Why is the [position:sticky] not working in Webflow?
TL;DR
- Set a top value for the sticky element in Webflow’s Styles panel.
- Ensure all parent elements have overflow set to visible and allow enough scrollable space for sticky behavior to activate.
- Avoid nesting sticky elements in containers with constrained height or overflow, and test in Preview or on the published site.
If position: sticky is not working in Webflow, the issue typically relates to parent element constraints, missing top value, or conflicting overflow settings. Here's how to troubleshoot and fix it.
1. Ensure You’ve Set a Top Value
position: stickyrequires a directional offset—usuallytop,left,right, orbottom.- In Webflow, if you add
position: stickybut don’t assign, for example,top: 0px, nothing will happen. - Set the
topvalue in the Styles panel after choosingStickyposition.
2. Check Parent Elements' Overflow Settings
- If any parent element has
overflow: hidden,scroll, orauto, it will cancel the sticky behavior. - Inspect every parent container up to the
<body>and look foroverflowsettings. - Set
overflowtovisiblefor all parent elements to allow sticky to work.
3. Review Nesting Within Grid or Flex Children
- Sticky elements may not behave as expected when placed inside Grid or Flex layouts, especially if the container doesn’t allow enough height for scrolling.
- In some cases, sticky can still work in Flexbox, but only if the parent does not constrain height.
4. Confirm There's Enough Scrollable Space
position: stickyonly activates when the page scrolls past the element’s position.- If your page or container does not scroll, sticky won't activate.
- Ensure that the page content is tall enough to enable vertical scrolling.
5. Sticky Doesn’t Work Inside Symbols or CMS Lists Preview
- If you're previewing a Symbol or a Collection List item, Webflow Designer may not fully replicate sticky behavior.
- Test sticky functionality in Preview mode or on the Published site to confirm.
6. Interference from Z-Index or Position Context
- If other elements have higher
z-indexvalues, sticky may appear to not work. - Assign a sufficiently high
z-indexto your sticky element to keep it visible.
Summary
To fix sticky position issues in Webflow: set a top value, ensure all parent elements have visible overflow, allow enough scrollable space, and test in Preview or Publish mode. Avoid nesting sticky elements within containers that restrict height or overflow.