Tumbling Dots Loader
Two dots walk by vaulting over each other in turn, each one pivoting on its partner's center, while the row drifts back so the pair stays put. Two rotate keyframes and a linear drift.
Also known as: dots flipping over each other, rolling dots loader, walking dots animation.
HTML
<div class="ldr-tumbling-dots" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span></span><span></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-tumbling-dots {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
--d: calc(var(--s) / 3.4);
--g: calc(var(--d) * 1.08);
position: relative;
width: calc(var(--s) * 1.4);
height: calc(var(--g) + var(--d));
animation: ldr-tumbling-dots-drift 1.6s linear infinite;
}
.ldr-tumbling-dots span {
position: absolute;
bottom: 0;
left: calc(50% - var(--g) * 0.8 - var(--d) / 2);
width: var(--d);
height: var(--d);
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--c);
transform-origin: calc(50% + var(--g)) 50%;
animation: ldr-tumbling-dots-first 1.6s infinite;
}
.ldr-tumbling-dots span:last-child {
left: calc(50% + var(--g) * 0.2 - var(--d) / 2);
animation-name: ldr-tumbling-dots-second;
}
@keyframes ldr-tumbling-dots-first {
0% { transform: rotate(0deg); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.55, 0, 0.3, 1); }
38%, 100% { transform: rotate(180deg); }
}
@keyframes ldr-tumbling-dots-second {
0%, 50% { transform: rotate(0deg); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.55, 0, 0.3, 1); }
88%, 100% { transform: rotate(180deg); }
}
@keyframes ldr-tumbling-dots-drift {
from { transform: translateX(0); }
to { transform: translateX(calc(var(--g) * -2)); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-tumbling-dots, .ldr-tumbling-dots *, .ldr-tumbling-dots::before, .ldr-tumbling-dots::after, .ldr-tumbling-dots *::before, .ldr-tumbling-dots *::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.