Change navbar color in Twitter Bootstrap

Question

How would I go about modifying the CSS to change the color of the navbar in Twitter Bootstrap?

Answer 1

Just add an id to the html navbar, such as:

<nav id="navbar-yellow" class="navbar navbar-default navbar-fixed-top" role="navigation">

With this id you can style the navbar color, but also the links and dropdowns

Examples applied to different types of navbars

Black

Yellow

Darkblue

Red (Cherry)

Darkgreen

Here is the CSS

/*
 * Black navbar style
 */
#navbar-black.navbar-default { /* #3C3C3C - #222222 */
    font-size: 14px;
    background-color: rgba(34, 34, 34, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(60, 60, 60, 1) 0%, rgba(34, 34, 34, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(60, 60, 60, 1) 0%, rgba(34, 34, 34, 1) 100%);
    border: 0px;
    border-radius: 0;
}
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:hover,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:focus,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:hover, 
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:focus, 
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:hover,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:focus {   
    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
    background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
}
#sidebar-black, #column-black {
    background-color: #222222;
}
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-toggle {
    border-color: #222222; 
}
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus {
    background-color: #3C3C3C;
}
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a, 
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-brand {
    color: #999999; 
}
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-toggle .icon-bar,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover .icon-bar,
#navbar-black.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus .icon-bar {
    background-color: #ffffff;
}

/*
 * Red navbar style
 */
#navbar-red.navbar-default { /* #990033 - #cc0033 */
    font-size: 14px;
    background-color: rgba(153, 0, 51, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(204, 0, 51, 1) 0%, rgba(153, 0, 51, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(204, 0, 51, 1) 0%, rgba(153, 0, 51, 1) 100%);
    border: 0px;
    border-radius: 0;
}
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:hover,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:focus,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:hover, 
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:focus, 
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:hover,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:focus { 
    color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 1);
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
}
#sidebar-red, #column-red {
    background-color: #990033;
}
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-toggle {
    border-color: #990033;
}
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus {
    background-color: #cc0033;
}
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a, 
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-brand {
    color: #999999; 
}
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-toggle .icon-bar,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover .icon-bar,
#navbar-red.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus .icon-bar {
    background-color: #ffffff;
}

/*
 * Darkblue navbar style
 */
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default { /* #003399 - #0033cc */
    font-size: 14px;
    background-color: rgba(51, 51, 153, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(51, 51, 204, 1) 0%, rgba(51, 51, 153, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(51, 51, 204, 1) 0%, rgba(51, 51, 153, 1) 100%);
    border: 0px;
    border-radius: 0;
}
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:hover,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:focus,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:hover, 
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:focus, 
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:hover,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:focus {  
    color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 1);
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
}
#sidebar-darkblue, #column-darkblue {
    background-color: #333399;
}
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-toggle {
    border-color: #333399;
}
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus {
    background-color: #3333cc;
}
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a, 
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-brand {
    color: #999999; 
}
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-toggle .icon-bar,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover .icon-bar,
#navbar-darkblue.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus .icon-bar {
    background-color: #ffffff; 
}

/*
 * Darkgreen navbar style
 */
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default { /* #006633 - #009933 */
    font-size: 14px;
    background-color: rgba(0, 102, 51, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(0, 153, 51, 1) 0%, rgba(0, 102, 51, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(0, 153, 51, 1) 0%, rgba(0, 102, 51, 1) 100%);
    border: 0px;
    border-radius: 0;
}
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:hover,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:focus,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:hover, 
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:focus, 
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:hover,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:focus {  
    color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 1);
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
}
#sidebar-darkgreen, #column-darkgreen {
    background-color: #006633;
}
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-toggle {
    border-color: #006633;
}
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus {
    background-color: #009933;
}
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a, 
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-brand {
    color: #999999; 
}
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-toggle .icon-bar,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover .icon-bar,
#navbar-darkgreen.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus .icon-bar {
    background-color: #ffffff; 
}

/*
 * Yellow navbar style
 */
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default { /* #99ff00 - #ccff00 */
    font-size: 14px;
    background-color: rgba(153, 255, 0, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(204, 255, 0, 1) 0%, rgba(153, 255, 0, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(204, 255, 0, 1) 0%, rgba(153, 255, 0, 1) 100%);
    border: 0px;
    border-radius: 0;
}
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:hover,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a:focus,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:hover, 
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a:focus, 
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:hover,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>.active>a:focus {  
    color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 1);
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
    background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
    background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 1) 100%);
}
#sidebar-yellow, #column-yellow {
    background-color: #99ff00;
}
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-toggle {
    border-color: #99ff00;
}
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus {
    background-color: #ccff00;
}
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>ul>li>a, 
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-brand {
    color: #999999; 
}
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-toggle .icon-bar,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:hover .icon-bar,
#navbar-yellow.navbar-default .navbar-toggle:focus .icon-bar {
    background-color: #ffffff; 
}

Answer 2

It can be done directly by using style=" " attribute to whichever html tag you want to override it for eg.

<nav class="navbar navbar-default" style="font-weight: bold; background-color: #569AAB;">

this overrides bootstrap's default CSS.

There is no need to define a complete set of styling or CSS separately.

Answer 3

It took me a while, but I discovered that including the following was what made it possible to change the navbar color:

.navbar{ 
    background-image: none;
}

Answer 4

Updated 2018 for Bootstrap 4

Changing the Navbar color is different (and a little easier) in Bootstrap 4. You can create a custom navbar class, and then reference it to change the navbar without impacting other Bootstrap navs..

<nav class="navbar navbar-custom">...</nav>

---

Bootstrap 4.0

The CSS required to change the Navbar is much less in Bootstrap 4...

.navbar-custom {
    background-color: #ff5500;
}
/* change the brand and text color */
.navbar-custom .navbar-brand,
.navbar-custom .navbar-text {
    color: rgba(255,255,255,.8);
}
/* change the link color */
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav .nav-link {
    color: rgba(255,255,255,.5);
}
/* change the color of active or hovered links */
.navbar-custom .nav-item.active .nav-link,
.navbar-custom .nav-item:hover .nav-link {
    color: #ffffff;
}

Bootstrap 4 Custom Navbar Demo

Changing the active/hover link background color also works with the same CSS, but you must adjust the padding if you want the bg color to fill the full height of the link...

py-0 to remove vertical padding from the entire navbar...

<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-sm navbar-custom py-0">..</nav>

/* change the link color and padding  */
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav .nav-link {
    color: rgba(255,255,255,.5);
    padding: .75rem 1rem;
}

/* change the color and background color of active links */
.navbar-custom .nav-item.active .nav-link,
.navbar-custom .nav-item:hover .nav-link {
    color: #ffffff;
    background-color: #333;
}

Bootstrap 4 Change Link and Background Color Demo

Also see: Bootstrap 4 Change Hamburger Toggler Color

---

Bootstrap 3

<nav class="navbar navbar-custom">
  <div class="navbar-header">
    <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse">...
    </button>
    <a class="navbar-brand" href="#">Title</a>
  </div>
   ...
</nav>


.navbar-custom {
    background-color:#229922;
    color:#ffffff;
    border-radius:0;
}

.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > li > a {
    color:#fff;
}

.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > .active > a {
    color: #ffffff;
    background-color:transparent;
}

.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > li > a:hover,
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > li > a:focus,
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > .active > a:hover,
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > .active > a:focus,
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav > .open >a {
    text-decoration: none;
    background-color: #33aa33;
}

.navbar-custom .navbar-brand {
    color:#eeeeee;
}
.navbar-custom .navbar-toggle {
    background-color:#eeeeee;
}
.navbar-custom .icon-bar {
    background-color:#33aa33;
}

Custom Navbar Demo on Bootply

---

If the Navbar has dropdowns, add the following to change dropdown color(s):

/* for dropdowns only */
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav .dropdown-menu  { 
  background-color: #33aa33;
}
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav .dropdown-menu>li>a  { 
  color: #fff;
}
.navbar-custom .navbar-nav .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,.navbar-custom .navbar-nav .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus  { 
  color: #33aa33;
}

Demo with Dropdown

---

Answer 5

Using Less

You could also consider to compile your own version. Try http://getbootstrap.com/customize/ (which has a apart section for the Navbars settings (Default navbar and Inverted Navbar)) or download your own copy from https://github.com/twbs/bootstrap.

You will find the navbar settings in variables.less. navbar.less is used to compile the navbar (depends on variables.less and mixins.less).

Copy the 'navbar-default section' and fill in your own color settings. Changing the variables in variables.less will be the easiest way (changing the default or inverse navbar won't be a problem because you have one navbar per page only).

You won't change all settings in most cases:

// Navbar
// -------------------------

// Basics of a navbar
@navbar-height:                    50px;
@navbar-margin-bottom:             @line-height-computed;
@navbar-default-color:             #777;
@navbar-default-bg:                #f8f8f8;
@navbar-default-border:            darken(@navbar-default-bg, 6.5%);
@navbar-border-radius:             @border-radius-base;
@navbar-padding-horizontal:        floor(@grid-gutter-width / 2);
@navbar-padding-vertical:          ((@navbar-height - @line-height-computed) / 2);

// Navbar links
@navbar-default-link-color:                #777;
@navbar-default-link-hover-color:          #333;
@navbar-default-link-hover-bg:             transparent;
@navbar-default-link-active-color:         #555;
@navbar-default-link-active-bg:            darken(@navbar-default-bg, 6.5%);
@navbar-default-link-disabled-color:       #ccc;
@navbar-default-link-disabled-bg:          transparent;

// Navbar brand label
@navbar-default-brand-color:               @navbar-default-link-color;
@navbar-default-brand-hover-color:         darken(@navbar-default-link-color, 10%);
@navbar-default-brand-hover-bg:            transparent;

// Navbar toggle
@navbar-default-toggle-hover-bg:           #ffffd;
@navbar-default-toggle-icon-bar-bg:        #ccc;
@navbar-default-toggle-border-color:       #ffffd;

You could also try http://twitterbootstrap3navbars.w3masters.nl/. This tool generates CSS code for your custom navbar. Optionally, you could also add gradient colors and borders to the navbar.

Answer 6

If it's only about changing the color of the Navbar my suggestion would be to use: Bootstrap Magic. You can change the values for different properties of the Navbar and see a preview. Download the result as a custom CSS style sheet or as a LESS variables file. You can change values with input fields and color pickers. Y