List Skeleton: Pure CSS Loading Animation

List Skeleton

Three list rows, each with an avatar, a name, a subtitle and a trailing button, pulsing one after another from top to bottom. The stagger is just an animation-delay per row.

Also known as: skeleton list loader, avatar list placeholder, contact list skeleton.

Color Size 64px Dark background

HTML

<div class="ldr-skeleton-list" role="status" aria-label="Loading content">
  <div class="ldr-skeleton-list-row"><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-avatar"></span><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-text"><span></span><span></span></span><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-action"></span></div>
  <div class="ldr-skeleton-list-row"><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-avatar"></span><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-text"><span></span><span></span></span><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-action"></span></div>
  <div class="ldr-skeleton-list-row"><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-avatar"></span><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-text"><span></span><span></span></span><span class="ldr-skeleton-list-action"></span></div>
</div>

CSS

.ldr-skeleton-list {
  --s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
  --c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
  width: calc(var(--s) * 6);
}
.ldr-skeleton-list-row {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: calc(var(--s) / 4);
  padding: calc(var(--s) / 7) 0;
  animation: ldr-skeleton-list-pulse 1.8s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite;
}
.ldr-skeleton-list-row + .ldr-skeleton-list-row {
  border-top: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 12%, transparent);
}
.ldr-skeleton-list-row:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 0.2s; }
.ldr-skeleton-list-row:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 0.4s; }
.ldr-skeleton-list-avatar {
  flex: none;
  width: calc(var(--s) * 0.72);
  height: calc(var(--s) * 0.72);
  border-radius: 50%;
  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 22%, transparent);
}
.ldr-skeleton-list-text {
  flex: 1;
  display: grid;
  gap: calc(var(--s) / 7);
}
.ldr-skeleton-list-text span {
  height: calc(var(--s) / 6);
  border-radius: var(--s);
  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 22%, transparent);
}
.ldr-skeleton-list-text span:first-child { width: 52%; }
.ldr-skeleton-list-text span:last-child { width: 86%; background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 15%, transparent); }
.ldr-skeleton-list-row:nth-child(2) .ldr-skeleton-list-text span:first-child { width: 38%; }
.ldr-skeleton-list-row:nth-child(3) .ldr-skeleton-list-text span:first-child { width: 64%; }
.ldr-skeleton-list-row:nth-child(3) .ldr-skeleton-list-text span:last-child { width: 70%; }
.ldr-skeleton-list-action {
  flex: none;
  width: calc(var(--s) * 1.1);
  height: calc(var(--s) * 0.42);
  border-radius: var(--s);
  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 15%, transparent);
}
@keyframes ldr-skeleton-list-pulse {
  0%, 100% { opacity: 1; }
  50%      { opacity: 0.5; }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .ldr-skeleton-list, .ldr-skeleton-list *, .ldr-skeleton-list::before, .ldr-skeleton-list::after, .ldr-skeleton-list *::before, .ldr-skeleton-list *::after {
    animation-duration: 3s;
  }
}

Tailwind CSS version

The same loader using only Tailwind's built-in animation utilities. No custom keyframes or config needed.

<div class="w-72 divide-y divide-gray-200" role="status" aria-label="Loading content">
  <div class="flex animate-pulse items-center gap-3 py-2">
    <div class="h-8 w-8 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-gray-200"></div>
    <div class="flex-1 space-y-2"><div class="h-2 w-1/2 rounded-full bg-gray-200"></div><div class="h-2 w-5/6 rounded-full bg-gray-100"></div></div>
    <div class="h-4 w-11 rounded-full bg-gray-100"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="flex animate-pulse items-center gap-3 py-2 [animation-delay:200ms]">
    <div class="h-8 w-8 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-gray-200"></div>
    <div class="flex-1 space-y-2"><div class="h-2 w-2/5 rounded-full bg-gray-200"></div><div class="h-2 w-5/6 rounded-full bg-gray-100"></div></div>
    <div class="h-4 w-11 rounded-full bg-gray-100"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="flex animate-pulse items-center gap-3 py-2 [animation-delay:400ms]">
    <div class="h-8 w-8 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-gray-200"></div>
    <div class="flex-1 space-y-2"><div class="h-2 w-3/5 rounded-full bg-gray-200"></div><div class="h-2 w-3/4 rounded-full bg-gray-100"></div></div>
    <div class="h-4 w-11 rounded-full bg-gray-100"></div>
  </div>
</div>

Customizing this loader

Color: set --ldr-color on the element or a parent. Currently previewing #3b82f6.
Size: set --ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is derived from it. Currently previewing 64px.
Speed: change the duration on the animation shorthand. Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm.
Accessibility: the root carries role="status" and an aria-label so screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.

List Skeleton

HTML

CSS

Tailwind CSS version

Customizing this loader

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