Why sliders hurt websites

Website sliders, also referred to as carousels, display rotating content—such as images, promotions, or video—in a fixed space on a webpage. They are often used to highlight multiple messages or features and can transition manually or automatically between slides.

Despite their visual appeal, sliders typically reduce overall site effectiveness. They introduce usability issues, increase page load times, and negatively impact SEO and accessibility. This section outlines the key reasons why sliders are often counterproductive in modern web design.

User experience

Website sliders often create a poor user experience. Automated transitions can move too quickly, making it difficult for users to absorb information. Manual controls, when available, are not always intuitive and may add unnecessary complexity to site navigation.

Studies indicate that users typically ignore sliders altogether or engage only with the first slide. Subsequent slides receive minimal interaction, rendering most of the content ineffective. If critical messages or calls to action are placed beyond the first slide, their visibility and impact are significantly reduced.

Load speed

Sliders significantly reduce page load speed by requiring multiple large assets, such as high-resolution images or video files. These elements increase server requests and total page weight, delaying page rendering and frustrating users.

Google’s Core Web Vitals highlight page speed as a critical factor in user experience and search performance. Sites that fail to meet these speed benchmarks risk higher bounce rates and lower search visibility. Sliders often prevent websites from achieving the fast, responsive performance users expect.

SEO limitations

Sliders negatively effect on-page SEO by diluting content hierarchy and reducing indexability. When multiple slides include separate H1 tags or conflicting headings, search engines may struggle to identify the page’s primary topic. This weakens keyword relevance and focus.

Additionally, content within sliders is often hidden or partially rendered, making it less accessible to search engine crawlers. As a result, important messaging placed in sliders may not be indexed or ranked effectively, reducing the site's organic search visibility.

Mobile

Sliders present significant challenges on mobile devices. Images may scale improperly, text can become unreadable, and navigation elements often fail to function smoothly across screen sizes. Even when technically responsive, sliders consume excessive vertical space, pushing key content below the fold.

Mobile users expect fast, accessible information with minimal interaction. Sliders interrupt this experience by requiring additional clicks or swipes to access important content, reducing overall usability and engagement on mobile platforms.

Accessibility

Sliders present multiple accessibility challenges. Screen readers and keyboard navigation tools often struggle to interpret automatically rotating or hidden content, limiting access for users with visual or motor impairments.

For users with cognitive disabilities, the motion and shifting focus of sliders can be distracting or disorienting. These barriers make sliders incompatible with accessibility best practices and compliance standards, reducing inclusivity across digital experiences.

Communication

Sliders are intended to present multiple messages in a limited space, but this often reduces message effectiveness. As content rotates, each individual message competes for limited attention and loses impact.

Users typically scan pages quickly and are unlikely to engage with multiple slides. A single, focused message supported by clear visuals and a direct call to action is more effective for driving engagement and achieving communication goals.

Alternatives

To achieve the same communication goals without the drawbacks of sliders, consider more effective and user-friendly design elements:

• Static Banners: Present a single, clear message with maximum visual impact and no distractions.
• Content Grids: Display multiple items or topics in a structured format, allowing users to explore content at their own pace.
• Video Backgrounds: Offer visual appeal through motion without disrupting navigation or content access.
• Interactive Tabs: Organise content into categories that users can control without overwhelming the layout.

These alternatives improve clarity, usability, and accessibility while maintaining strong visual presentation.

Although website sliders may appear convenient for displaying multiple pieces of content within a single space, their disadvantages often outweigh the benefits. Sliders tend to result in a poor user experience, slower load times, and ineffective communication of key messages. They also present significant challenges in terms of SEO, mobile responsiveness, and accessibility.

For a more user-friendly and high-performing website, it is advisable to avoid sliders in favour of alternative design solutions. By prioritising clarity, speed, and accessibility, businesses can create a more engaging and successful online presence.