Story Ring Border: CSS Border Animation

Story Ring Border

A round avatar inside a spinning gradient ring with a clean gap, like an unwatched story. The ring is a conic layer cut by a radial mask, so the gap stays transparent on any background.

Also known as: instagram story ring css, gradient avatar border, avatar ring animation css.

your story

Color Base size 16px Dark background Hold hover state

HTML

<div class="bdr-story-ring-border">
  <span class="bdr-story-ring-border-ring"><span class="bdr-story-ring-border-photo" role="img" aria-label="Profile photo"></span></span>
  <span class="bdr-story-ring-border-name">your story</span>
</div>

CSS

.bdr-story-ring-border {
  --c: var(--bdr-color, #3b82f6);
  font-size: var(--bdr-size, 16px);
  display: inline-grid;
  justify-items: center;
  gap: 0.5em;
  font-family: system-ui, sans-serif;
}
.bdr-story-ring-border-ring {
  position: relative;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  width: 5.5em;
  height: 5.5em;
}
.bdr-story-ring-border-ring::before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  border-radius: 50%;
  background: conic-gradient(#feda75, #fa7e1e, #d62976, #962fbf, #4f5bd5, #feda75);
  -webkit-mask: radial-gradient(farthest-side, transparent calc(100% - 0.27em), #000 calc(100% - 0.25em));
  mask: radial-gradient(farthest-side, transparent calc(100% - 0.27em), #000 calc(100% - 0.25em));
  animation: bdr-story-ring-border-spin 3s linear infinite;
}
.bdr-story-ring-border-photo {
  --skin: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 18%, #fff);
  width: calc(100% - 0.85em);
  height: calc(100% - 0.85em);
  border-radius: 50%;
  background:
    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 40%, var(--skin) 0 17%, transparent 18%),
    radial-gradient(34% 30% at 50% 98%, var(--skin) 0 98%, transparent 100%),
    linear-gradient(160deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 50%, #fff), var(--c));
}
.bdr-story-ring-border-name {
  font-size: 0.85em;
  font-weight: 500;
}
@keyframes bdr-story-ring-border-spin {
  to { transform: rotate(1turn); }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .bdr-story-ring-border, .bdr-story-ring-border *, .bdr-story-ring-border::before, .bdr-story-ring-border::after, .bdr-story-ring-border *::before, .bdr-story-ring-border *::after {
    animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
  }
}

Tailwind CSS version

The same effect using Tailwind utility classes. No custom CSS or config needed.

<div class="inline-grid justify-items-center gap-2">
  <div class="relative grid h-[5.5em] w-[5.5em] place-items-center">
    <div class="absolute inset-0 animate-spin rounded-full bg-[conic-gradient(#feda75,#fa7e1e,#d62976,#962fbf,#4f5bd5,#feda75)] [animation-duration:3s] [mask:radial-gradient(farthest-side,transparent_calc(100%-4px),#000_calc(100%-3px))]"></div>
    <div class="h-[calc(100%-0.85em)] w-[calc(100%-0.85em)] rounded-full bg-gradient-to-br from-blue-300 to-blue-500" role="img" aria-label="Profile photo"></div>
  </div>
  <span class="text-sm font-medium">your story</span>
</div>

Customizing this snippet

Color: set --bdr-color on the element or a parent. Currently previewing #3b82f6.
Base size: set --bdr-size. Every other dimension is in em, so the whole thing scales together. Currently previewing 16px.
Speed: change the duration on the transition or animation shorthand. Staggered delays are relative, so they keep their rhythm.
Reduced motion: the rule at the end of the CSS turns the motion off for people who asked their OS for less of it. Keep it.

Story Ring Border

HTML

CSS

Tailwind CSS version

Customizing this snippet

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