How to Create a Mega Menu in Elementor?

Creating an intuitive and stylish mega menu is essential for improving user experience on websites with extensive content. If you’re new to WordPress or just started exploring Elementor, a common question arises: How to create a mega menu in Elementor? In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to create a fully responsive and functional mega menu using Elementor and optional plugins, with step-by-step instructions tailored for beginners.

Mega menus are especially useful for websites like eCommerce stores, blogs with multiple categories, educational portals, and corporate sites. They allow you to organize content visually, helping visitors find what they’re looking for without digging through layers of navigation.

Let’s explore how to do this using Elementor Pro and additional plugin tools if needed.

What Is a Mega Menu and Why You Should Use One

A mega menu is a large, expandable menu that appears when a user hovers over or clicks on a top-level navigation item. Unlike standard dropdowns that typically list a few links, mega menus can display multiple columns of links, images, icons, short descriptions, and even embedded widgets.

Mega menus make sense when your site has numerous categories and subcategories. For example, an online store might want to showcase different departments like Electronics, Fashion, Home & Kitchen, and more—each with its own subcategories in a structured, easy-to-scan layout. This format ensures a faster path to conversion and better user retention.

They also enhance your site's professional appearance and support better SEO through structured linking and improved navigation.

Why Choose Elementor to Build Mega Menus

Elementor is one of the most powerful page builders available for WordPress, offering drag-and-drop functionality and a highly visual interface. It allows users to build responsive websites without writing a single line of code.

If you're wondering why Elementor is the ideal choice for building mega menus, here’s why:

Visual Design Control: With Elementor’s live editing interface, you can create and customize mega menus visually. You see exactly what your users will see.

Custom Layout Flexibility: Elementor Pro allows you to use the Nav Menu widget within a custom-built header. You can structure your menu using sections, columns, and widgets—just like designing any other page.

Reusable Templates: You can save mega menu sections as templates and reuse them across different parts of your site, saving hours of design time.

Compatibility with Add-ons: Elementor works smoothly with add-ons like ElementsKit, JetMenu, or Max Mega Menu that extend mega menu functionality further.

If you don’t already have Elementor Pro, you can get it here: Elementor Pro.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Create a Mega Menu in Elementor

Step 1: Install and Activate Elementor Pro

Before you begin designing your mega menu, ensure that you have Elementor Pro installed and activated. The free version doesn’t include the Nav Menu widget or Theme Builder, both of which are required to build a dynamic mega menu.

After purchasing from the official Elementor Pro site, download the plugin ZIP file. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, upload the file, and activate it.

Once activated, Elementor Pro unlocks a new level of control and customization for headers, menus, and other dynamic content.

Step 2: Create a Custom Header Using Theme Builder

Now that Elementor Pro is active, navigate to Templates > Theme Builder and click “Add New.” Choose Header as the template type.

Within the Elementor editor, you’ll build your site’s custom header layout. Drag in the Nav Menu widget to start building your main navigation. You can adjust its layout to be horizontal, vertical, or dropdown, depending on your website’s design.

The Nav Menu widget also supports alignment settings, responsive controls, and styling options that let you customize typography, spacing, and hover animations.

Step 3: Design Your Mega Menu Content Using Elementor Sections

To build the actual mega menu content, you have two primary options: design it inline as part of the header or create it as a separate section and save it as a template.

The more efficient and modular approach is to create separate templates. Go to Templates > Saved Templates, click on “Add New,” select “Section,” and start designing your mega menu content.

Let’s say you’re building a menu under “Products.” You could create a layout with 3 or 4 columns. Each column might include a heading, a list of links, icons for better visual hierarchy, and an image or CTA button. You’re essentially designing a mini web page section within a menu.

Once done, save the section with a name like “Mega Menu - Products.”

Step 4: Enhance Functionality Using Optional Plugins

While Elementor Pro gives you basic mega menu control, using add-ons expands your possibilities. Here are three powerful plugins compatible with Elementor:

ElementsKit: This is a versatile Elementor add-on that includes a built-in mega menu feature. You can enable the mega menu from the WordPress menu editor and assign saved templates to menu items. It’s user-friendly and integrates directly with the Nav Menu widget.

JetMenu (by Crocoblock): JetMenu allows dynamic content and deep customization. You can assign templates, add WooCommerce products, and control visibility on various devices. It's ideal for more advanced users.

Max Mega Menu: Although not built for Elementor specifically, this plugin replaces your default WordPress menu and includes support for creating mega menus with widgets. It requires a bit more setup but works well alongside Elementor.

These plugins give you more freedom in terms of animation, interactivity, and layout control—especially useful for complex websites.

Step 5: Assign Mega Menu Templates to Navigation Items

Once your mega menu templates are ready, head over to Appearance > Menus in WordPress. Here, you’ll create your primary menu.

For the items that should trigger a mega menu, add a custom CSS class like has-mega-menu. Then, go back to your Elementor Header Template.

In Elementor, create a hidden container that includes your mega menu content. You can use a condition like display: none; and write custom CSS to show this section when the parent menu item is hovered over.

If using ElementsKit or JetMenu, the process is simpler. You can directly assign the saved Elementor section template to a menu item via a dropdown inside the WordPress menu editor.

This method ensures your mega menu only appears when needed, keeping your design clean and interactive.

Step 6: Optimize for Mobile Responsiveness

Most users today browse from mobile devices. So, while mega menus are usually desktop-oriented, it’s vital to ensure a responsive experience.

In the Elementor editor, switch to the Mobile view using responsive mode.

You may choose to hide the mega menu entirely on mobile and use a collapsible menu or accordion format. Elementor allows you to conditionally display or hide widgets for mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Ensure menu links are large enough to tap easily, columns collapse properly, and your design still makes sense without the full mega menu structure.

Responsive design isn't optional—it’s mandatory for UX, SEO, and overall site professionalism.

Conclusion

Building a mega menu in Elementor might seem complex at first, but once you understand the logic and tools, it becomes a straightforward and rewarding process. With Elementor Pro and optional plugins like ElementsKit or JetMenu, you can craft engaging, accessible, and user-friendly navigation systems tailored to your website’s structure.

A well-designed mega menu helps users find content faster, increases engagement, and improves SEO by creating better internal linking.

If you’re not using Elementor Pro yet, this is the perfect time to upgrade and unlock powerful features like Theme Builder and the Nav Menu widget that make all this possible.

FAQs

Q1. Do I need Elementor Pro to create a mega menu?
A: Yes, you need Elementor Pro to access the Theme Builder and Nav Menu widget, both essential for creating custom mega menus.

Q2. Can I create a mega menu using Elementor Free and plugins?
A: While the free version lacks essential features, you can pair it with plugins like ElementsKit or Max Mega Menu to create basic mega menus.

Q3. What’s the best plugin for mega menus in Elementor?
A: ElementsKit is user-friendly and integrates well with Elementor. JetMenu is great for dynamic content, while Max Mega Menu is better for classic WordPress sites.

Q4. How do I link a menu item to a mega menu layout?
A: Use custom CSS to reveal a hidden section on hover, or assign saved templates using compatible plugins.

Q5. Can I include widgets and media in my mega menu?
A: Yes, Elementor allows you to use any widget—including images, videos, icons, and buttons—inside your mega menu layout.

Q6. Will a mega menu slow down my site?
A: If designed properly with optimized images and lean widgets, it won’t noticeably affect performance.

Q7. Can I make my mega menu responsive on mobile?
A: Yes, but mega menus are typically hidden on mobile. Use Elementor’s responsive tools to create mobile-specific navigation.

Q8. Can I reuse the same mega menu layout across the site?
A: Yes, save your mega menu as a template and insert it wherever needed using Elementor’s Saved Templates.

Q9. How do I trigger a mega menu on hover instead of click?
A: Use CSS hover effects or plugin settings that allow hover-based mega menu reveals.

Q10. Is a mega menu good for SEO?
A: Yes, when structured correctly, mega menus improve internal linking and crawlability, which can benefit SEO.

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