How to Create Mega Menu in Elementor

Building a mega menu in Elementor lets you organize complex website navigation in a stylish and user-friendly way. This tutorial walks you through creating a responsive, drag-and-drop mega menu using Elementor and optionally Elementor Pro.

Getting Started with Elementor Mega Menu

Before creating your mega menu, ensure you have Elementor installed and activated. While the free version works with some third-party plugins, Elementor Pro offers more advanced menu options and control.

Steps to Create Mega Menu in Elementor

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a custom navigation layout using Elementor:

#1 Navigate the menu

1. Go to Appearance > Menus in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Create or select the main navigation menu.

#2 Choose additional menu settings

1. Enable mega menu settings using a compatible plugin like ElementsKit or WP Mega Menu (if not using Elementor Pro).
2. Assign custom content blocks to menu items.

#3 Build the layout with Elementor

1. Create new sections under Templates > Saved Templates.
2. Use Elementor to design the mega menu layout—add icons, columns, widgets, and other elements.
3. Assign these templates to specific menu items.

Making the Mega Menu Responsive

A responsive mega menu ensures seamless navigation across all devices—desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Elementor makes it easy to optimize your menu for each screen size using built-in responsive tools. Here’s how to fine-tune it for the best experience:

Customize spacing for different devices

• Open your mega menu section in the Elementor editor.
• Click on the menu column or widget, then go to the Advanced tab.
• Click the Responsive icon next to the Padding and Margin controls.
• Set custom spacing values for Tablet and Mobile views to prevent overlapping or excessive whitespace.

Preview and switch views using Responsive Mode

• In the bottom-left corner of the Elementor panel, click the Responsive Mode icon (screen symbol).
• Toggle between Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile views to preview how the mega menu behaves.
• Make design changes that apply only to the selected view without affecting other breakpoints.

Rearrange or stack content for mobile friendliness

• If your mega menu includes columns, consider stacking them vertically for smaller screens.
• Select the column container, go to Layout > Direction, and choose Vertical for Mobile.
• Reduce the number of items shown or switch to toggle/dropdown-style menus if needed for a cleaner mobile layout.

Additional tips for better mobile usability

• Use a smaller font size and icon-based navigation to save space.
• Enable touch-friendly elements with ample padding for easier tapping.
• Hide complex submenu structures on mobile if they overwhelm the screen.

Advanced Menu Customization Tips

Take your mega menu further with these Elementor navigation design tips:

Use icons and images. Add visual interest by placing icons next to category links.

Add widgets. Insert Elementor widgets like forms, sliders, or blog posts into your menu blocks.

Use hover animations. Enhance interactivity with smooth hover effects or transitions.

Keep it clean. Avoid overloading the mega menu—balance visuals and usability.

Plugins That Help Build a Mega Menu

If you don't have Elementor Pro, several plugins can enable mega menu functionality:

Troubleshooting Common Mega Menu Issues

While creating a mega menu with Elementor, you might encounter display or layout problems, especially when working across different themes or screen sizes. Below are some common issues and practical ways to resolve them:

• Menu not displaying: Verify that your mega menu is correctly assigned under Appearance > Menus > Manage Locations. If you're using a custom header built with Elementor, make sure the Nav Menu widget is linked to the right menu. Also, double-check that your mega menu content is saved and published within the assigned template.
• Broken layout or alignment issues: Misaligned columns or overflowing content can be caused by inconsistent padding and margin values. Use the Elementor editor’s Layout and Advanced tabs to reset or adjust spacing. Ensure your mega menu section uses the Full Width layout and the container or section has no max-width restrictions.
• Not working on mobile: On smaller screens, your mega menu may appear cramped or elements might overlap. Use Responsive Mode to preview and manually rearrange, hide, or stack elements vertically for mobile. You can also use the Element Visibility settings to hide overly complex parts of the menu from mobile devices entirely.
• Hover effects not triggering: Check if another plugin or theme script is conflicting with Elementor's hover interactions. Try disabling other plugins temporarily to identify conflicts, and ensure the mega menu section is set to display on hover in the widget settings or via custom CSS if applicable.
• Slow performance or lag: If your menu feels sluggish, especially on mobile, reduce the number of widgets inside the mega menu and avoid embedding large media (like videos or carousels). Also, enable Elementor’s built-in performance settings under Elementor > Settings > Experiments to optimize loading.

Useful Links

How to Build a Mega Menu on Your WordPress Website – Elementor’s official guide showing how to set up, design, and display a mega menu using its native tools or JetMenu widget for full header integration.

WP Mega Menu Plugin on WordPress.org – Official plugin page and support info for enabling mega menus with widgets, icons, tabs and basic styling.

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Conclusion

Now you know how to create mega menu in Elementor—from planning your layout to adding responsive styles and custom widgets. Whether you use Elementor Pro or third-party plugins, following this guide helps you build a clean and functional mega menu that improves navigation and enhances your website’s overall design.