The go-to custom radio: a native input with appearance: none, a soft ring and a dot that springs in with a little overshoot. One input and one ::before per option.
Also known as: custom radio button css, css radio button style, css radio group horizontal.
<div class="rad-custom-radio-button" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Contact method"> <label><input type="radio" name="rad-custom-radio-button" value="email" checked>Email</label> <label><input type="radio" name="rad-custom-radio-button" value="phone">Phone</label> <label><input type="radio" name="rad-custom-radio-button" value="text">Text</label> </div>
.rad-custom-radio-button {
--c: var(--rad-color, #3b82f6);
font-size: var(--rad-size, 18px);
display: inline-flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
gap: 0.6em 1.4em;
font-family: system-ui, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.2;
}
.rad-custom-radio-button label {
display: inline-flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 0.55em;
cursor: pointer;
}
.rad-custom-radio-button input {
-webkit-appearance: none;
appearance: none;
display: grid;
place-content: center;
width: 1.2em;
height: 1.2em;
margin: 0;
border: 0.12em solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 35%, transparent);
border-radius: 50%;
background: transparent;
color: inherit;
font: inherit;
cursor: pointer;
transition: border-color 0.2s ease, transform 0.15s ease;
}
.rad-custom-radio-button input::before {
content: "";
width: 0.6em;
height: 0.6em;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--c);
transform: scale(0);
transition: transform 0.35s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
}
.rad-custom-radio-button label:hover input:not(:checked) {
border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 60%, transparent);
}
.rad-custom-radio-button input:checked {
border-color: var(--c);
}
.rad-custom-radio-button input:checked::before {
transform: scale(1);
}
.rad-custom-radio-button input:active {
transform: scale(0.88);
}
.rad-custom-radio-button input:focus-visible {
outline: 0.12em solid var(--c);
outline-offset: 0.18em;
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.rad-custom-radio-button, .rad-custom-radio-button *, .rad-custom-radio-button::before, .rad-custom-radio-button::after, .rad-custom-radio-button *::before, .rad-custom-radio-button *::after {
animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
}
}The same effect using Tailwind utility classes. No custom CSS or config needed.
<div role="radiogroup" aria-label="Contact method" class="inline-flex gap-6">
<label class="inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2">
<input type="radio" name="contact" value="email" checked class="grid h-5 w-5 cursor-pointer appearance-none place-content-center rounded-full border-2 border-gray-400 transition before:h-2.5 before:w-2.5 before:scale-0 before:rounded-full before:bg-blue-500 before:transition-transform before:duration-300 before:ease-[cubic-bezier(.34,1.56,.64,1)] before:content-[''] checked:border-blue-500 checked:before:scale-100 focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-blue-500 active:scale-90">
Email
</label>
<label class="inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2">
<input type="radio" name="contact" value="phone" class="grid h-5 w-5 cursor-pointer appearance-none place-content-center rounded-full border-2 border-gray-400 transition before:h-2.5 before:w-2.5 before:scale-0 before:rounded-full before:bg-blue-500 before:transition-transform before:duration-300 before:ease-[cubic-bezier(.34,1.56,.64,1)] before:content-[''] checked:border-blue-500 checked:before:scale-100 focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-blue-500 active:scale-90">
Phone
</label>
<label class="inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2">
<input type="radio" name="contact" value="text" class="grid h-5 w-5 cursor-pointer appearance-none place-content-center rounded-full border-2 border-gray-400 transition before:h-2.5 before:w-2.5 before:scale-0 before:rounded-full before:bg-blue-500 before:transition-transform before:duration-300 before:ease-[cubic-bezier(.34,1.56,.64,1)] before:content-[''] checked:border-blue-500 checked:before:scale-100 focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-blue-500 active:scale-90">
Text
</label>
</div>--rad-color on the element or a parent.
Currently previewing #3b82f6.--rad-size. Every other dimension is in
em, so the whole thing scales together. Currently previewing 18px.transition or animation
shorthand. Staggered delays are relative, so they keep their rhythm.