28 CSS Hamburger Menus19 / 28

Pure CSSMIT licensed

Simple 3-Line CSS Hamburger Icon Hover Effect

Five hover treatments for the resting burger — the micro-interaction users see a hundred times before they ever click: Slide-through (lines exit right and re-enter from the left through an overflow mask), Stretch (the short middle line extends to full width), Wave (staggered dip), Spread (lines breathe apart), and Tilt (the icon cocks 90° with overshoot). All pure CSS, all firing on :focus-visible too, each labeled with its one-line recipe.

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The code

<section class="chm-19" aria-label="Hamburger icon hover effects demo">
  <div class="chm-19__stage">
    <header class="chm-19__head"><h2>Hover states</h2><span>hover or Tab through — resting-state micro-interactions</span></header>
    <div class="chm-19__grid">
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__slide" type="button" aria-label="Slide-through hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Slide-through</b><code>mask + ::after twin</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__stretch" type="button" aria-label="Stretch hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Stretch</b><code>middle 60% → 100%</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__wave" type="button" aria-label="Wave hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Wave</b><code>staggered dip + bounce</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__spread" type="button" aria-label="Spread hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Spread</b><code>outer lines ±3px</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__tilt" type="button" aria-label="Tilt hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Tilt</b><code>rotate 90° overshoot</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
.chm-19,
.chm-19 *,
.chm-19 *::before,
.chm-19 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.chm-19 {
  background: var(--bg);
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100vh;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  --bg: oklch(0.965 0.005 250);
  --card: oklch(1 0 0);
  --edge: oklch(0.89 0.008 250);
  --ink: oklch(0.24 0.015 255);
  --mut: oklch(0.54 0.012 255);
  --acc: oklch(0.6 0.17 20);
  font-family: 'Segoe UI',system-ui,sans-serif;
  color: var(--ink);
}

.chm-19__stage {
  border-radius: 20px;
  padding: 24px;
  background: var(--bg);
  border: 1px solid var(--edge);
}

.chm-19__head {
  display: flex;
  align-items: baseline;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 12px;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

.chm-19__head h2 {
  font-size: 16px;
  letter-spacing: -.01em;
}

.chm-19__head span {
  font-size: 11.5px;
  color: var(--mut);
}

.chm-19__grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(118px,100%),1fr));
  gap: 13px;
}

.chm-19__cell {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 11px;
}

.chm-19__cell figcaption {
  display: grid;
  justify-items: center;
  gap: 4px;
  text-align: center;
}

.chm-19__cell b {
  font-size: 12.5px;
}

.chm-19__cell code {
  font: 10px ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
  color: var(--mut);
}

.chm-19__btn {
  width: 100%;
  aspect-ratio: 1.15;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  border: 1px solid var(--edge);
  border-radius: 15px;
  background: var(--card);
  color: var(--ink);
  cursor: pointer;
  overflow: hidden;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 24px -20px oklch(0.3 0.03 255/.7);
  transition: border-color .25s,translate .2s;
}

.chm-19__btn:hover {
  border-color: color-mix(in oklch,var(--acc) 45%,var(--edge));
  translate: 0 -2px;
}

.chm-19__btn:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--acc);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

.chm-19__btn>span {
  position: relative;
  width: 28px;
  height: 20px;
  display: block;
}

.chm-19__btn i {
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  width: 28px;
  height: 2.5px;
  border-radius: 2px;
  background: currentColor;
}

.chm-19__btn i:nth-child(1) {
  top: 0;
}

.chm-19__btn i:nth-child(2) {
  top: 8.75px;
}

.chm-19__btn i:nth-child(3) {
  top: 17.5px;
}

.chm-19__slide>span {
  overflow: hidden;
  width: 28px;
}

.chm-19__slide i {
  transition: translate .35s cubic-bezier(.65,0,.35,1);
}

.chm-19__slide i::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  translate: -34px 0;
  border-radius: inherit;
  background: inherit;
}

.chm-19__slide i:nth-child(2) {
  transition-delay: .045s;
}

.chm-19__slide i:nth-child(3) {
  transition-delay: .09s;
}

.chm-19__slide:hover i,
.chm-19__slide:focus-visible i {
  translate: 34px 0;
}

.chm-19__stretch i {
  transition: width .3s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1);
}

.chm-19__stretch i:nth-child(2) {
  width: 17px;
}

.chm-19__stretch:hover i:nth-child(2),
.chm-19__stretch:focus-visible i:nth-child(2) {
  width: 28px;
}

.chm-19__wave i {
  transition: translate .3s cubic-bezier(.3,1.6,.4,1);
}

.chm-19__wave i:nth-child(2) {
  transition-delay: .05s;
}

.chm-19__wave i:nth-child(3) {
  transition-delay: .1s;
}

.chm-19__wave:hover i,
.chm-19__wave:focus-visible i {
  translate: 0 3px;
}

.chm-19__spread i {
  transition: translate .3s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1);
}

.chm-19__spread:hover i:nth-child(1),
.chm-19__spread:focus-visible i:nth-child(1) {
  translate: 0 -3px;
}

.chm-19__spread:hover i:nth-child(3),
.chm-19__spread:focus-visible i:nth-child(3) {
  translate: 0 3px;
}

.chm-19__tilt>span {
  transition: rotate .45s cubic-bezier(.3,1.5,.4,1);
}

.chm-19__tilt:hover>span,
.chm-19__tilt:focus-visible>span {
  rotate: 90deg;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .chm-19 * {
    transition-duration: .01s !important;
    transition-delay: 0s !important;
  }
}
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 Hamburger Menu 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: Simple 3-Line CSS Hamburger Icon Hover Effect
Source: https://codefronts.com/navigation/css-hamburger-menus/minimalist-3-line-css-menu-icon-with-hover-effects/

Five hover treatments for the resting burger — the micro-interaction users see a hundred times before they ever click: Slide-through (lines exit right and re-enter from the left through an overflow mask), Stretch (the short middle line extends to full width), Wave (staggered dip), Spread (lines breathe apart), and Tilt (the icon cocks 90° with overshoot). All pure CSS, all firing on :focus-visible too, each labeled with its one-line recipe.
## HTML
```html
<section class="chm-19" aria-label="Hamburger icon hover effects demo">
  <div class="chm-19__stage">
    <header class="chm-19__head"><h2>Hover states</h2><span>hover or Tab through — resting-state micro-interactions</span></header>
    <div class="chm-19__grid">
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__slide" type="button" aria-label="Slide-through hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Slide-through</b><code>mask + ::after twin</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__stretch" type="button" aria-label="Stretch hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Stretch</b><code>middle 60% → 100%</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__wave" type="button" aria-label="Wave hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Wave</b><code>staggered dip + bounce</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__spread" type="button" aria-label="Spread hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Spread</b><code>outer lines ±3px</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
      <figure class="chm-19__cell">
        <button class="chm-19__btn chm-19__tilt" type="button" aria-label="Tilt hover demo"><span aria-hidden="true"><i></i><i></i><i></i></span></button>
        <figcaption><b>Tilt</b><code>rotate 90° overshoot</code></figcaption>
      </figure>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
```
## CSS
```css
.chm-19,
.chm-19 *,
.chm-19 *::before,
.chm-19 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.chm-19 {
  background: var(--bg);
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100vh;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  --bg: oklch(0.965 0.005 250);
  --card: oklch(1 0 0);
  --edge: oklch(0.89 0.008 250);
  --ink: oklch(0.24 0.015 255);
  --mut: oklch(0.54 0.012 255);
  --acc: oklch(0.6 0.17 20);
  font-family: 'Segoe UI',system-ui,sans-serif;
  color: var(--ink);
}

.chm-19__stage {
  border-radius: 20px;
  padding: 24px;
  background: var(--bg);
  border: 1px solid var(--edge);
}

.chm-19__head {
  display: flex;
  align-items: baseline;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 12px;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

.chm-19__head h2 {
  font-size: 16px;
  letter-spacing: -.01em;
}

.chm-19__head span {
  font-size: 11.5px;
  color: var(--mut);
}

.chm-19__grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(118px,100%),1fr));
  gap: 13px;
}

.chm-19__cell {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 11px;
}

.chm-19__cell figcaption {
  display: grid;
  justify-items: center;
  gap: 4px;
  text-align: center;
}

.chm-19__cell b {
  font-size: 12.5px;
}

.chm-19__cell code {
  font: 10px ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
  color: var(--mut);
}

.chm-19__btn {
  width: 100%;
  aspect-ratio: 1.15;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  border: 1px solid var(--edge);
  border-radius: 15px;
  background: var(--card);
  color: var(--ink);
  cursor: pointer;
  overflow: hidden;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 24px -20px oklch(0.3 0.03 255/.7);
  transition: border-color .25s,translate .2s;
}

.chm-19__btn:hover {
  border-color: color-mix(in oklch,var(--acc) 45%,var(--edge));
  translate: 0 -2px;
}

.chm-19__btn:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--acc);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

.chm-19__btn>span {
  position: relative;
  width: 28px;
  height: 20px;
  display: block;
}

.chm-19__btn i {
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  width: 28px;
  height: 2.5px;
  border-radius: 2px;
  background: currentColor;
}

.chm-19__btn i:nth-child(1) {
  top: 0;
}

.chm-19__btn i:nth-child(2) {
  top: 8.75px;
}

.chm-19__btn i:nth-child(3) {
  top: 17.5px;
}

.chm-19__slide>span {
  overflow: hidden;
  width: 28px;
}

.chm-19__slide i {
  transition: translate .35s cubic-bezier(.65,0,.35,1);
}

.chm-19__slide i::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  translate: -34px 0;
  border-radius: inherit;
  background: inherit;
}

.chm-19__slide i:nth-child(2) {
  transition-delay: .045s;
}

.chm-19__slide i:nth-child(3) {
  transition-delay: .09s;
}

.chm-19__slide:hover i,
.chm-19__slide:focus-visible i {
  translate: 34px 0;
}

.chm-19__stretch i {
  transition: width .3s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1);
}

.chm-19__stretch i:nth-child(2) {
  width: 17px;
}

.chm-19__stretch:hover i:nth-child(2),
.chm-19__stretch:focus-visible i:nth-child(2) {
  width: 28px;
}

.chm-19__wave i {
  transition: translate .3s cubic-bezier(.3,1.6,.4,1);
}

.chm-19__wave i:nth-child(2) {
  transition-delay: .05s;
}

.chm-19__wave i:nth-child(3) {
  transition-delay: .1s;
}

.chm-19__wave:hover i,
.chm-19__wave:focus-visible i {
  translate: 0 3px;
}

.chm-19__spread i {
  transition: translate .3s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1);
}

.chm-19__spread:hover i:nth-child(1),
.chm-19__spread:focus-visible i:nth-child(1) {
  translate: 0 -3px;
}

.chm-19__spread:hover i:nth-child(3),
.chm-19__spread:focus-visible i:nth-child(3) {
  translate: 0 3px;
}

.chm-19__tilt>span {
  transition: rotate .45s cubic-bezier(.3,1.5,.4,1);
}

.chm-19__tilt:hover>span,
.chm-19__tilt:focus-visible>span {
  rotate: 90deg;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .chm-19 * {
    transition-duration: .01s !important;
    transition-delay: 0s !important;
  }
}
```

How this works

The showpiece is Slide-through, the effect from every award-site header. Each line is doubled — the visible bar plus a twin parked one icon-width to the left — inside an overflow mask; hover slides the pair one full width right, so the bar appears to leave and immediately re-arrive:

.btn{ overflow:hidden; }                    /* the mask       */
.line{ position:relative; }
.line::after{ content:""; position:absolute;
  inset:0; translate:-28px 0; background:inherit; }  /* the twin */
.btn:hover .line,
.btn:focus-visible .line{ translate:28px 0; }
.line:nth-child(2){ transition-delay:.045s; }
.line:nth-child(3){ transition-delay:.09s; }

Because bar and twin move as one element (the twin is its ::after), there's exactly one transition to time; the 45ms cascade turns a gimmick into choreography. Wave is three translate:0 3px dips with the same stagger and an overshoot bezier so lines bounce back past their rest position. Stretch preloads meaning: the middle line sits at 60% width and grows to 100% — 'there's more here.' Spread animates only the outer lines (±3px apart), the lowest-key tell that the element is live. Tilt rotates the whole icon 90° with cubic-bezier(.3,1.5,.4,1) — the overshoot IS the personality, and it costs one property.

Every effect is transform/opacity-only, every one fires on :focus-visible alongside :hover (keyboard users get the same feedback), and every one collapses to nothing under reduced motion. Hover effects are free UX on desktop and silently absent on touch — exactly the right degradation because hover is never the only affordance here; these are resting states of a button that still clicks.

Make it yours

  • All five share the geometry tokens (28px bar, 8px gap) — restyle once, every variant follows.
  • Slide-through direction: negate the two translates for right-to-left; vertical slide-through (down/up) works by masking height instead of width.
  • Stagger tempo: 45ms between lines is the sweet spot; over 80ms reads as broken, 0 reads as one blob.
  • These are RESTING states — pair any of them with a demo-03 morph for the open state; the two state machines (hover vs aria-expanded) never conflict.

Gotchas — read before shipping

  • The twin must be ::after on the LINE, not a second element in the mask — separate elements need separate transitions and drift out of sync under load.
  • background:inherit on the twin only works if the line carries a background (not a gradient on the button) — gradients don't inherit per-pixel; give lines solid currentColor.
  • overflow:hidden on the button clips focus outlines in some engines — use outline-offset (positive) so the ring sits outside the clip, as here.
  • Remember :focus-visible on every hover rule — a hover-only micro-interaction is a silent accessibility gap, invisible in audits but felt by keyboard users.

Browser support

ChromeSafariFirefoxEdge
111+16.4+113+111+

Transitions and pseudo-element twins run in anything from the last decade; :focus-visible is Baseline since 2022. Floor is the oklch() palette only.

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