· 12 min read

How to Create Modal Tailwind CSS Popups for Your Website

Berna Partal
-Published on:
Jan 26, 2024
-Updated on:
Jan 13, 2026

Grabbing customers’ attention to increase sales conversions is critical, and it can be done with popups easily!

Modal tailwind CSS popups are mostly preferred because of their functionality.

We explained Tailwind CSS and modal popup concepts. You can learn how to create popups for your website here as well!

the CSS modal sample on the blue background with the blog post title

Tailwind CSS

CSS means how elements of HTML will be shown on a website screen.

Tailwind CSS is a customizable framework that makes it very practical and easy to use on websites. In addition, it is a utility-based framework so that you can create interfaces with customizable options.

Tailwind CSS has a different approach than other frameworks. It gives you more control over your website. By adding a tailwind CSS file from the CDN in a link form, you can use it easily.

All you need to do is add the link to the HTML page’s head part. Besides, it is possible to add customizable codes to your website.

Because of these features, Tailwind CSS is suitable for making websites in a short period of time. Apart from these, Tailwind is not about specific designs and set layouts.

In that way, you can decide how your site will look by bringing different elements together.

In addition, it gives the advantage of creating unique websites with customization options.

For example, you can adjust the sizing, fonts, colors, and shadows of elements you want to add to your website. Tailwind CSS code can look like this:

When you add this code, you can adjust it with different fonts. And the result will look like this:

result of tailwind css font code

(Source)

What is Modal Popup?

Modal popups are mostly preferred for newsletter signups and login forms. In order to control, register and login forms, modal popups are used most of the time. Also, so as to show notifications, these popups can be used on a website.

With modal popups, it is possible to show tips, search forms, full-screen videos and images, and contact forms.

A modal popup on a website indicates the last-updated page without loading again. So you do not have to enter the information once again. In that way, relevant information can be seen without losing time.

One of the most significant features of modal popups, they are silent. Therefore, in order for them to activate, there should be triggers.

These triggers can be set for specific actions to activate modal popups. For example, highlighting newsletter popups and notifications is very useful.

These types of popups can be created with CSS, HTML and JavaScript. We’ll be focusing on CSS modal tailwind popups and their creation steps.

Modal Tailwind CSS Popup

As we have explained before, using customizable codes makes it possible to create popups for your website. So, decide on your popups style according to your website’s personality and start playing with it!

With Tailwind, taking a CSS file as raw form and processing it over a configuration file is very easy. The output is produced after this configuration process, and the tailwind CSS popup becomes ready to use.

Modal Tailwind CSS has many advantages, such as:

  • Having minimum code lines in a file
  • Customizable designs
  • Making responsive websites
  • Also, making changes afterward is simple since adjusting options are easy to use. Tailwind popup forms are convenient and very accessible!

Modal popup tailwind CSS code can look like this:

When you add this code to your website, the final result looks like this:

modal tailwind css popup example

(Source)

Modal Tailwind CSS Popup Elements

Form Element

This modal example utilizes a form element to gather information from users without requiring them to navigate away from the current page. It's a convenient solution for user authentication, such as login or registration forms. 

By embedding the form directly within the modal, the user remains engaged with the active content while seamlessly providing input, whether it's entering an email, password, or other details. 

This approach enhances user experience by making the interaction smooth and efficient. Perfect for scenarios like sign-ins, registrations, or other data collection needs.

Radio Input Element

Radio inputs allow you to present a list of options to users within a modal by using advanced radio inputs. It provides a clean and customized design, enabling users to easily select one option from the list without leaving the current page. 

This setup is ideal for forms, surveys, or preference selections, ensuring an intuitive and streamlined user experience.

Timeline Element

A timeline is a visual representation of a sequence of events in chronological order. 

It helps users understand the progression of activities, updates, or milestones, often used for product changelogs, project phases, or historical events.

Progress Bar Element

A progress bar is a graphical element that displays a task's completion status, showing how much has been completed and how much remains. 

It is often used for processes like file uploads, downloads, or ongoing tasks.

Placement

The placement option allows you to position the modal element relative to the document body. By using the data-modal-placement attribute, you can define the placement using a combination of vertical and horizontal values from the available options:
{top|center|bottom}-{left|center|right}

Object Parameters

To initialize a Modal object, you need to provide the following parameters:

  1. targetEl (Type: Element, Required):
    Set the main modal element as a JavaScript object.
  2. options (Type: Object, Optional):
    Use this parameter to set the default state of the modal, including placement and animations.
  3. instanceOptions (Type: Object, Optional):
    An object of options that allows you to:
  • Set a custom ID for the instance added to the Instance Manager.
  • Define whether to override an existing instance.

Options

These options can be used as the second parameter for the Modal object to control various aspects:

  1. placement (Type: String):
    Set the position of the modal relative to the document body.
    Available values: {top|center|right}-{left|center|right}
    Example: top-left, bottom-right.
  2. backdrop (Type: String):
    Choose between static or dynamic to control whether the modal can be closed by clicking outside.
  3. backdropClasses (Type: String):
    Provide Tailwind CSS classes for styling the backdrop element.
    Example: 'bg-blue-500 dark:bg-blue-400'.
  4. closable (Type: Boolean):
    Set to false to prevent closing the modal by hitting the ESC key or clicking the backdrop.
  5. onHide (Type: Function):
    A callback function that is triggered when the modal has been hidden.
  6. onShow (Type: Function):
    A callback function that is triggered when the modal is shown.
  7. onToggle (Type: Function):
    A callback function triggered when the modal's visibility is toggled.

Methods

Use these methods to control the modal's behavior directly through JavaScript:

  1. toggle(): Toggles the visibility of the modal element.
  2. show(): Shows the modal element.
  3. hide(): Hides the modal element.
  4. isHidden(): Returns true if the modal is hidden.
  5. isVisible(): Returns true if the modal is visible.
  6. updateOnShow(callback): Sets a custom callback function to be triggered when the modal is shown.
  7. updateOnHide(callback): Sets a custom callback function to be triggered when the modal is hidden.
  8. updateOnToggle(callback): Sets a custom callback function to be triggered when the modal visibility is toggled.

Create Modal Tailwind CSS Popups with Popupsmart

You can create modal tailwind popups by using Popupsmart easily. Popupsmart is a no-code smart popup builder that allows you to create unique popups.

According to your aim, you can build different types of popups and add them to your website in under 5 minutes.

Popups created with Popupsmart can be used to

You can also get feedback with forms in your popups and reach out to your customers more effectively.

Popupsmart Templates & Creating a Modal Popup

There are so many different popup templates that you can choose from on Popupsmart.

Sign up & start creating your popup by clicking the “+ New Campaign” button.

new campaign buttons on the Popupsmart dashboard

According to different business objectives, these templates can vary.

You can check out the popup templates on the Popupsmart Playbook or the step of Playbook while creating a popup:

business goal selection section of Popupsmart

It is also possible to choose a template based on your goal and customize it according to your brand’s identity.

the Playbook step of Popupsmart with popup templates

For inspirational advice, you can check out popup designs for inspiration.

Consider your aim of popups and decide on these templates. You can customize the fonts, colors of your popup.

Don’t forget to add an attention-getting and well-written headline and text. Also, add your products’ and services’ images to your popup for better effect.

For example, we have changed a template to encourage visitors to join the survey and re-positioned.

customization of a popup on the Popupsmart dashboard

In the "Customize" and "Style" section, editing all elements is possible.

Modal Tailwind CSS Popup Integration with Popupsmart

When you finish creating your popup and choose target options, your popup becomes ready to publish!

Adding a popup to your website is very easy since Popupsmart has a user-friendly integration system that is well adaptable.

All you have to do is copy and paste the code you get after finalizing your popup.

Then, in the Publish section, you can get the code quickly by clicking "Verify now" next to your domain.

Then you can add this code to your website, and your popup is ready to go! It should look like this:

the embed code modal of Popupsmart

There are different ways to embed your code based on your CMS and we can offer you help whenever you need.

When it is ready to use, your popup can look like this on your website:

a custom popup published by Popupsmart

Why Do We Use Modal Tailwind CSS Popups?

  • 🔥 User Engagement: Modals allow users to focus on specific content or actions (e.g., forms, notifications) without leaving the current page, improving engagement.
  • Seamless User Experience: Since modals display content within the same page, users can interact with them without disrupting their workflow or navigating to another page.
  • 🎨 Customizable Design: Tailwind CSS allows you to easily customize modals in terms of appearance, size, and placement using utility classes, making it easy to match your website's design.
  • 📱 Responsiveness: Tailwind's responsive design features ensure that modals adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing a consistent experience across devices.
  • Accessibility: When implemented correctly, modals enhance accessibility by focusing user attention on critical actions (like confirmations or inputs) while providing controls for easy dismissal.
  • 🔧 Flexibility: Tailwind CSS modals can be easily integrated with JavaScript to create dynamic and interactive elements, such as login forms, alerts, or popups for various purposes.

FAQ

What is Tailwind CSS used for?

Tailwind CSS is used for creating websites fastly. It is highly customizable and easy to use with different options. It is used for creating interfaces on a website. You can customize each element of your website with tailwind CSS. Consequently, it is possible to create unique websites with different features.

How do you make a Tailwind popup in CSS?

With the help of codes and customizations, you can create Tailwind popups in CSS. By following these steps & ideas we have given in previous sections, you can build your own modal tailwind CSS popups. In addition, modal tailwind CSS popups are entirely customizable, giving you the autonomy to construct the elements of your website.

Popupsmart makes it even easier with its well-designed popup templates. You can personalize these templates in a short period of time. Consider adding these popups to reach your target audience and grow your email list.

Conclusion

That is all about creating modal tailwind CSS popups

We hope you enjoyed reading about this topic and learned how to create your own popup.

Though modal tailwind CSS popups might not always be needed, there is always a better and easier way to create one with Popupsmart.

Check out these content as well:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tailwind CSS modal codepen?

A “Tailwind CSS modal CodePen” usually refers to a ready-to-run demo on CodePen that shows a modal (popup dialog) built with Tailwind CSS utility classes, often including the HTML structure (overlay + dialog panel), Tailwind class styling (e.g., fixed inset-0, bg-black/50, flex items-center justify-center, rounded, shadow), and a small amount of JavaScript to open/close the modal by toggling classes such as hidden, opacity-0, pointer-events-none, or by adding/removing a data-state attribute. These CodePen examples are popular because they let you quickly copy a working snippet, tweak spacing, colors, typography, and responsive behavior, and see changes instantly without setting up a full project—making them a practical starting point for newsletter signups, login forms, alerts, and confirmation dialogs. If you use a CodePen snippet, double-check accessibility basics like focus trapping, closing on Escape, and labeling (aria-labelledby/aria-describedby), since many demos prioritize visuals over production-ready behavior.

What is Modal tailwind css popups examples?

“Modal Tailwind CSS popups examples” are practical patterns showing how to design and trigger different types of modal dialogs using Tailwind’s utility-first classes, such as a simple centered modal with a dimmed backdrop, a slide-in side panel modal, a full-screen mobile modal, an image/video lightbox modal, a confirmation modal for delete actions, or a form modal for login/newsletter signup. A typical example includes (1) a backdrop overlay that covers the page (fixed inset-0 bg-black/50), (2) a modal container centered or positioned (flex items-center justify-center or justify-end), (3) a dialog panel with layout and style utilities (bg-white p-6 rounded-lg shadow-lg max-w-lg w-full), and (4) close controls and triggers (buttons that toggle hidden/opacity classes). Good examples also demonstrate responsive sizing (sm:max-w-md, md:max-w-xl), scroll handling for long content (max-h-[80vh] overflow-y-auto), subtle animations (transition, duration-200, ease-out, scale-95 to scale-100), and usability details like clicking the backdrop to close, preventing background scroll, and keeping the user on the same page without reloading.

What is Tailwind modal?

A Tailwind modal is a modal popup (a dialog that appears over the current page content) whose layout and styling are built primarily with Tailwind CSS utility classes rather than custom CSS, while the open/close behavior is handled by JavaScript or a small UI library (for example, toggling a hidden class, managing opacity transitions, or controlling a state variable in frameworks like React/Vue). In practice, it’s a reusable UI component made of an overlay/backdrop plus a dialog panel that can contain anything—login/register forms, newsletter signups, notifications, tips, search, contact forms, or media—allowing users to view or submit information without navigating away or reloading the page. Tailwind’s value here is speed and control: you can fine-tune spacing, typography, colors, shadows, borders, and responsiveness directly in the markup, creating unique designs quickly; however, for a production-quality Tailwind modal you should also consider accessibility requirements (proper ARIA roles like role="dialog", focus management, Escape-to-close, and clear close buttons) so the popup is usable for keyboard and screen reader users.