Should the Menu Stick Around?

Context

A common navigation question in UX is whether a website’s main menu should remain visible while users scroll.

A “sticky menu” keeps the navigation accessible at all times, even as users move down the page. Back in 2012, Smashing Magazine published an article titled A Sticky Menu Is Quicker to Navigate, which cited findings such as sticky menus being 22% quicker to navigate and being preferred by 100% of study participants.

Fast forward to 2026, and the discussion is still ongoing. Some designers and organizations prefer always-visible navigation, while others prefer a cleaner experience with the menu hidden until needed.

Results: Should the Menu Stick Around?

Rather than relying solely on industry articles and best practices, we asked users for their opinion. Here’s what they told us.

Desktop Results

A: 31 preferred an always-visible (“sticky”) navigation. 🏆
Example: In the spirit of the World Cup, visit FIFA.

B: 27 preferred navigation that hides while scrolling down and reappears when scrolling up.
Example: In the spirit of summer, visit Ben & Jerry’s.

C: 6 preferred navigation that remains hidden until returning to the top of the page.
Example: In the spirit of baseball season, visit Major League Baseball (MLB).

Mobile Results

A: 20 preferred an always-visible (“sticky”) navigation.
Example: In the spirit of the World Cup, visit FIFA.

B: 31 preferred navigation that hides while scrolling down and reappears when scrolling up. 🏆
Example: In the spirit of summer, visit Ben & Jerry’s.

C: 8 preferred navigation that remains hidden until returning to the top of the page.
Example: In the spirit of baseball season, visit Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Conclusion

The poll results indicate that users prefer navigation that is available when needed without permanently taking up screen real estate. While desktop users were almost evenly divided between an always-visible menu and a hide-on-scroll approach, mobile users showed a clearer preference for hiding the navigation while scrolling down and revealing it again when scrolling up.

For most websites, Option B provides the best balance between maximizing content visibility and maintaining convenient access to navigation, making it a strong default recommendation. However, rather than adopting a single navigation behavior across all devices, recommend considering tailoring the experience for each:

• Desktop: Use Option A, with an always-visible sticky navigation for immediate access and minimal impact on screen space.
• Mobile: Use Option B, allowing the navigation to hide while scrolling down and reappear when scrolling up to maximize content visibility without sacrificing usability.

This approach aligns with the preferences expressed in the survey and takes advantage of the strengths of each device. It also reflects the broader UX goal that responsive design should adapt both the layout and interactions to match how people use different devices.