How to Build a Custom "Mega Menu" in Shopify (No Apps, Pure Liquid)

By Valkyrie Built | Updated: January 20, 2026

If you have more than 3 collections, a standard dropdown list isn't enough.

You need a Mega Menu—a full-width dropdown that shows sub-categories, featured images, and "Shop All" buttons all at once. It is the navigation standard for large retailers like Sephora or Nike.

Most Shopify merchants think they need a $15/month app like "Buddha Mega Menu" or "Meteor." You don't. These apps inject massive JavaScript files that slow down your initial page load.

In this guide, we will build a native Mega Menu using Shopify's standard "Nested Menu" system and a little bit of CSS Grid.

Step 1: Set Up the Data (Navigation)

First, structure your menu in the Admin. You don't need code for this.

1. Go to Online Store > Navigation > Main Menu.
2. Create your Top Level Item (e.g., "Shop").
3. Drag items under it to create Level 2 (e.g., "Men", "Women").
4. Drag items under those to create Level 3 (e.g., "T-Shirts", "Shoes").

This "3-Level Deep" structure is what triggers the Mega Menu logic in most themes.

Step 2: The Liquid Loop

We need to tell the theme: "If a menu item has grandchildren (Level 3), display it as a full-width grid instead of a list."

Open header.liquid or your specific menu snippet. Find the loop where it renders the submenu.

  {% for childlink in link.links %}
    

      {{ childlink.title }}
      
      {% if childlink.links != blank %}
        

          {% for grandchild in childlink.links %}
            
{{ grandchild.title }}
          {% endfor %}
        
      {% endif %}
    
  {% endfor %}
  
  

    
    
Shop New Arrivals
  

Step 3: The CSS Grid

Now we style it. The key here is position: fixed or absolute to span the full width of the screen.

/* The Wrapper (Hidden by default) */
.mega-menu-container {
  display: none; /* Hide until hover */
  position: absolute;
  top: 100%;
  left: 0;
  width: 100vw; /* Full Viewport Width */
  background: white;
  padding: 40px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr) 300px; /* 4 Columns + Image */
  gap: 30px;
  border-top: 1px solid #eee;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
  z-index: 999;
}

/* Show on Hover */
.header__menu-item:hover .mega-menu-container {
  display: grid;
}

.mega-menu-heading {
  font-weight: bold;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  margin-bottom: 15px;
  display: block;
}

.mega-menu-list li {
  margin-bottom: 8px;
}

Step 4: The Featured Image Trick

Notice the image block in the HTML? Standard Shopify menus don't have a slot for "Images."

To make this editable without code, we usually link it to a Metafield on the Collection object, or use a "Block" setting in the Header Section schema.

This allows you to change the "Promo Image" inside the menu every time you have a sale, without calling a developer.

Summary

Your navigation is the map to your store. A standard dropdown is a list of directions. A Mega Menu is a GPS with pictures.

Need a complex menu structure? We can organize your catalog.