How to Create a Header in Elementor

Designing a compelling website header in Elementor is key to improving navigation and user experience. Whether you're using the free version or Elementor Pro, this tutorial will guide you through creating and customizing a header that stands out.

Understanding Header Options in Elementor

Before you start designing, it's helpful to understand the difference between header options available in the free and Pro versions of Elementor.

How to Create a Header in Elementor (Free Version)

If you don’t have Elementor Pro, you can still build a basic header using Elementor and your WordPress theme’s header area.

Steps for free users

1. Go to Appearance > Customize in WordPress.
2. Select Header or Site Identity depending on your theme.
3. Enable a logo or menu if supported by the theme.
4. Create a new section in Elementor and use a shortcode or widget to simulate the header.
5. Use the Elementor Canvas or Full Width page layout for placement.

Creating a Custom Header in Elementor Pro

With Elementor Pro, you can design a truly custom and dynamic header using the Theme Builder.

Use Elementor Header Builder

1. Go to Templates > Theme Builder in the WordPress dashboard.
2. Click Header > Add New.
3. Choose a pre-built template or start from scratch.
4. Add a Site Logo and Nav Menu widget.
5. Customize styles, padding, and responsiveness.
6. Set display conditions (e.g., Entire Website).

Advanced Header Features (Sticky, Transparent, Responsive)

Elementor gives you control over advanced header features to enhance usability and design.

• Create Sticky Header in Elementor: Enable Motion Effects > Sticky > Top for the header section.
• Create Transparent Header in Elementor: Remove background color and add top margin to page content.
• Responsive Header Design: Adjust spacing, font size, and layout for tablets and mobile using responsive mode.

Using Elementor Header Templates

Elementor Pro includes a library of professionally designed header templates that allow you to build visually appealing and functional headers without starting from scratch. These templates are fully customizable and help ensure consistency across your website.

How to use header templates

1. Go to Theme Builder and click Header > Add New: From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Templates > Theme Builder. Select "Header" and then click “Add New” to create a new header template. You can give it a name for easier organization.
2. Browse available templates in the library: A popup will appear showing Elementor’s library of pre-designed header templates. You can filter by style or use the search bar to find minimal, classic, or modern header designs that fit your brand.
3. Insert a template and customize colors, logo, and menu: Click “Insert” on the template you like. Once loaded into the editor, you can replace the default logo with your own, update the menu using the Nav Menu widget, and adjust colors, fonts, spacing, and other style elements to align with your brand identity.
4. Publish and set display conditions: Click the green “Publish” button. Elementor will prompt you to set display conditions—these determine where the header appears (e.g., across the entire site, only on the homepage, or specific categories). This gives you flexibility to show different headers in different parts of your website if needed.

Extra Tips to Customize Website Header with Elementor

Add logo and menu: Always use the Site Logo and Nav Menu widgets for best theme compatibility. This ensures your header stays dynamic and updates automatically if the logo or menu structure changes.

Use global settings: Maintain consistency using Elementor's Global Fonts and Global Colors. This helps match your header style with the rest of the website and makes future updates more efficient.

Optimize for speed: Avoid heavy animations or oversized images in headers to improve load times. Stick with SVGs or compressed images and keep effects minimal for best performance.

Make it sticky: Consider enabling the Sticky Header option in the Motion Effects panel. A sticky header keeps navigation accessible as users scroll, improving usability on long pages.

Control visibility by device: Use the Responsive settings in the Advanced tab to show or hide header elements on desktop, tablet, or mobile. This is useful for simplifying navigation on smaller screens or showing mobile-specific icons.

Useful Links

How to Create a WordPress Header Using Elementor Theme Builder – Official Elementor Academy guide showing how to build a header template from scratch or using pre-made blocks.

Elementor Theme Builder Overview – Learn how Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder lets you manage headers, footers, global templates, and display conditions.

Elementor Theme Locations (for Developers) – Technical documentation explaining how Elementor Pro 2.0+ handles global header/footer locations.

How To Create A Shrinking Sticky Header With Elementor – Official tutorial on creating dynamic sticky headers with shrinking effect.

Header & Footer Builder with Elementor Pro – Explains why Elementor Pro removes the need to edit header.php or switch themes and simplifies header/footer design.

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Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to create a header in Elementor, whether you're using the free version or Elementor Pro. From basic layouts to advanced sticky and transparent designs, Elementor gives you the flexibility to build headers that reflect your brand and improve user navigation. Start with simple elements and explore Pro features as your needs grow.