Shimmer Button
A solid button that catches a streak of light every few seconds, no hover needed. The streak is one gradient pseudo-element that slides across and then waits, so the pause reads as a glint.
Also known as: shiny button css, css button shine animation, shimmer effect button.
HTML
<button class="btn-shimmer" type="button">Upgrade to Pro</button>
CSS
.btn-shimmer {
--c: var(--btn-color, #3b82f6);
display: inline-flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
gap: 0.5em;
padding: 0.75em 1.6em;
border: 0;
border-radius: 0.6em;
font: 600 var(--btn-size, 18px)/1.1 system-ui, sans-serif;
cursor: pointer;
-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
padding: 0.85em 1.9em;
border-radius: 0.7em;
background: linear-gradient(180deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 88%, #fff), color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 80%, #000));
color: #fff;
box-shadow:
inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.35),
0 0.45em 1em -0.4em color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 85%, transparent);
transition: transform 0.15s ease;}
.btn-shimmer::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
background: linear-gradient(105deg, transparent 36%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) 44%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7) 50%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) 56%, transparent 64%);
transform: translateX(-100%);
animation: btn-shimmer-sweep 3.2s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.25, 1) infinite;
pointer-events: none;
}
.btn-shimmer:active { transform: scale(0.97); }
@keyframes btn-shimmer-sweep {
0% { transform: translateX(-100%); }
40%, 100% { transform: translateX(100%); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.btn-shimmer, .btn-shimmer *, .btn-shimmer::before, .btn-shimmer::after, .btn-shimmer *::before, .btn-shimmer *::after {
animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
}
}Customizing this snippet
- Color: set
--btn-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Base size: set
--btn-size. Every other dimension is inem, so the whole thing scales together. Currently previewing18px. - Speed: change the duration on the
transitionoranimationshorthand. 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.