicity with a pinch of transition magic. If you’re into minimalism and smooth animations, this is where it’s at.
Animated Search Form With Micro Interactions
See the Pen
Animated Search Form With Micro Interactions | #1 by Himalaya Singh (@himalayasingh)
on CodePen.
Small screen users, rejoice! Begin with a circle icon, and with a simple click, watch the magic unfold into a fab search bar with those curvy corners.
Filter Search Box / Dropdown Animation
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Filter search box / dropdown animation by buğra koçak (@bugrakocak)
on CodePen.
Brought to you by the ingenious buğra koçak, this gem’s got a dynamic dropdown animation that’s sure to impress.
Header Search
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Header Search by Aleksandar Čugurović (@choogoor)
on CodePen.
If you’re the “Keep it sophisticated” type, these samples are a match made in heaven. Bonus points for the multiple choices offered by the creator.
Bouncy Search Box
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Bouncy search box by Guillaume Schlipak (@Schlipak)
on CodePen.
Because who said search boxes can’t have some pep in their step? Minimalist in look, maximalist in fun. Click it, and it gives you a playful bounce. Yup, that’s right.
Animated Search Input
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Animated search input by Lucas Henrique (@lhenrique)
on CodePen.
Shoutout to Lucas Henrique for this dashing piece. It’s not just any other search template; it’s THE search box template.
Simple On-Click Search Field Interaction
See the Pen
Simple Search Field (Pure CSS) by Charlie Marcotte (@FUGU22)
on CodePen.
Hold on a sec! “Simple”? Nah, not really. Though it may use basic HTML and CSS codes, there’s nothing “simple” about its dazzling design.
Beautiful CSS3 Search form
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Beautiful CSS3 Search form by Memphis (@Memphis)
on CodePen.
Talk about blending beauty with functionality. Not only does it serve your search needs, but it also remembers your past searches. Handy, eh?
Expanding Input
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Expanding Input by Steve Gardner (@ste-vg)
on CodePen.
Last but definitely not the least, hats off to Steve Gardner for this stunner. An expanding input that says “Search is an art, and I’m Picasso.”
Wobbly Search Bar
See the Pen
search bar 🤨 by Lucagez (@lucagez)
on CodePen.
Yo, check this out! Ever seen a search box do the wobble? Well, if you want some playfulness on your website, this is the one.
Highlight Search Keyword In Text
Paul Grant, the genius, came up with this. Pop a word in the search, and bam! All those words light up like a Christmas tree in the text.
Animated Search Interaction
See the Pen
Animated Search Interaction by Jon Kantner (@jkantner)
on CodePen.
Classic vibes but with a twist. The magnifying icon? Well, it gets all transformer-like and becomes a search bar. Super cool!
Mobile Splash Search Box
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Mobile Splash Search Box by nullqube (@nullqube)
on CodePen.
Shoutout to nullqube for this sleek design. Got a mobile-first approach? You gotta see this. It’s like the James Bond of search boxes.
Custom Animated Search Box
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Animated input search by co0kie (@co0kie)
on CodePen.
This is the wild card. Customize it, play with it, make it yours. Big props to co0kie for this piece of art.
Search Field Animation
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Search field animation by Aaron Iker (@aaroniker)
on CodePen.
Man, this search box is the life of the party. Type something in, and it’s like you’ve got a mini show going on. And the results? All fancy and card-like.
Slide Down Search Box
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Slide-Down Search-Box (with Data-url embedded icon-font) by Bram de Haan (@atelierbram)
on CodePen.
Vintage vibes incoming! Brought to you by the one and only Nullqube. Slide in and search in style.
Full Screen Animated Search Box
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Full Screen Search by Dan Smith (@dapacreative)
on CodePen.
Ever thought, “Hey, why not make the search the star of the show?” Dan Smith did. And oh boy, it’s a showstopper.
Simply Awesome Soft Search Box with tutorial
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Simply Awesome Soft Search Box with tutorial. by nikhil (@nikhil)
on CodePen.
Sometimes less is more. A neat and tidy design, without the razzle-dazzle. Just simple and sleek.
Search Box V.2
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Search box v.2 (CSS Only) by Takane Ichinose (@takaneichinose)
on CodePen.
Takane Ichinose is giving us some serious search box goals. Dive in and see what’s cooking in version 2!
Material Full-Screen Search Transition
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Material Fullscreen Search Transition by Luca Dimola (@hone)
on CodePen.
Less search box, more search experience. Tap the icon, and boom! Full-screen takeover. Now that’s making a statement.
Animated Search Box by Arifayan Idowu Olatubosun
See the Pen
animated search box by Arifayan Idowu Olatubosun (@Stizzle213)
on CodePen.
Looking for something hip and happening? Arifayan Idowu Olatubosun’s got you covered. Fresh and modern, just how we like it.
Full Page Animated Search Box
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Animated Search Box by Chouaib Belagoun 👋 (@chouaibblgn45)
on CodePen.
Another full-pager but with Chouaib Belagoun’s unique touch. And the best part? Make it your own with a bit of tweaking.
Fancy Search Box
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Fancy Search Box // SVG + CSS + jQuery by Tommy Small (@tommysmall92)
on CodePen.
Alright, last but not least, here’s something for those who like a touch of class. A fancy hat-tip to tommysmall92 for this elegant design.
CSS Effect For Search Input
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CSS effect for search input by Mihael Tomić (@mihaeltomic)
on CodePen.
So Mihael Tomić crafted this sweet-looking CSS search box. If you’re into trendy designs with a hint of cuteness, you’re in for a treat!
Awesome Search Box
See the Pen
Awesome Search Box – Using Only HTML & CSS by Ahmad Emran (@ahmadbassamemran)
on CodePen.
Heard of Ahmad Emran? Well, he whipped up this awesome search box! The best part? Flex your creativity and make it yours.
Emoji Search Snippet
Alright, this is rad. Type away and get emojis that vibe with your mood! Props to Johan Haneveld for this emoji brilliance.
Search Box Focus Effect
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Search Box Focus Effect by Chris Smith (@chris22smith)
on CodePen.
Chris totally took the search game to another level. The burst of colors when you click? Mind-blown. It’s like a lil’ color party!
Pure CSS expanding search Box
See the Pen
UI #2 – Search Bar by Jove Angelevski (@AlbertFeynman)
on CodePen.
Jove Angelevski’s got the game! This expanding search box is all CSS magic, and guess what? Customize and make it pop your way.
Menu + Animated Search Box
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Menu + Animated Search Box by André Cortellini (@AndreCortellini)
on CodePen.
Dang, André Cortellini knows how to make a search box dance! It’s animated, it’s lit, and it’s waiting for your personal touch.
Google Metro Flatten
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Google Metro Flatten by nau.val(); (@pedox)
on CodePen.
Keepin’ it sleek and chic! Sometimes, simple does the trick.
Cool Animated Search Box
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Animated Search Box by Alex Tkachev (@alexpopovich)
on CodePen.
Alex Tkachev’s animated box is the real deal. If ‘cool’ had a look, this would be it. Plus, tweak it to vibe with your style!
Multi Search with Combo Box
See the Pen
multi search with combo box by John McGarrah (@freshmasterj)
on CodePen.
John McGarrah’s bringing combo boxes to the search party. Dive in, play around, and make it your kinda funky!
Cool Search Boxes
See the Pen
Cool Search Boxes by Keenan Staffieri (@keenode)
on CodePen.
Keenan Staffieri’s serving some serious coolness here. It’s not just a search box; it’s a statement.
Simple Animated Search input box
See the Pen
Search input context animation by Riccardo Zanutta (@rickzanutta)
on CodePen.
Dig animations? Riccardo Zanutta’s got this sweet little number that dances with your every type. Plus, mold it to your vibe!
Skeuomorphic Search Input
See the Pen
Search input context animation by Riccardo Zanutta (@rickzanutta)
on CodePen.
Shout out to Jonas Badalic! If you’re into skeuomorphic designs, this is right up your alley.
Search Text Field With Icon To Search Result In Card UI
See the Pen
Search field animation by Aaron Iker (@aaroniker)
on CodePen.
Aaron Iker, you genius! Ever seen a magnifying glass scan text? Watch this, and see it turn your search into sleek card-style results!
FAQ on CSS Search Box Examples
How do I create a basic search box with CSS?
Build an HTML structure with a form, input field, and button. Style with CSS using input field styling properties like border-radius, padding, and border. Add a submit button next to the input. Use flexbox to align elements horizontally. Consider placeholder styling for better guidance.
What’s the best way to add a search icon?
Use an SVG search icon or Font Awesome for scalable icons. Position it with absolute positioning within a relative container. Alternatively, use a background image in CSS. For search magnifying glass icon implementation, ensure proper alignment with padding or margin properties.
How can I make my search box responsive?
Implement media queries for different screen sizes. Use relative units like em or percentages. Consider a mobile search interface where the icon expands to reveal the search input on click. Test on various devices to ensure mobile-first search design principles are applied.
What are some popular search box animation effects?
Popular effects include:
- Expanding width on focus
- Search box transition effects for smooth interactions
- Border highlight animations
- Subtle background color shifts
- Sliding placeholders
- Microinteractions like pulsing search icons
- Material design search reveal animations
How do I style the search box on focus?
Use the :focus pseudo-class selector to apply special styling when users click the input:
.search-input:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #0066ff;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(0, 102, 255, 0.5);
}
Add CSS input focus effects for visual feedback.
How can I create a search box with dropdown suggestions?
Combine HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Create a hidden <ul> or <div> positioned below the input that appears on input events. Style the dropdown search results with CSS for borders, shadows, and hover states. Use search suggestions dropdown techniques with proper z-index values.
What are the accessibility requirements for search boxes?
Follow W3C accessibility standards and WebAIM guidelines. Include proper labels, even if visually hidden. Add ARIA search attributes like role="search". Ensure keyboard navigation works with keyboard-focused search functionality. Maintain sufficient color contrast and visible focus states.
How do I create a full-width search header?
Set the search container to 100% width. Use CSS Grid layout or flexbox for internal alignment. Consider a website header search that collapses into an icon on mobile. Apply responsive search box techniques to ensure it adapts to all screen sizes.
What’s the difference between search box designs on popular sites?
Google search bar design emphasizes simplicity with minimal borders, while Amazon search box implementation features strong categorization dropdowns. GitHub search component combines global and contextual functionality. Study these implementations for inspiration while adapting to your site’s specific UX design patterns.
How do I style search box placeholders?
Use the ::placeholder pseudo-element to style placeholder text:
.search-input::placeholder {
color: #999;
font-style: italic;
opacity: 0.7;
}
Different browsers may need vendor prefixes. Consider cross-browser search styling for consistent display.
Conclusion
Creating effective CSS search box examples isn’t just about fancy styling—it’s about balancing aesthetics with functionality. Throughout this guide, we’ve explored various approaches to search form validation and custom search input designs that enhance user interaction without sacrificing performance.
The best search UI components share common traits:
- Clear visual hierarchy using proper search layout techniques
- Minimal search design principles for intuitive use
- Search box hover effects providing meaningful feedback
- Mobile search interface considerations for all devices
- Proper implementation of search box accessibility standards
Remember that frontend development for search involves more than visual appeal. Search experience optimization requires attention to loading speed, cross-browser search styling, and dynamic search solutions that adapt to user behavior.
By applying these search box styling techniques to your projects, you’ll create search components that not only look professional but also deliver the seamless search functionality users expect from modern websites.
If you liked this article about CSS search boxes, you should check out this article about CSS speech bubbles.
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