Custom CSS checkbox styling technique - recreating modern designs

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1

I’m trying to figure out how to create custom styled checkboxes using pure CSS. I’ve seen some really nice designs on various websites where the default checkbox is completely replaced with a custom colored version that looks much more polished than the browser default.

I know the basic approach involves hiding the original checkbox element, but I’m struggling with the implementation details. How do you create the visual replacement that actually responds to clicks and maintains the checkbox functionality?

I’m particularly interested in creating a green colored checkbox similar to what you might see on modern web applications. Can someone walk me through the CSS technique for achieving this kind of custom styling while keeping it accessible and functional?

2

I use the ::before pseudo-element on the label and set opacity: 0 on the actual input. Position the label relatively, then create your custom checkbox with ::before using the right dimensions and background colors. When checked, target it with input:checked + label::before to change the styling. For the green checkmark, I either make a CSS tick with border properties or use a unicode checkmark character. Make sure the label wraps the input so clicks work properly. I’ve used this in tons of projects - it keeps full keyboard accessibility since the input handles all interactions while staying invisible.

3

Here’s how I handle custom checkbox styling while keeping everything accessible. I move the actual checkbox offscreen with position: absolute and left: -9999px - don’t use opacity or display none since some screen readers have issues with those. Then I style the label with position: relative and use ::after to build the custom look. For green styling, I set the background color on the unchecked state, then use input:checked + label::after for the checked version with darker green and a white checkmark. You can make the checkmark with CSS transforms on borders or just use content: '✓'. This keeps focus states and keyboard navigation working perfectly while letting you customize however you want.