3D Pyramid Loader
A four-sided pyramid turning slowly in 3D, each face a clip-path triangle tilted on its base edge. Opaque faces in stepped shades of the accent, so it reads as solid without any lighting math.
Also known as: rotating pyramid, css 3d pyramid, spinning pyramid loader.
HTML
<div class="ldr-pyramid-3d" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <div><span style="--i: 0"></span><span style="--i: 1"></span><span style="--i: 2"></span><span style="--i: 3"></span></div> </div>
CSS
.ldr-pyramid-3d {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
--b: calc(var(--s) * 0.74);
position: relative;
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
perspective: calc(var(--s) * 5);
}
.ldr-pyramid-3d > div {
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
transform-style: preserve-3d;
animation: ldr-pyramid-3d-turn 3.2s linear infinite;
}
.ldr-pyramid-3d span {
position: absolute;
left: calc(50% - var(--b) / 2);
bottom: calc(var(--s) * 0.19);
width: var(--b);
height: var(--b);
background: var(--c);
clip-path: polygon(50% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
backface-visibility: hidden;
transform-origin: 50% 100%;
transform: rotateY(calc(var(--i) * 90deg)) translateZ(calc(var(--b) / 2)) rotateX(30deg);
}
.ldr-pyramid-3d span:nth-child(2) { background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 70%, #000); }
.ldr-pyramid-3d span:nth-child(3) { background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 50%, #000); }
.ldr-pyramid-3d span:nth-child(4) { background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 65%, #fff); }
@keyframes ldr-pyramid-3d-turn {
from { transform: rotateX(-16deg) rotateY(0deg); }
to { transform: rotateX(-16deg) rotateY(360deg); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-pyramid-3d, .ldr-pyramid-3d *, .ldr-pyramid-3d::before, .ldr-pyramid-3d::after, .ldr-pyramid-3d *::before, .ldr-pyramid-3d *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}Customizing this loader
- Color: set
--ldr-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Size: set
--ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is derived from it. Currently previewing64px. - Speed: change the duration on the
animationshorthand. Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm. - Accessibility: the root carries
role="status"and anaria-labelso screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.