Bootstrap 5 Accordion Example

A simple Bootstrap 5 Accordion design example with border and box shadow with added spacing between accordion items.

Final output:

This is the first item’s accordion body. It is shown by default, until the collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It’s also worth noting that just about any HTML can go within the .accordion-body, though the transition does limit overflow.

This is the second item’s accordion body. It is hidden by default, until the collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It’s also worth noting that just about any HTML can go within the .accordion-body, though the transition does limit overflow.

This is the third item’s accordion body. It is hidden by default, until the collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It’s also worth noting that just about any HTML can go within the .accordion-body, though the transition does limit overflow.

1. Start by adding the Bootstrap accordion.

<div class="accordion" id="accordionExample">
  <div class="accordion-item">
    <h2 class="accordion-header">
      <button class="accordion-button" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapseOne" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseOne">
        Accordion Item #1
      </button>
    </h2>
    <div id="collapseOne" class="accordion-collapse collapse show" data-bs-parent="#accordionExample">
      <div class="accordion-body">
        <strong>This is the first item's accordion body.</strong> It is shown by default, until the collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It's also worth noting that just about any HTML can go within the <code>.accordion-body</code>, though the transition does limit overflow.
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="accordion-item">
    <h2 class="accordion-header">
      <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapseTwo" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseTwo">
        Accordion Item #2
      </button>
    </h2>
    <div id="collapseTwo" class="accordion-collapse collapse" data-bs-parent="#accordionExample">
      <div class="accordion-body">
        <strong>This is the second item's accordion body.</strong> It is hidden by default, until the collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It's also worth noting that just about any HTML can go within the <code>.accordion-body</code>, though the transition does limit overflow.
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="accordion-item">
    <h2 class="accordion-header">
      <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapseThree" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseThree">
        Accordion Item #3
      </button>
    </h2>
    <div id="collapseThree" class="accordion-collapse collapse" data-bs-parent="#accordionExample">
      <div class="accordion-body">
        <strong>This is the third item's accordion body.</strong> It is hidden by default, until the collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It's also worth noting that just about any HTML can go within the <code>.accordion-body</code>, though the transition does limit overflow.
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2. We can use the CSS variables provided by Bootstrap to change the accordion color. Change the active button’s background and font color. Also, remove that blue border.

Refer to the Bootstrap accordion color change post for more details.

.accordion {
  --bs-accordion-active-bg: #ffffff;
  --bs-accordion-active-color: #000000;
  --bs-accordion-btn-focus-box-shadow: none;
}

Output:

3. Let’s add some spacing between the accordion items. Add a margin-top(mt-4) for accordion items and a border-radius(rounded-3) too.

<div class="accordion" id="accordionExample">
    <div class="accordion-item rounded-3">
        ...
    </div>
    <div class="accordion-item mt-4 rounded-3">
        ...
    </div>
    <div class="accordion-item mt-4 rounded-3">
        ...
    </div>
</div>

Add a border radius(rounded-3) for the accordion buttons.

<h2 class="accordion-header">
    <button class="accordion-button rounded-3" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapseOne"
        aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseOne">
        Accordion Item #1
    </button>
</h2>

For the collapsed accordion buttons, add a border.

.accordion-button.collapsed {
  border: 1px solid #d8d8d8;
}

Output:

4. Set a thicker border to highlight the open accordion item. Also, add a box shadow.

.accordion .accordion-item:has(.accordion-button:not(.collapsed)) {
  border: 2px solid #000000;
  box-shadow: 5px 5px #000000;
}

Remove the default bottom border by setting the box shadow to none when not collapsed.

.accordion-button:not(.collapsed) {
  box-shadow: none;
}

Output:

5. Add a horizontal rule right before the accordion-body.

<hr class="my-0 mx-3">

Lastly, if you haven’t disabled enabled-reduced-motion, you can add a transition for that smooth animation effect for the accordion.

.accordion-collapse {
  transition: all 0.3s;
}

Output:

Final Output Code for Bootstrap 5 Accordion Design Example:

HTML

<div class="accordion" id="accordionExample">
    <div class="accordion-item rounded-3">
        <h2 class="accordion-header">
            <button class="accordion-button rounded-3" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse"
                data-bs-target="#collapseOne" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseOne">
                Accordion Item #1
            </button>
        </h2>
        <div id="collapseOne" class="accordion-collapse collapse show" data-bs-parent="#accordionExample">
            <hr class="my-0 mx-3">
            <div class="accordion-body">
                <strong>This is the first item's accordion body.</strong> It is shown by default, until the collapse
                plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes control the
                overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can modify any of
                this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It's also worth noting that just about any
                HTML can go within the <code>.accordion-body</code>, though the transition does limit overflow.
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="accordion-item  my-4 rounded-3">
        <h2 class="accordion-header">
            <button class="accordion-button rounded-3 collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse"
                data-bs-target="#collapseTwo" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseTwo">
                Accordion Item #2
            </button>
        </h2>
        <div id="collapseTwo" class="accordion-collapse collapse" data-bs-parent="#accordionExample">
            <hr class="my-0 mx-3">
            <div class="accordion-body">
                <strong>This is the second item's accordion body.</strong> It is hidden by default, until the
                collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes
                control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can
                modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It's also worth noting that
                just about any HTML can go within the <code>.accordion-body</code>, though the transition does limit
                overflow.
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="accordion-item  my-4 rounded-3">
        <h2 class="accordion-header">
            <button class="accordion-button rounded-3 collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse"
                data-bs-target="#collapseThree" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseThree">
                Accordion Item #3
            </button>
        </h2>
        <div id="collapseThree" class="accordion-collapse collapse" data-bs-parent="#accordionExample">
            <hr class="my-0 mx-3">
            <div class="accordion-body">
                <strong>This is the third item's accordion body.</strong> It is hidden by default, until the
                collapse plugin adds the appropriate classes that we use to style each element. These classes
                control the overall appearance, as well as the showing and hiding via CSS transitions. You can
                modify any of this with custom CSS or overriding our default variables. It's also worth noting that
                just about any HTML can go within the <code>.accordion-body</code>, though the transition does limit
                overflow.
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

CSS

.accordion {
  --bs-accordion-active-bg: #ffffff;
  --bs-accordion-active-color: #000000;
  --bs-accordion-btn-focus-box-shadow: none;
}

.accordion .accordion-item:has(.accordion-button:not(.collapsed)) {
  border: 2px solid #000000;
  box-shadow: 5px 5px #000000;
}

.accordion-button.collapsed {
  border: 1px solid #d8d8d8;
}

.accordion-collapse {
  transition: all 0.3s;
}

If you have any doubts or stuck somewhere, you can reach out through Coding Yaar's Discord server.