A parallax effect adds depth and movement to a website. It turns flat pixels into a layered, immersive space.
When done right, parallax scrolling transforms a site from simple pages into an engaging website design. As you scroll, the background moves at a different pace than the content. This gives every section a fresh perspective.
The result? A visually stunning site that naturally guides attention to your headings, calls to action (CTAs), and key content.
Below, you'll discover the best parallax website examples and learn how to use this effect for a smoother, more interactive browsing experience.
The parallax scrolling effect is a design technique where the foreground and background move at different speeds.
This creates an illusion of depth. As users scroll, it highlights text, images, and other elements in motion.
Parallax Scrolling Basics
At its core, parallax scrolling basics are simple:
· The background content moves at a slower pace.
· The foreground elements move faster.
This subtle trick adds layers to your design, making your site feel more dynamic.
But keep this in mind: too much motion can overwhelm users. Some visitors, especially those with vestibular disorders, may feel dizzy or disoriented.
To avoid that, follow these accessibility tips:
· Keep effects minimal – Never let animations distract from the main content.
· Use parallax sparingly: Apply it to small sections, not the whole page.
· Add a switch – Let users enable or disable parallax effects.
By balancing creativity with accessibility, you'll create an immersive website design that works for everyone.
1. Improve User Experience
Research shows animations and micro-interactions boost usability. A good parallax scrolling effect makes browsing smooth and enjoyable.
2. Reduce Bounce Rates
High bounce rates hurt SEO. Visitors leave if a site feels flat. Parallax effects keep them scrolling, which lowers bounce rates and improves rankings.
3. Increase Engagement
With parallax, your site feels like a story. You can reveal details step by step. Visitors decide how they want to engage with your content.
The result? More interaction and longer time on site.
There are two main types:
· Scrolling-based parallax effects
· Mouse-based parallax effects
Let's break them down.
Scrolling-Based Parallax Effects
1. Parallax Background Scroll
· The classic effect.
· Background shifts as users scroll.
· Perfect for one-page websites with storytelling layouts.
1. Parallax Vertical Scroll
· Creates floating layers that move at different speeds.
· Adds depth and smooth motion to long pages.
2. Parallax Horizontal Scroll
· Moves elements sideways as you scroll.
· Great for creative mock-ups or showcasing designs.
3. Parallax Transparency Effect
· Adds a fade-in or fade-out transition.
· Perfect for revealing new topics between sections.
4. Parallax Blur Effect
· Blurs elements as you scroll.
· Creates a smooth transition between visuals and text.
5. Parallax Rotate Effect
· Rotates elements for a fun, dynamic effect.
· Use it sparingly for a surprising twist in your design.
6. Parallax Scale Effect
· Zooms elements in or out.
· Works well for storytelling or dramatic transitions.
Mouse-Based Parallax Effects
Scrolling isn't the only trigger. Mouse-based parallax effects respond to cursor movement.
1. Parallax Mouse Track
· Elements follow the user's mouse.
· Can move with or against the cursor.
· In tools like Elementor, you can control speed easily.
1. Parallax 3D Tilt
· Tilt elements as the mouse moves.
· Adds a subtle 3D-like movement for a futuristic look.
Want to code it yourself? Adjust the background-position in CSS so it scrolls slower than the main content.
Don't want to code? Tools like Webflow or Elementor Pro make it simple. You can add multiple parallax effects visually with zero coding.
Here are some parallax website examples that show the power of this design technique:
1. Recap After Use
The Recap After Use project is part of the Louie Sellers portfolio. Louie is a UX designer known for creative interactions.
His portfolio site opens with a clever animation: a pen uncaps as you scroll down and closes again at the bottom. This play on words brings energy to the design.
The creative parallax website keeps the pen and cap fixed on the screen edges. Featured projects come to life with gentle parallax as you scroll. Hover over a project to see details and a slight image shift.
This gives the work a 3D-like effect. Foreground elements against a solid background stand out, drawing clicks and deeper exploration.
2. Mild Design
Source: Mild Design
The Mild Design portfolio by Emilie De Grosbois, a Montreal visual artist, is striking.
Visitors are welcomed with full-screen parallax images in a continuous scroll. Each one glides smoothly into the next.
The smooth parallax transitions make the images feel layered, as if they float on top of each other. The result is one of the most visually rich portfolio websites out there.
3. Jordan Gilroy
The Jordan Gilroy portfolio makes a bold statement. A large stylized "G" dominates the center of the homepage, boosting brand recognition instantly.
Navigation is simple with a sticky menu in the top left. The corners of the layout showcase highlights of his work, giving visitors an immediate sense of expertise.
Scrolling reveals overlapping parallax portraits of Jordan and his family. His photo in the center brings warmth and personality.
Further down, thumbnails of his work appear with scroll-triggered parallax animations. Blurred backgrounds bring foreground elements into focus. At the end, the giant "G" returns in the background with a final parallax flourish. A "Connect" call-to-action closes the experience.
4. Nolan Omura
The Nolan Omura website reflects his specialty: underwater photography. As a Hawaii photographer, Nolan uses the parallax scrolling effect to enhance his captivating images.
The homepage is divided into full-width strips. Each scroll reveals breathtaking shots of aquatic life, layered with aquatic life parallax, and reveals scrolling effects.
Small animations give the photos motion. Combined with parallax and video website elements, the design feels alive and immersive.
5. The Goonies
The Goonies website by Joseph Berry honors the classic '80s movie. It starts with a parallax view, as if you’re peeking at the Oregon coastline from the movie.
Foreground and background images move at different speeds. Enlarged visuals add depth, creating a strong parallax 3D storytelling experience. The effect is simple yet powerful, with white text standing out against dark backgrounds.
6. Chris Covert
The Chris Covert website is clean, bold, and professional.. As an aerospace engineer, Chris transforms what could be a plain resume into an interactive resume website.
At the center of the screen, shots of his printed CV and business card remain static. Behind them, the background shifts with reveal scroll parallax.
This mix makes the site dynamic while staying professional. Visitors also find a downloadable CV website feature, offering a PDF copy of his resume. Every detail feels intentional, making it one of the best examples of resume website design.
7. Ivy Chen
The Ivy Chen portfolio shows how parallax can feel like magic. As you scroll, her work appears piece by piece.
This parallax reveal website doesn't just look cool—it tells a story. Ivy works at the intersection of illustration and graphic design. Her illustration and graphic design portfolio blends both seamlessly.
The highlight? Her fashion illustration has a parallax effect. Scrolling brings sketches to life as real garments. It's a scrolling transformation website that keeps you hooked.
8. Okalpha
The Okalpha website, built by founder Grant Campbell, is fun and bold. It's a creative design agency website that makes an instant impact.
Large typography, bright colors, and parallax motion define the site—a 3D square at the top zooms in and out. At the bottom, a 2D circle reveals contact details.
These interactive shapes parallax elements sandwich the content in between. Videos, services, and team photos fill the space. The result? An Okalpha vibrant website that mixes design with emotion.
9. Industrial Jewellery
The Industrial Jewellery website, designed by Hila Rawet Karni, makes exploring products engaging and fun. This jewellery designer's website uses layered parallax scrolling to keep things dynamic.
Text and images move at different speeds, creating fresh compositions as you scroll. It feels alive—never static.
Watch the middle photo of a seated woman. It stays in place while other elements drift. Then it rolls away, opening space for the next section. That's how this small business parallax website nails modern design trends.
Every scroll feels like a new chapter. That's what makes this a dynamic parallax website.
10. Jomor Design
The Jomor Design website by Jonathan Morin is minimal yet powerful. It's a modern parallax design that keeps things simple but engaging.
Jonathan kept the highlight of his old site—the parallax scrolling portfolio. Now, big text blends into images while backgrounds shift between light, dark, and photos.
You can even switch colors with the toggle dark mode website button. It's a thoughtful touch that adds flexibility.
Bold taglines pair with fun, witty copy. Together, the parallax text and image blending effect make the site stunning without feeling overwhelming. The playful parallax style reflects Jonathan’s personality.
Want to add parallax to your site? Good news. Framer parallax scrolling is beginner-friendly. You don't need to code.
Option 1: Scroll Section (No Code)
⦁ Add a Scroll Section from the left panel.
⦁ Drag in text, images, or shapes. Stack them for depth.
⦁ Apply scroll transforms in Framer, like translate, scale, or opacity.
⦁ Hit Preview and watch layers move differently.
This creates a scroll section parallax effect in minutes.
Option 2: Background Parallax
⦁ Insert a background image or video.
⦁ Enable background parallax in Framer with the scroll effects panel.
⦁ Adjust the speed slider for depth.
⦁ Layer text or buttons above for contrast.
This makes your background move slower than the foreground—classic parallax.
Option 3: Advanced (For Developers)
Framer also supports code overrides for complete control. Perfect if you want custom animation logic.
Framer Templates with Parallax
If you want speed, try a template. Parallax templates in Framer save setup time.
⦁ Creative portfolio parallax template – Subtle layered backgrounds for designers.
⦁ Product landing page parallax template – Hero images move more slowly than text.
⦁ Ecommerce store parallax design – Product shots and lifestyle photos move independently.
These templates give you motion without effort.
