How do I make a sticky header?
Last checked 31 Aug 2026
Short answer
Ask Lovable to make the header `fixed` or `sticky` at the top with a defined z-index, and add top padding to the page content equal to the header's height so it isn't hidden underneath.
What to ask for
Make the site header sticky at the top of the viewport on scroll, on both desktop and mobile. Add appropriate top padding to the rest of the page so content isn't hidden behind it, and give it a subtle background/shadow once the user has scrolled down.
Details worth specifying
- Always visible vs. hide-on-scroll-down: a simple sticky header stays fixed always; a more advanced pattern hides on scroll-down and reappears on scroll-up. Say which you want — the simple version is usually enough.
- Background change on scroll: many sticky headers are transparent at the top of the page and gain a solid background/shadow once scrolled, to stay legible over varying hero content.
- Z-index: the header needs to sit above other fixed elements like a mobile menu overlay or cookie banner — flag this if you already have those.
Check after building
- Content directly below the header isn't clipped — this is the most common miss, since a fixed/sticky header removes it from document flow and needs compensating padding on the content below.
- It behaves correctly on mobile, including when the mobile menu (see /questions/how-do-i-make-a-mobile-menu-in-lovable) is open.
- It doesn't overlap a sticky mobile CTA if you have one — see /questions/how-do-i-make-a-sticky-mobile-cta.
What usually goes wrong
- Forgetting the top-padding compensation, so the hero heading is partially hidden behind the fixed header on load.
- Z-index conflicts making the header appear behind (or block) a modal, menu, or popup — test with every overlay open.
- A sticky header with a shadow that's too heavy looks dated; ask for something subtle if the first pass looks too strong.
Sources
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