Accordion Design: Best Practices, Examples, and WordPress Guide

Accordions are one of the most dynamic and versatile elements of modern website design. These collapsible sections help organize content in a way that’s clean, interactive, and mobile-friendly.

Whether you want to tidy up FAQs, product descriptions, or feature breakdowns, accordions enhance the user experience by allowing visitors to expand and access detailed information without overwhelming the page.

In this guide, we’ll not only explore the best real-world examples of accordion design but also share proven best practices and website design tips. Plus, we’ll show you how to easily create beautiful accordions in WordPress.

What Makes a Good Accordion Design?

Before diving into examples, let’s understand what separates a “good” accordion from an average one.

Clear Labels: Accordion headers should be concise and descriptive.

Smooth Animations: Gentle transitions improve the user experience without feeling harsh or abrupt.

Proper Spacing and Readability: Avoid cluttered designs; give breathing space between panels.

Intuitive Behavior: Indicators like arrows or plus/minus icons make expand/collapse actions obvious.

Mobile-First Design: Accordions should be easily clickable on small screens.

SEO-Friendly Structure: Use proper heading tags (H3, H4) inside the accordion for better search engine understanding. If you’re using accordions for FAQs, use the FAQ-Schema.

Following these guidelines ensures your accordion is functional, accessible, and visually pleasing.

When Should You Use an Accordion?

Accordions are ideal when you want to:

Simplify Complex Topics: Break large blocks of text into bite-sized, user-controlled sections.
Reduce Page Clutter: Keep designs clean by revealing additional info only when needed.
Enhance Mobile Usability: Allow users to access detailed content without endless scrolling.

They’re perfect for FAQs, service breakdowns, course content, product features, and more.

Best Accordion Examples

Here are some of the best real-world implementations of accordion design to inspire your next project:

1. Dropbox

Use: FAQs section

Dropbox uses a clean, minimal accordion format for their Frequently Asked Questions page. Simple headings and quick access make it easy for users to find exactly what they need without overwhelming them with content.

2. Apple

Use: Product information display

Apple integrates accordions into their product pages, allowing users to explore features, specs, and support topics with minimal visual clutter. Sleek transitions and bold headings make for a polished user experience.

3. Codecademy

Use: Course content breakdown

Codecademy structures its course curriculum using accordion tabs. This layout offers users an overview first, then lets them dive deeper into sections they’re most interested in, which enhances focus and usability.

4. Designmodo

Use: Navigation menu

Designmodo cleverly turned its navigation into an accordion, keeping the sidebar clean and scalable. It’s a great example of using accordions outside typical FAQ or content sections.

5. &Tea

Use: Menu presentation

&Tea presents their menu using vibrant, image-rich accordion tabs. Users can click each drink to reveal detailed descriptions and ingredients, creating a more interactive and engaging browsing experience.

Accordion Website Design Tips

When using accordions in your website design, keep these tips in mind:

Group Related Information: Make sure each accordion panel groups logically connected topics.
Keep Titles Short: Users should instantly understand what’s inside without expanding.
Use One Open Section at a Time: Prevent overwhelming users by closing others when one opens (optional but great for UX).
Add Expand/Collapse Icons: Small icons improve usability.
Focus on Mobile Experience: Ensure clickable areas are large enough for touchscreens.
Keyboard Accessibility: Allow users to navigate accordions via keyboard for better accessibility compliance.

Good accordion website design can make even complex, content-rich pages feel simple and elegant.

Designing an Accordion in WordPress

To add an accordion into your WordPress posts or pages, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install the Ultimate Blocks Plugin

Head over to your WordPress dashboard and click on Plugins > Add New. Search for ‘Ultimate Blocks’ and proceed to install and activate the plugin.

Step 2: Integrate the ‘Content Toggle’ Block

Head to the desired post or page where you want to add the accordion. Within the Block editor, click on the Plus (+) icon to add a new block, and type “Content Toggle” in the search field and once it pops up, click on it.

Step 3: Populate Content & Customize the Block

Now you’re ready to start adding in your content! To add multiple accordions, simply click the Plus (+) sign.

You can further customize the appearance of the accordions using the right-hand side options panel. You can activate the FAQ Schema via the panel too!

Conclusion

From the sleek and stylish implementations by industry giants like Apple to the innovative approaches of &Tea, the versatility of accordions in enhancing user experiences is really impressive.

By incorporating accordions into your own projects, you can organize your website content, optimize it for mobile interfaces, and provide users with intuitive navigation options. The possibilities are endless, and with a touch of creativity, you can elevate your designs to new heights for sure!

FAQs

What is an accordion in website design?

An accordion is a UI element that allows users to expand and collapse sections to reveal or hide content, keeping web pages organized and interactive.