Sticky menus have been hanging around for a long time. They’ve been a staple design feature for years, keeping navigation links stuck to the top of the screen as you scroll. The idea was simple: make it easier for people to get around a site without having to scroll all the way back up.
But as the web has evolved, so too has how we design and how users interact. Which begs the question, are sticky menus still pulling their weight?
Where sticky menus came from
Sticky (or fixed) menus really took off when long scrolling pages and single-page sites became popular 15 years ago. Back then, mobile websites were clunky, and navigation wasn’t as refined as it is today. Having a menu that stayed in view made sense, it helped users move around without frustration.
It was practical, and in some cases still is. But now, with thoughtful design, clear structure and smarter navigation patterns, sticky menus aren’t always the hero they once were.
The space they take, especially on mobile
On a desktop, a sticky menu might only take up a small amount of screen space, but on mobile, it’s a different story.
Every pixel counts, and a sticky menu can eat into that valuable real estate. When you’re trying to focus a visitor’s attention on key content, images or calls to action, a floating menu can be a constant distraction, or worse, push your content down the page and out of sight.
Modern mobile design is all about clarity and flow. You want users to focus on what matters, not have part of their view permanently blocked by a navigation bar that may not even be needed.
When sticky still makes sense
That’s not to say sticky menus don’t have a place. For large, complex sites, think e-commerce stores, news outlets or knowledge bases, keeping navigation close at hand can still make sense.
If someone’s deep within product listings or reading long articles, being able to jump quickly to another section or back to the cart adds convenience. In those cases, a sticky menu serves a real, practical purpose.
But for most sites, it’s time to let go
If your site is well structured, with clear navigation and a logical content flow, a sticky menu is often unnecessary. Good design should guide your visitor naturally, through headings, layout and calls to action, not rely on something that’s glued to the top of every page.
In many ways, sticky menus have become a bit of a design crutch. They’re often added “just in case” rather than because the site truly needs them.
A well thought out website leads the visitor where they need to go. It uses design, hierarchy and clear storytelling to do the guiding, not an ever-present menu that follows them everywhere.
A cleaner, calmer web experience
Modern web design is about focus. Cleaner layouts, generous white space, and confident content. When your site trusts its structure and its story, it doesn’t need to hold the visitor’s hand the whole time.
So maybe it’s time to let that sticky menu go. Free up the space. Let your design and your content do the guiding.
You might be thinking “hey, your sites still have a sticky menu” to which I say yes, but things are changing and change takes time.
Michael Scruse
Michael brings a rare blend of technical, web and sales expertise to every project, backed by over 30 years of experience in the IT industry.
He’s also a qualified chef, though these days his culinary skills are mostly reserved for the home kitchen. A self-confessed history buff, Michael is currently deep into researching his own family tree.