Learn How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu step-by-step to improve website navigation, enhance user experience, and boost your WordPress customization.

How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu (Step-by-Step Guide)

A well-structured website navigation system is essential for every website. Whether you’re managing a business site, personal blog, or eCommerce platform, a clear and engaging menu improves user experience and keeps visitors exploring your content longer. In this WordPress menu tutorial, we’ll walk you through How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu from start to finish — no coding required.

Why Custom WordPress Menus Matter

Before diving into How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu, let’s understand why your website navigation plays such a vital role.

A custom WordPress menu allows you to organize pages, categories, and links in a way that aligns with your website’s goals. Instead of relying on default menus, a custom navigation menu gives you full control over structure, hierarchy, and design. This level of WordPress customization enhances both aesthetics and usability — ensuring visitors can find information quickly and intuitively.

A well-crafted website menu design improves SEO as well. Search engines analyze your menu structure to understand your site’s content hierarchy. The clearer your navigation, the better your website ranks in search results.

Step 1: Accessing the WordPress Menu Editor

The first step in learning How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu is knowing where to find the menu settings.

Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
In the left-hand sidebar, navigate to Appearance > Menus.
Click on “Create a new menu” at the top of the page.
Give your menu a name — something descriptive like “Main Menu” or “Footer Menu.”

Once you’ve named your custom WordPress menu, click the Create Menu button. You now have a blank canvas ready for your custom navigation.

Step 2: Adding Pages, Categories, and Custom Links

The next part of How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu involves adding items to your menu.

On the left side of the Menus screen, you’ll find several expandable sections:

Pages – lists your website’s published pages
Posts – lets you link to specific blog posts
Custom Links – add external URLs or special internal links
Categories – group blog posts by topic

To add items:

Check the boxes beside the items you want to include.
Click Add to Menu.

You can rearrange menu items by dragging and dropping them. To create a dropdown, drag an item slightly to the right beneath another — this builds a submenu and enhances your website navigation structure.

Step 3: Assigning Your Menu to a Location

After adding your menu items, the next step in How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu is to assign it to a location. Every WordPress theme has specific menu locations (like Header, Footer, or Sidebar).

Scroll down to the Menu Settings area.
Under Display location, choose where you want the menu to appear.
Click Save Menu.

Your custom navigation menu is now live. If your theme supports multiple menus, you can create separate ones for different areas of your site — like a main navigation bar and a footer menu with links to privacy policies or contact pages.

Step 4: Customizing Menu Appearance

Now that your custom WordPress menu is functional, let’s make it look great. Customization can elevate your website menu design and reinforce your brand identity.

You can adjust menu styling through:

Theme Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize > Menus to preview live changes.
Custom CSS: Advanced users can modify fonts, colors, and spacing by adding CSS code under Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
Plugins: Tools like Max Mega Menu or WP Mega Menu allow you to build advanced dropdowns, add icons, or include product thumbnails for eCommerce sites.

This step in How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu is where WordPress customization really shines — giving you the freedom to design a menu that reflects your brand and enhances the user experience.

Step 5: Adding Icons and Styling Enhancements

Icons make menus visually appealing and guide users intuitively. You can add icons to your custom navigation menu using plugins such as Menu Icons by ThemeIsle. Once installed:

Go to Appearance > Menus.
Click the dropdown arrow beside any menu item.
Select an icon from the library.
Save your menu.

Icons help users identify content faster, contributing to smoother website navigation and a better overall user experience.

Step 6: Creating Mega Menus (Optional)

For websites with many categories — like online stores or news portals — a standard dropdown might not be enough. That’s where mega menus come in.

A mega menu allows you to display multiple columns of content, including images, videos, and widgets. Plugins such as UberMenu or Max Mega Menu make it simple to integrate advanced website menu design elements without coding.

When learning How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu, consider whether a mega menu suits your content structure. It’s ideal for improving organization and visual appeal, but keep it balanced — too many options can overwhelm users.

Step 7: Testing and Optimizing Your Menu

Even after you’ve completed How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu, your work isn’t done. Testing ensures your menu looks and performs well across devices.

Test Checklist:

Mobile responsiveness – Does your menu work smoothly on smartphones and tablets?
Link accuracy – Do all menu items lead to the correct pages?
User experience – Is navigation intuitive and fast?

Use feedback and analytics to make adjustments. A/B testing different website menu designs can also reveal what structure improves engagement and click-through rates.

Pro Tips for Better Website Navigation

Here are some best practices to keep in mind while following How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu:

Keep it simple – Avoid overwhelming users with too many options.
Use clear labels – Menu titles should be concise and descriptive.
Highlight important pages – Prioritize high-value links like Services, About, or Contact.
Maintain consistency – Keep your custom navigation menu consistent across all pages.
Optimize for SEO – Use relevant keywords in your menu labels when appropriate.

These small enhancements make a big difference in user experience and can even improve your site’s ranking potential.

Conclusion: Mastering How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu

Learning How to Create a Custom WordPress Menu is one of the simplest yet most impactful steps in WordPress customization. A well-structured and visually appealing custom WordPress menu can transform your website navigation, making it easier for visitors to find what they need and engage with your content.

By following this WordPress menu tutorial, you now have the knowledge to build, customize, and optimize your menu for both usability and aesthetics. Whether you’re designing a simple blog menu or a complex eCommerce navigation system, a thoughtfully crafted custom navigation menu enhances your site’s functionality and user satisfaction.