This HTML and CSS code snippet helps you to create a responsive mega menu and dropdown. It uses a hover pseudo selector to open the dropdown menu. This navigation is the best fit for heavy content websites to make it easy to explore the site content.
It uses pure CSS for dropdown and Bootstrap for grid layout for the mega menu. Moreover, this mega menu comes with two variants of light and dark colors.
How to Create Responsive Mega Menu and Dropdown Menu Using Only HTML & CSS
1. First of all, load the Bootstrap CSS for the grid layout.
<link rel='stylesheet' href='https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.5/css/bootstrap.min.css'>
2. Create the HTML structure for the mega menu as follows:
<!-- Available in two variations: "light" and "dark" | Change <header> class to see impact. -->
<header class="dark">
<nav role="navigation">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" class="ic menu">
<span class="line"></span>
<span class="line"></span>
<span class="line"></span>
</a>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" class="ic close"></a>
<ul class="main-nav">
<li class="top-level-link">
<a><span>Home</span></a>
</li>
<li class="top-level-link">
<a class="mega-menu"><span>Products</span></a>
<div class="sub-menu-block">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-4">
<h2 class="sub-menu-head">Clothing</h2>
<ul class="sub-menu-lists">
<li><a>Mens</a></li>
<li><a>Womens</a></li>
<li><a>Kids</a></li>
<li><a>New Born</a></li>
<li><a>View All</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-4">
<h2 class="sub-menu-head">Handbags</h2>
<ul class="sub-menu-lists">
<li><a>Wallets</a></li>
<li><a>Athletic bag</a></li>
<li><a>Backpack</a></li>
<li><a>Bucket Bag</a></li>
<li><a>View All</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-4">
<h2 class="sub-menu-head">Shoes</h2>
<ul class="sub-menu-lists">
<li><a>Mens</a></li>
<li><a>Womens</a></li>
<li><a>Kids</a></li>
<li><a>View All</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row banners-area">
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="top-level-link">
<a><span>Services<span></a>
</li>
<li class="top-level-link">
<a class="mega-menu"><span>About</span></a>
<div class="sub-menu-block">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-4">
<h2 class="sub-menu-head">Company</h2>
<ul class="sub-menu-lists">
<li><a>About</a></li>
<li><a>Mission</a></li>
<li><a>Community</a></li>
<li><a>Team</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-4">
<h2 class="sub-menu-head">Media</h2>
<ul class="sub-menu-lists">
<li><a>News</a></li>
<li><a>Events</a></li>
<li><a>Blog</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4 col-lg-4 col-sm-4">
<h2 class="sub-menu-head">Careers</h2>
<ul class="sub-menu-lists">
<li><a>New Opportunities</a></li>
<li><a>Life @ Company</a></li>
<li><a>Why Join Us?</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row banners-area">
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="top-level-link">
<a><span>Contact</span></a>
</li>
</ul>
</nav>
<blockquote>
<h2>Responsive Mega Menu - CSS3</h2>
<br>
<strong>Cross Browser Support:</strong> <br>
Tested on Chrome (48.0.2564.109 m), Firefox, IE 11, Chrome Browser for Android 5.1.1 (Xperia Z2), Windows Phone 8.0 for Lumia 720
<br><br>
<strong>Expected Support for Desktop:</strong><br>
IE9+, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari for Mac, <a href="http://caniuse.com/#search=transform" target="_blank">See All Browsers</a>
<br><br>
<strong>Expected Support for Handheld:</strong><br>
Chrome Browser for Android, Android Browser, Safari for iOS, Windows Phone 8.1, <a href="http://caniuse.com/#search=transform" target="_blank">See All Browsers</a>
<br>
<hr>
Available in two variations: "light" and "dark" | Change <header> class to see impact.
</blockquote>
</header>
3. Style the mega menu using the following CSS styles:
/* Body Styles */
body {
margin: 0px;
padding: 0px;
font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;
background-color: #fff;
}
header.dark blockquote { color:#fff; }
header.light blockquote { color:#000; }
blockquote {
max-width: 1000px;
margin:0 auto;
font-size: 16px;
border-left: 0px;
padding: 20px ;
}
blockquote h2 { padding-right: 40px; margin: 0px; }
header.dark blockquote a {color: orange; text-decoration: underline;}
header.light blockquote a {text-decoration: underline;}
header { min-height: 450px; }
header.dark { background-color: #444; }
header.light { background-color: #fff; }
/* Navigation Styles */
nav { position: relative; }
header.dark nav { background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.5); }
header.light nav { background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.5); }
ul.main-nav {
list-style-type: none;
padding: 0px;
font-size: 0px;
max-width: 1000px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
ul.main-nav > li {
display: inline-block;
padding: 0;
}
ul.main-nav > li > a {
display: block;
padding: 20px 30px;
position: relative;
color: #fff;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 400;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
ul.main-nav > li:hover { background-color: #f9f9f9; }
ul.main-nav > li:hover > a { color: #333; font-weight: 400; }
ul.main-nav > li ul.sub-menu-lists {
margin: 0px;
padding: 0px;
list-style-type : none;
display:block;
}
ul.main-nav > li ul.sub-menu-lists > li {
padding: 2px 0;
}
ul.main-nav > li ul.sub-menu-lists > li > a {
font-size: 14px;
}
.ic {
position: fixed;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
right: 25px;
width: 32px;
height: 24px;
text-align: center;
top:0px;
outline: none;
}
.ic.close {
opacity: 0;
font-size: 0px;
font-weight: 300;
color: #fff;
top:8px;
height:40px;
display: block;
outline: none;
}
/* Menu Icons for Devices*/
.ic.menu { top:25px; z-index : 20; }
.ic.menu .line {
height: 4px;
width: 100%;
display: block;
margin-bottom: 6px;
}
.ic.menu .line-last-child { margin-bottom: 0px; }
.sub-menu-head { margin: 10px 0; }
.banners-area { margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 15px; }
@media only screen and (max-width:768px) {
.sub-menu-head { color:orange; }
.ic.menu { display: block; }
header.dark .ic.menu .line { background-color: #fff; }
header.light .ic.menu .line { background-color: #000; }
.ic.menu .line {
-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease 0s;
-o-transition: all 0.4s ease 0s;
transition: all 0.4s ease 0s;
-webkit-transform: rotate(0deg);
-moz-transform: rotate(0deg);
-ms-transform: rotate(0deg);
transform: rotate(0deg);
-webkit-transform-origin: center center;
-ms-transform-origin: center center;
transform-origin: center center;
}
.ic.menu:focus .line { background-color: #fff !important; }
.ic.menu:focus .line:nth-child(1) {
-webkit-transform: rotate(45deg);
-moz-transform: rotate(45deg);
-ms-transform: rotate(45deg);
transform: rotate(45deg);
}
.ic.menu:focus .line:nth-child(2) {
-webkit-transform: rotate(-45deg);
-moz-transform: rotate(-45deg);
-ms-transform: rotate(-45deg);
transform: rotate(-45deg);
margin-top: -10px;
}
.ic.menu:focus .line:nth-child(3) {
transform: translateY(15px);
opacity: 0;
}
.ic.menu:focus{ outline: none; }
.ic.menu:focus ~ .ic.close { opacity: 1; z-index : 21; outline: none; }
/*
.ic.menu:focus ~ .ic.close { opacity: 1.0; z-index : 21; }
.ic.close:focus { opacity: 0; }
*/
.ic.menu:focus { opacity: 1; }
nav { background-color: transparent; }
/* Main Menu for Handheld Devices */
ul.main-nav {
z-index:2;
padding: 50px 0;
position: fixed;
right: 0px;
top: 0px;
width: 0px;
background-color:rgba(0,0,0,1);
height: 100%;
overflow: auto;
/*CSS animation applied : Slide from Right*/
-webkit-transition-property: background, width;
-moz-transition-property: background, width;
-o-transition-property: background, width;
transition-property: background, width;
-webkit-transition-duration: 0.6s;
-moz-transition-duration: 0.6s;
-o-transition-duration: 0.6s;
transition-duration: 0.6s;
}
.ic.menu:focus ~ .main-nav { width: 300px; background-color:rgba(0,0,0,1); }
ul.main-nav > * {
-webkit-transition-property: opacity;
-moz-transition-property: opacity;
-o-transition-property: opacity;
transition-property: opacity;
-webkit-transition-duration: 0.4s;
-moz-transition-duration: 0.4s;
-o-transition-duration: 0.4s;
transition-duration: 0.4s;
opacity: 0;
}
.ic.menu:focus ~ .main-nav > * {opacity: 1;}
ul.main-nav > li > a:after {display: none;}
ul.main-nav > li:first-child { border-radius: 0px; }
ul.main-nav > li {
display: block;
border-bottom: 1px solid #444;
}
ul.main-nav > li > a { font-weight: 600; }
ul.main-nav > li ul.sub-menu-lists > li a { color: #eee; font-size: 14px; }
.sub-menu-head { font-size: 16px;}
ul.main-nav > li:hover { background-color: transparent; }
ul.main-nav > li:hover > a {color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 600;}
.ic.menu:focus ~ ul.main-nav > li > div.sub-menu-block {
border-left: 0px solid #ccc;
border-right: 0px solid #ccc;
border-bottom: 0px solid #ccc;
position: relative;
visibility: visible;
opacity: 1.0;
}
.sub-menu-block { padding: 0 30px; }
.banners-area { padding-bottom: 0px; }
.banners-area div { margin-bottom: 15px; }
.banners-area { border-top: 1px solid #444; }
}
@media only screen and (min-width:769px) {
.ic.menu { display: none; }
/* Main Menu for Desktop Devices */
ul.main-nav { display: block; position: relative; }
.sub-menu-block { padding: 15px; }
/* Sub Menu */
ul.main-nav > li > div.sub-menu-block {
visibility: hidden;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
position: absolute;
margin-top: 0px;
width: 100%;
color: #333;
left: 0;
box-sizing: border-box;
z-index : 3;
font-size: 16px;
border-left: 1px solid #ccc;
border-right: 1px solid #ccc;
border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
opacity: 0;
/*CSS animation applied for sub menu : Slide from Top */
-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease 0s;
-o-transition: all 0.4s ease 0s;
transition: all 0.4s ease 0s;
-webkit-transform: rotateX(90deg);
-moz-transform: rotateX(90deg);
-ms-transform: rotateX(90deg);
transform: rotateX(90deg);
-webkit-transform-origin: top center;
-ms-transform-origin: top center;
transform-origin: top center;
}
ul.main-nav > li:hover > div.sub-menu-block{
background-color: #f9f9f9;
visibility: visible;
opacity: 1;
-webkit-transform: rotateX(0deg);
-moz-transform: rotateX(0deg);
-ms-transform: rotateX(0deg);
transform: rotateX(0deg);
}
ul.main-nav > li > div.sub-menu-block > * {
-webkit-transition-property: opacity;
-moz-transition-property: opacity;
-o-transition-property: opacity;
transition-property: opacity;
-webkit-transition-duration: 0.4s;
-moz-transition-duration: 0.4s;
-o-transition-duration: 0.4s;
transition-duration: 0.4s;
opacity: 0;
}
ul.main-nav > li:hover > div.sub-menu-block > * {
opacity: 1;
}
.sub-menu-head { font-size: 20px;}
/* List Separator: Outer Border */
header.dark ul.main-nav > li > a { border-right: 1px solid #bbb; }
header.light ul.main-nav > li > a { border-right: 1px solid #666; }
/* List Separator: Inner Border */
ul.main-nav > li > a:after {
content: '';
width: 1px;
height: 62px;
position: absolute;
right:0px;
top: 0px;
z-index : 2;
}
header.dark ul.main-nav > li > a:after { background-color: #777; }
header.light ul.main-nav > li > a:after { background-color: #999; }
/* Drop Down/Up Arrow for Mega Menu */
ul.main-nav > li > a.mega-menu > span { display: block; vertical-align: middle; }
ul.main-nav > li > a.mega-menu > span:after {
width: 0;
height: 0;
border-left: 5px solid transparent;
border-right: 5px solid transparent;
border-top: 5px solid #fff;
content: '';
background-color: transparent;
display: inline-block;
margin-left: 10px;
vertical-align: middle;
}
ul.main-nav > li:hover > a.mega-menu span:after{
border-left: 5px solid transparent;
border-right: 5px solid transparent;
border-top: 0px solid transparent;
border-bottom: 5px solid #666;
}
.banners-area { border-top: 1px solid #ccc; }
}
That’s all! hopefully, you have successfully created a mega menu. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below.
