Why you shouldn't use a hamburger menu on your desktop website!

If you’ve ever built or designed a website, you’ve probably used the hamburger menu, that icon with three horizontal lines that hides the navigation. Handy, right? Especially on mobile. But the moment you copy that same mobile menu straight into the desktop version, things go wrong.

So why is a hamburger menu often a bad idea on desktop? And what can you do instead to truly help your visitors navigate?

Hidden navigation

On a desktop, you’ve got plenty of space. So why would you hide your most important navigation options behind an icon? Every extra click a visitor has to make is a chance they’ll drop off. Think about it: if you’re looking for information and you first have to guess where it is, then click to open a menu, and only then see your option. It’s frustrating! People want to see right away where to go.

What you hide appears less important. And that reflects on your entire site.

Lower discoverability and engagement

UX research repeatedly shows that menu items that are immediately visible get more attention and more clicks, up to 50% more, according to some studies. A hamburger menu reduces the interaction people have with your site. They click less, discover less, and stay for a shorter time. The exact opposite of what you want.

No one expects a mobile-style interface on a desktop. Your visitor is using a mouse or trackpad, not a thumb. That extra click on a tiny icon just feels unnatural.

A misplaced mobile solution

The hamburger menu was originally created as a workaround for small screens. That’s where it works, saving space, keeping things organized. But that doesn’t mean you should use it where it’s not needed. On desktop, space isn’t a problem. You can easily display a horizontal navigation bar. That way, your visitor immediately knows what’s what. A hamburger menu on desktop often feels like a lazy design decision, as if no time was spent creating a proper desktop navigation. And your visitor will notice that.

Clarity builds trust. And "mobile-first" is not the same as "mobile-only".

So what should you do instead?

Just use a classic horizontal menu on desktop. Include your most important pages with clear labels. Got lots of subpages? Use dropdowns or mega menus. Make sure the menu is visible on every page, preferably at the top. That keeps your site structured and your visitor on track.

Exceptions? Sure. If your design is extremely minimalistic and even small distractions are too much, or if your audience is super tech-savvy (think developers or designers), then you might consider using a hamburger menu on desktop. But only if it’s a conscious choice, not the default approach.

A hamburger menu is not some magical symbol of modern web design. It’s a last resort for small screens. On desktop, it’s usually unnecessary, confusing, and bad for conversions. Choose clarity instead. Show your navigation openly, give your visitors guidance, and make it easy for them to explore your content. Your site will perform better—and your visitors will thank you for it.

Source: Hamburger Menus and Hidden Navigation Hurt UX Metrics – Kara Pernice and Raluca Budiu / Nielsen Norman Group (2016).