22 CSS Skeleton Loaders18 / 22

Pure CSSMIT licensed

Data Table Row Skeleton Loader

Header row real, body rows pending — the SaaS data-table pattern from Airtable, Notion and Retool. It stays a real <table> with a real <thead>, so column widths are already resolved and assistive tech still announces "table, 4 columns" while the data loads.

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The code

<div class="sk-18">
  <div class="sk-18__stage">
    <section class="sk-18__wrap" aria-labelledby="sk-18-h">
      <header class="sk-18__head">
        <p class="sk-18__eyebrow">table-layout: fixed</p>
        <h2 class="sk-18__h" id="sk-18-h">Header real, columns resolved, rows pending</h2>
        <p class="sk-18__sub">The table is a real <code>&lt;table&gt;</code> with a real <code>&lt;thead&gt;</code> and a <code>&lt;colgroup&gt;</code>, so the grid is final before a single cell of data arrives.</p>
      </header>

      <div class="sk-18__card">
        <div class="sk-18__toolbar">
          <p class="sk-18__title">Workspace members</p>
          <div class="sk-18__tools">
            <p class="sk-18__search">
              <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="6.4" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.8"/><path d="M15.8 15.8 20 20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round"/></svg>
              Search members
            </p>
            <p class="sk-18__count">5 of 128</p>
          </div>
        </div>

        <div class="sk-18__scroll">
          <table class="sk-18__table">
            <caption class="sk-18__vh" role="status" aria-live="polite">Loading 5 member rows…</caption>
            <colgroup><col class="sk-18__c1"><col class="sk-18__c2"><col class="sk-18__c3"><col class="sk-18__c4"></colgroup>
            <thead>
              <tr><th scope="col">Name</th><th scope="col">Email</th><th scope="col">Role</th><th scope="col">Status</th></tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody aria-busy="true">
              <tr style="--i:0"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:7rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:1"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:8.5rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:70%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:44%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:2"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:6rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:88%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:62%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:3"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:9rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:76%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:50%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:4"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:7.5rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:82%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:58%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
            </tbody>
          </table>
        </div>

        <div class="sk-18__pager">
          <p class="sk-18__pnote">Rows per page 25</p>
          <p class="sk-18__pnote">Page 1 of 6</p>
        </div>
      </div>

      <aside class="sk-18__spec" aria-label="Recipe">
        <p class="sk-18__srow"><span class="sk-18__skey">grid</span><span class="sk-18__sval">table-layout: fixed + colgroup — columns resolved before data lands</span></p>
        <p class="sk-18__srow"><span class="sk-18__skey">cells</span><span class="sk-18__sval">shape per column: circle + short bar, long email, medium role, status pill</span></p>
        <p class="sk-18__srow"><span class="sk-18__skey">a11y</span><span class="sk-18__sval">aria-busy on tbody · one status caption · aria-hidden on every bar</span></p>
      </aside>
    </section>
  </div>
</div>
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Geist:wght@400;500;600&family=Geist+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap');

.sk-18 {
  --bg: #06070a;
  --bg2: #0d0f14;
  --surface: rgba(255,255,255,.03);
  --raise: rgba(255,255,255,.05);
  --line: rgba(255,255,255,.1);
  --ink: #f4f5f8;
  --muted: rgba(244,245,248,.62);
  --faint: rgba(244,245,248,.42);
  --accent: #a5b4fc;
  --sk: rgba(244,245,248,.1);
  --sheen: rgba(244,245,248,.17);
  --mono: 'Geist Mono',ui-monospace,'SFMono-Regular',Menlo,monospace;
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100vh;
  min-height: 100svh;
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  color: var(--ink);
  isolation: isolate;
  font-family: 'Geist',ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;
  background: radial-gradient(56% 40% at 76% -6%, rgba(165,180,252,.12) 0%, transparent 60%), linear-gradient(178deg,var(--bg2) 0%,var(--bg) 62%);
}

.sk-18 *,
.sk-18 *::before,
.sk-18 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

@supports (color: oklch(0.7 0.1 270)) {
  .sk-18 {
    --ink: oklch(0.97 0.005 275);
    --muted: oklch(0.97 0.005 275 / .62);
    --faint: oklch(0.97 0.005 275 / .42);
    --accent: oklch(0.82 0.09 278);
  }
}

@supports (color: color-mix(in oklab, white 10%, transparent)) {
  .sk-18 {
    --sk: color-mix(in oklab, currentColor 10%, transparent);
    --sheen: color-mix(in oklab, currentColor 17%, transparent);
  }
}

.sk-18__vh {
  position: absolute;
  width: 1px;
  height: 1px;
  margin: -1px;
  overflow: hidden;
  clip-path: inset(50%);
  white-space: nowrap;
  border: 0;
}

.sk-18__stage {
  min-height: 100vh;
  min-height: 100svh;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  padding: clamp(1.15rem,4vw,3.25rem);
}

.sk-18__wrap {
  inline-size: min(72rem,100%);
  display: grid;
  gap: clamp(1rem,2.2vw,1.6rem);
}

.sk-18__head {
  display: grid;
  gap: .6rem;
  max-inline-size: 46rem;
}

.sk-18__eyebrow {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .72rem;
  letter-spacing: .16em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--accent);
}

.sk-18__h {
  margin: 0;
  font-size: clamp(1.6rem,3.6vw,2.5rem);
  font-weight: 600;
  letter-spacing: -.032em;
  line-height: 1.06;
  text-wrap: balance;
}

.sk-18__sub {
  margin: 0;
  font-size: clamp(.94rem,1.3vw,1.02rem);
  line-height: 1.55;
  color: var(--muted);
  text-wrap: pretty;
}

.sk-18__sub code {
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .88em;
  color: var(--ink);
}

.sk-18__card {
  border: 1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius: 1.15rem;
  background: var(--surface);
  overflow: hidden;
  box-shadow: 0 30px 70px -46px rgba(0,0,0,.9);
}

.sk-18__toolbar {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 1rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  padding: clamp(.9rem,1.7vw,1.2rem) clamp(1rem,2vw,1.4rem);
  border-block-end: 1px solid var(--line);
}

.sk-18__title {
  margin: 0;
  font-size: 1.02rem;
  font-weight: 500;
  letter-spacing: -.015em;
}

.sk-18__tools {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: .8rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

.sk-18__search {
  margin: 0;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: .45rem;
  min-block-size: 2.2rem;
  padding: .4rem .8rem;
  border-radius: .55rem;
  background: var(--raise);
  border: 1px solid var(--line);
  font-size: .82rem;
  color: var(--muted);
}

.sk-18__search svg {
  inline-size: .95rem;
  block-size: .95rem;
}

.sk-18__count {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .72rem;
  color: var(--faint);
}

.sk-18__scroll {
  overflow-x: auto;
}

.sk-18__table {
  inline-size: 100%;
  min-inline-size: 34rem;
  table-layout: fixed;
  border-collapse: collapse;
}

.sk-18__c1 {
  width: 34%;
}

.sk-18__c2 {
  width: 30%;
}

.sk-18__c3 {
  width: 20%;
}

.sk-18__c4 {
  width: 16%;
}

.sk-18__table th {
  text-align: start;
  padding: .75rem clamp(.7rem,1.4vw,1.1rem);
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .68rem;
  letter-spacing: .11em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-weight: 400;
  color: var(--faint);
  border-block-end: 1px solid var(--line);
  background: var(--raise);
}

.sk-18__table td {
  padding: .9rem clamp(.7rem,1.4vw,1.1rem);
  border-block-end: 1px solid var(--line);
  vertical-align: middle;
}

.sk-18__table tbody tr:last-child td {
  border-block-end: 0;
}

.sk-18__cell {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: .75rem;
}

.sk-18__pager {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 1rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  padding: .85rem clamp(1rem,2vw,1.4rem);
  border-block-start: 1px solid var(--line);
}

.sk-18__pnote {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .72rem;
  color: var(--faint);
}

.sk-18__bar {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
  block-size: .8rem;
  inline-size: 100%;
  border-radius: 6px;
  background: var(--sk);
}

.sk-18__bar::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background: linear-gradient(100deg, transparent 18%, var(--sheen) 50%, transparent 82%);
  translate: -100% 0;
  animation: sk-18-sheen 1.4s linear infinite;
  animation-delay: calc(var(--i,0) * -.16s);
}

@keyframes sk-18-sheen {
  to {
    translate: 100% 0;
  }
}

.sk-18__bar--email {
  inline-size: 82%;
}

.sk-18__bar--role {
  inline-size: 54%;
}

.sk-18__bar--status {
  inline-size: 4.5rem;
  block-size: 1.5rem;
  border-radius: 999px;
}

.sk-18__avatar {
  inline-size: 2rem;
  block-size: auto;
  aspect-ratio: 1;
  border-radius: 999px;
  flex: none;
}

.sk-18__spec {
  padding: clamp(.85rem,1.5vw,1.1rem) clamp(1rem,1.8vw,1.3rem);
  border: 1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius: .9rem;
  background: var(--surface);
  display: grid;
  gap: .45rem;
}

.sk-18__srow {
  margin: 0;
  display: flex;
  gap: .9rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .74rem;
  line-height: 1.5;
}

.sk-18__skey {
  min-inline-size: 3.4rem;
  color: var(--accent);
  letter-spacing: .08em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-size: .66rem;
  padding-block-start: .12rem;
}

.sk-18__sval {
  color: var(--muted);
  word-break: break-word;
}

.sk-18[data-theme="light"] {
  --bg: #f7f8fc;
  --bg2: #fff;
  --surface: #ffffff;
  --raise: rgba(8,10,20,.035);
  --line: rgba(8,10,20,.11);
  --ink: #080a14;
  --muted: rgba(8,10,20,.62);
  --faint: rgba(8,10,20,.44);
  --accent: #4338ca;
  background: linear-gradient(178deg,#fff 0%,#eef0f8 100%);
}

@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
  .sk-18:not([data-theme="dark"]) {
    --bg: #f7f8fc;
    --bg2: #fff;
    --surface: #ffffff;
    --raise: rgba(8,10,20,.035);
    --line: rgba(8,10,20,.11);
    --ink: #080a14;
    --muted: rgba(8,10,20,.62);
    --faint: rgba(8,10,20,.44);
    --accent: #4338ca;
    background: linear-gradient(178deg,#fff 0%,#eef0f8 100%);
  }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .sk-18__bar::after {
    animation: none;
    background: none;
  }

  .sk-18__bar {
    background: linear-gradient(105deg, var(--sk) 0%, var(--sheen) 50%, var(--sk) 100%);
  }
}

@media (forced-colors: active) {
  .sk-18__bar {
    background: GrayText;
    forced-color-adjust: none;
  }

  .sk-18__bar::after {
    animation: none;
    background: none;
  }

  .sk-18__card,
    .sk-18__spec,
    .sk-18__search {
    border-color: CanvasText;
  }
}
Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any coding assistant. The block below is pre-framed with everything the AI needs to integrate this demo into your project — markup, styles, scoping notes, and the source URL. Hit Copy and paste straight into your chat.
Here's a working CSS Skeleton Loader from CodeFronts. Use it as-is or adapt to your framework. All classes are scoped under a unique prefix so the code won't collide with your existing styles. MIT licensed.
Demo: Data Table Row Skeleton Loader
Source: https://codefronts.com/components/css-skeleton-loaders/table-rows/

Header row real, body rows pending — the SaaS data-table pattern from Airtable, Notion and Retool. It stays a real <table> with a real <thead>, so column widths are already resolved and assistive tech still announces "table, 4 columns" while the data loads.
## HTML
```html
<div class="sk-18">
  <div class="sk-18__stage">
    <section class="sk-18__wrap" aria-labelledby="sk-18-h">
      <header class="sk-18__head">
        <p class="sk-18__eyebrow">table-layout: fixed</p>
        <h2 class="sk-18__h" id="sk-18-h">Header real, columns resolved, rows pending</h2>
        <p class="sk-18__sub">The table is a real <code>&lt;table&gt;</code> with a real <code>&lt;thead&gt;</code> and a <code>&lt;colgroup&gt;</code>, so the grid is final before a single cell of data arrives.</p>
      </header>

      <div class="sk-18__card">
        <div class="sk-18__toolbar">
          <p class="sk-18__title">Workspace members</p>
          <div class="sk-18__tools">
            <p class="sk-18__search">
              <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="6.4" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.8"/><path d="M15.8 15.8 20 20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round"/></svg>
              Search members
            </p>
            <p class="sk-18__count">5 of 128</p>
          </div>
        </div>

        <div class="sk-18__scroll">
          <table class="sk-18__table">
            <caption class="sk-18__vh" role="status" aria-live="polite">Loading 5 member rows…</caption>
            <colgroup><col class="sk-18__c1"><col class="sk-18__c2"><col class="sk-18__c3"><col class="sk-18__c4"></colgroup>
            <thead>
              <tr><th scope="col">Name</th><th scope="col">Email</th><th scope="col">Role</th><th scope="col">Status</th></tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody aria-busy="true">
              <tr style="--i:0"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:7rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:1"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:8.5rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:70%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:44%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:2"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:6rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:88%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:62%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:3"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:9rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:76%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:50%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
              <tr style="--i:4"><td><span class="sk-18__cell"><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__avatar" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="sk-18__bar" style="inline-size:7.5rem" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--email" style="inline-size:82%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--role" style="inline-size:58%" aria-hidden="true"></span></td><td><span class="sk-18__bar sk-18__bar--status" aria-hidden="true"></span></td></tr>
            </tbody>
          </table>
        </div>

        <div class="sk-18__pager">
          <p class="sk-18__pnote">Rows per page 25</p>
          <p class="sk-18__pnote">Page 1 of 6</p>
        </div>
      </div>

      <aside class="sk-18__spec" aria-label="Recipe">
        <p class="sk-18__srow"><span class="sk-18__skey">grid</span><span class="sk-18__sval">table-layout: fixed + colgroup — columns resolved before data lands</span></p>
        <p class="sk-18__srow"><span class="sk-18__skey">cells</span><span class="sk-18__sval">shape per column: circle + short bar, long email, medium role, status pill</span></p>
        <p class="sk-18__srow"><span class="sk-18__skey">a11y</span><span class="sk-18__sval">aria-busy on tbody · one status caption · aria-hidden on every bar</span></p>
      </aside>
    </section>
  </div>
</div>
```
## CSS
```css
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Geist:wght@400;500;600&family=Geist+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap');

.sk-18 {
  --bg: #06070a;
  --bg2: #0d0f14;
  --surface: rgba(255,255,255,.03);
  --raise: rgba(255,255,255,.05);
  --line: rgba(255,255,255,.1);
  --ink: #f4f5f8;
  --muted: rgba(244,245,248,.62);
  --faint: rgba(244,245,248,.42);
  --accent: #a5b4fc;
  --sk: rgba(244,245,248,.1);
  --sheen: rgba(244,245,248,.17);
  --mono: 'Geist Mono',ui-monospace,'SFMono-Regular',Menlo,monospace;
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100vh;
  min-height: 100svh;
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  color: var(--ink);
  isolation: isolate;
  font-family: 'Geist',ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;
  background: radial-gradient(56% 40% at 76% -6%, rgba(165,180,252,.12) 0%, transparent 60%), linear-gradient(178deg,var(--bg2) 0%,var(--bg) 62%);
}

.sk-18 *,
.sk-18 *::before,
.sk-18 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

@supports (color: oklch(0.7 0.1 270)) {
  .sk-18 {
    --ink: oklch(0.97 0.005 275);
    --muted: oklch(0.97 0.005 275 / .62);
    --faint: oklch(0.97 0.005 275 / .42);
    --accent: oklch(0.82 0.09 278);
  }
}

@supports (color: color-mix(in oklab, white 10%, transparent)) {
  .sk-18 {
    --sk: color-mix(in oklab, currentColor 10%, transparent);
    --sheen: color-mix(in oklab, currentColor 17%, transparent);
  }
}

.sk-18__vh {
  position: absolute;
  width: 1px;
  height: 1px;
  margin: -1px;
  overflow: hidden;
  clip-path: inset(50%);
  white-space: nowrap;
  border: 0;
}

.sk-18__stage {
  min-height: 100vh;
  min-height: 100svh;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  padding: clamp(1.15rem,4vw,3.25rem);
}

.sk-18__wrap {
  inline-size: min(72rem,100%);
  display: grid;
  gap: clamp(1rem,2.2vw,1.6rem);
}

.sk-18__head {
  display: grid;
  gap: .6rem;
  max-inline-size: 46rem;
}

.sk-18__eyebrow {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .72rem;
  letter-spacing: .16em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--accent);
}

.sk-18__h {
  margin: 0;
  font-size: clamp(1.6rem,3.6vw,2.5rem);
  font-weight: 600;
  letter-spacing: -.032em;
  line-height: 1.06;
  text-wrap: balance;
}

.sk-18__sub {
  margin: 0;
  font-size: clamp(.94rem,1.3vw,1.02rem);
  line-height: 1.55;
  color: var(--muted);
  text-wrap: pretty;
}

.sk-18__sub code {
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .88em;
  color: var(--ink);
}

.sk-18__card {
  border: 1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius: 1.15rem;
  background: var(--surface);
  overflow: hidden;
  box-shadow: 0 30px 70px -46px rgba(0,0,0,.9);
}

.sk-18__toolbar {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 1rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  padding: clamp(.9rem,1.7vw,1.2rem) clamp(1rem,2vw,1.4rem);
  border-block-end: 1px solid var(--line);
}

.sk-18__title {
  margin: 0;
  font-size: 1.02rem;
  font-weight: 500;
  letter-spacing: -.015em;
}

.sk-18__tools {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: .8rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

.sk-18__search {
  margin: 0;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: .45rem;
  min-block-size: 2.2rem;
  padding: .4rem .8rem;
  border-radius: .55rem;
  background: var(--raise);
  border: 1px solid var(--line);
  font-size: .82rem;
  color: var(--muted);
}

.sk-18__search svg {
  inline-size: .95rem;
  block-size: .95rem;
}

.sk-18__count {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .72rem;
  color: var(--faint);
}

.sk-18__scroll {
  overflow-x: auto;
}

.sk-18__table {
  inline-size: 100%;
  min-inline-size: 34rem;
  table-layout: fixed;
  border-collapse: collapse;
}

.sk-18__c1 {
  width: 34%;
}

.sk-18__c2 {
  width: 30%;
}

.sk-18__c3 {
  width: 20%;
}

.sk-18__c4 {
  width: 16%;
}

.sk-18__table th {
  text-align: start;
  padding: .75rem clamp(.7rem,1.4vw,1.1rem);
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .68rem;
  letter-spacing: .11em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-weight: 400;
  color: var(--faint);
  border-block-end: 1px solid var(--line);
  background: var(--raise);
}

.sk-18__table td {
  padding: .9rem clamp(.7rem,1.4vw,1.1rem);
  border-block-end: 1px solid var(--line);
  vertical-align: middle;
}

.sk-18__table tbody tr:last-child td {
  border-block-end: 0;
}

.sk-18__cell {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: .75rem;
}

.sk-18__pager {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 1rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  padding: .85rem clamp(1rem,2vw,1.4rem);
  border-block-start: 1px solid var(--line);
}

.sk-18__pnote {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .72rem;
  color: var(--faint);
}

.sk-18__bar {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
  block-size: .8rem;
  inline-size: 100%;
  border-radius: 6px;
  background: var(--sk);
}

.sk-18__bar::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background: linear-gradient(100deg, transparent 18%, var(--sheen) 50%, transparent 82%);
  translate: -100% 0;
  animation: sk-18-sheen 1.4s linear infinite;
  animation-delay: calc(var(--i,0) * -.16s);
}

@keyframes sk-18-sheen {
  to {
    translate: 100% 0;
  }
}

.sk-18__bar--email {
  inline-size: 82%;
}

.sk-18__bar--role {
  inline-size: 54%;
}

.sk-18__bar--status {
  inline-size: 4.5rem;
  block-size: 1.5rem;
  border-radius: 999px;
}

.sk-18__avatar {
  inline-size: 2rem;
  block-size: auto;
  aspect-ratio: 1;
  border-radius: 999px;
  flex: none;
}

.sk-18__spec {
  padding: clamp(.85rem,1.5vw,1.1rem) clamp(1rem,1.8vw,1.3rem);
  border: 1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius: .9rem;
  background: var(--surface);
  display: grid;
  gap: .45rem;
}

.sk-18__srow {
  margin: 0;
  display: flex;
  gap: .9rem;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  font-family: var(--mono);
  font-size: .74rem;
  line-height: 1.5;
}

.sk-18__skey {
  min-inline-size: 3.4rem;
  color: var(--accent);
  letter-spacing: .08em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-size: .66rem;
  padding-block-start: .12rem;
}

.sk-18__sval {
  color: var(--muted);
  word-break: break-word;
}

.sk-18[data-theme="light"] {
  --bg: #f7f8fc;
  --bg2: #fff;
  --surface: #ffffff;
  --raise: rgba(8,10,20,.035);
  --line: rgba(8,10,20,.11);
  --ink: #080a14;
  --muted: rgba(8,10,20,.62);
  --faint: rgba(8,10,20,.44);
  --accent: #4338ca;
  background: linear-gradient(178deg,#fff 0%,#eef0f8 100%);
}

@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
  .sk-18:not([data-theme="dark"]) {
    --bg: #f7f8fc;
    --bg2: #fff;
    --surface: #ffffff;
    --raise: rgba(8,10,20,.035);
    --line: rgba(8,10,20,.11);
    --ink: #080a14;
    --muted: rgba(8,10,20,.62);
    --faint: rgba(8,10,20,.44);
    --accent: #4338ca;
    background: linear-gradient(178deg,#fff 0%,#eef0f8 100%);
  }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .sk-18__bar::after {
    animation: none;
    background: none;
  }

  .sk-18__bar {
    background: linear-gradient(105deg, var(--sk) 0%, var(--sheen) 50%, var(--sk) 100%);
  }
}

@media (forced-colors: active) {
  .sk-18__bar {
    background: GrayText;
    forced-color-adjust: none;
  }

  .sk-18__bar::after {
    animation: none;
    background: none;
  }

  .sk-18__card,
    .sk-18__spec,
    .sk-18__search {
    border-color: CanvasText;
  }
}
```

How this works

Never fake a table with divs. A pending table is still a table: the header row is real content and should paint immediately, the column widths should be final before the first cell of data lands, and screen reader users should hear the structure:

<table class="sk-18__table">
  <caption class="sk-18__vh" role="status">Loading 5 rows…</caption>
  <colgroup><col style="width:34%"><col style="width:30%">…</colgroup>
  <thead><tr><th scope="col">Name</th>…</tr></thead>
  <tbody aria-busy="true">
    <tr><td><span class="sk-18__bar" aria-hidden="true"></span></td>…</tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

table-layout: fixed is the anti-shift lever. By default a table measures its content to size columns — so the moment real names and emails arrive, every column re-negotiates its width and the whole grid jitters. Fixed layout plus a <colgroup> resolves widths from the declaration instead:

.sk-18__table{ table-layout:fixed; inline-size:100% }

Shape each cell like its column. This is what separates a real table skeleton from a grid of identical grey bars. An avatar cell gets a circle plus a short bar; an email gets a long bar; a role gets a medium one; a status gets a pill:

.sk-18__bar--email { inline-size:82% }
.sk-18__bar--role  { inline-size:54% }
.sk-18__bar--status{ inline-size:4.5rem; block-size:1.5rem; border-radius:999px }

Stagger by row. --i on each <tr> offsets that row's sheen with a negative delay, so the table appears to fill from the top without any row waiting to start animating.

Make it yours

  • Match your real column count and widths in the <colgroup>; that alone eliminates most table CLS.
  • Set the row count to your page size (10, 25, 50) but cap the rendered skeletons at what fits the viewport.
  • Add a checkbox column placeholder — a 1rem square bar — if your table supports bulk selection.
  • Right-align numeric-column bars with margin-inline-start: auto so they match the resolved alignment.
  • Keep the toolbar (search, filters, pagination) real and interactive while rows load; only the data is unknown.
  • Use the pulse from demo 12 for tables over ~20 rows — fewer layers than a sheen per cell.

Gotchas — read before shipping

  • Without table-layout: fixed, columns re-measure on resolve and the entire table shifts.
  • <div role="table"> loses free keyboard and screen reader table semantics; use the real element.
  • Do not put aria-hidden on the <tbody> — hide the bars, keep the structure.
  • One live announcement per row means five interruptions. One caption-level status region.
  • A skeleton row taller than a real row makes the table contract on load; match cell padding exactly.
  • Sticky headers plus animated rows can repaint the header on scroll — keep the sheen on pseudo-elements.

Browser support

ChromeSafariFirefoxEdge
114+17.5+121+114+

Floor set by oklch(), color-mix(), text-wrap as this demo is written. The core technique itself goes back further — Chrome Baseline.

table-layout: fixed, colgroup and aria-busy are supported in every browser. Only the color-mix() fill needs Chrome 111 / Safari 16.2 / Firefox 113, gated behind @supports with an rgba() fallback declared first.

Techniques used in this demo

aspect-ratioMDN ↗clip-pathMDN ↗text-wrap: prettyMDN ↗role="" (ARIA)MDN ↗color-mix()MDN ↗radial-gradient()MDN ↗

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