---
title: "How to Create a Vertical Mega Menu in Elementor?"
url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-vertical-mega-menu-in-elementor/
date: 2023-10-27
modified: 2026-09-11
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "Do you want a mega menu in a vertical menu? A vertical mega menu keeps a long list of categories in a column and opens a rich panel under the..."
image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/How-to-Create-a-Vertical-Mega-Menu-in-Elementor_-1024x536.jpg
word_count: 499
---

# How to Create a Vertical Mega Menu in Elementor?

## 

- The Plus Addons for Elementor Navigation Menu widget supports the same mega menu in a vertical menu as in a horizontal menu, and the widget is part of The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro.
- Vertical Menu opens the panel under the selected menu item and pushes the items below it down like an accordion, while Vertical Side Menu opens the panel beside the menu.
- Appearance > Menus uses Mega menu Type set to Default with a Dropdown Max-Width(px) such as 700 to keep the panel from running off the screen in a Vertical Menu.

Do you want a mega menu in a vertical menu? A vertical mega menu keeps a long list of categories in a column and opens a rich panel under the one a visitor picks.

With the Navigation Menu widget from The Plus Addons for Elementor, the same mega menu you build for a horizontal menu also works in a vertical one.

*To check the complete feature overview documentation of The Plus Addons for Elementor Navigation Menu widget, [click here](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/navigation-menu-widget-settings-overview/).*

***Requirement - This widget is a part of The Plus Addons for Elementor, make sure it's installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.***

[LIVE WIDGET LINK](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-builder/header-builder/navigation-menu/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text)

Table Of Contents

## Before You Start

- **Edition:** **Pro** — the Navigation Menu widget is part of The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro. The free **Navigation Menu Lite** widget does not have this option.- **Widget to enable:** Navigation Menu, switched on under **The Plus Addons > Widgets**.- **A WordPress menu** under **Appearance > Menus**, if you use the **Default** menu type.

## Step 1: Build the mega menu

Create the Plus Mega Menu panels and the WordPress menu exactly as in [how to create a mega menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-mega-menu-in-elementor/).

## Step 2: Pick the panel width

In **Appearance > Menus**, open each parent item and set **Mega menu Type** to **Default**, then save the menu and enter a **Dropdown Max-Width(px)** that fits next to your layout, such as 700.

> *In a Vertical Menu, **Container** and **Full Width** are measured from the page, not from the menu, so the panel can run past the edge of the screen. Default with a max-width is the safe choice.*

## Step 3: Show the menu vertically

Add the Navigation Menu widget to a sidebar, page or template. In **Layout**, keep **Menu Type** on **Default**. **Menu Direction** is a row of three pictures — **Horizontal Menu**, **Vertical Menu** and **Vertical Side Menu**, in that order. Hover over a picture to see its name. Choose the second one, **Vertical Menu**. In **Content > Select Menu**, pick your mega menu, then choose **Menu Hover/Click** and **Menu Effects**.

That’s it, now you’ll have a vertical mega menu.

## How the Panel Opens

In a Vertical Menu, the panel opens **under** its menu item and pushes the items below it down, like an accordion.

![A mega menu panel opening under Services in a vertical menu](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/navigation-menu-result-vertical-mega.webp)

If you want the panel to open **beside** the menu instead, use a Vertical Side Menu: see [how to create a side mega menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-side-mega-menu-in-elementor/).

## Limitations

- **Pro only.** Plus Mega Menu comes with the Pro plugin.- **Only Slide Up/Down (JS) and Fade In/Out (JS)** are used as Menu Effects in a Vertical Menu.- **One level of panels.** Don’t put a mega menu inside another mega menu.

## Troubleshooting

### The panel runs off the screen

Set **Mega menu Type** to Default with a Dropdown Max-Width, or switch to Vertical Side Menu.

### Only a plain link shows, no panel

The panel must be a published Plus Mega Menu item, placed as a sub item of the parent in Appearance > Menus.

## Related Docs

- [Create a mega menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-mega-menu-in-elementor/)- [Create a side mega menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-side-mega-menu-in-elementor/)- [Create a vertical menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-vertical-menu-in-elementor/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What do I need before I can create a vertical mega menu in Elementor?**
A: The setup depends on the Navigation Menu widget from The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro, plus a WordPress menu if you are using the Default menu type. The widget has to be installed and activated, and the Navigation Menu widget must be switched on under The Plus Addons > Widgets. That matters because the free Navigation Menu Lite widget does not include this option.

**Q: Can I use the same mega menu I built for a horizontal menu in a vertical menu?**
A: The same Plus Mega Menu panels you build for a horizontal menu also work in a vertical one. The key difference is how the panel is displayed, not how the mega menu content is created. That makes it practical to reuse one menu structure across layouts instead of rebuilding panels for each orientation.

**Q: What is the safest panel width setting for a vertical mega menu?**
A: Default with a max-width is the safe choice for a Vertical Menu. In this layout, Container and Full Width are measured from the page, not from the menu, so the panel can run past the edge of the screen. A Dropdown Max-Width like 700px helps keep the panel aligned with your layout instead of spilling outside it.

**Q: How does a vertical mega menu panel open on the page?**
A: In a Vertical Menu, the panel opens under its menu item and pushes the items below it down, almost like an accordion. That behavior is useful when you want categories to stay in a single column and expand in place. If you want the panel to open beside the menu instead, the page points you to a Vertical Side Menu.

**Q: What are the main limitations of a vertical mega menu in The Plus Addons for Elementor?**
A: The setup is Pro only because Plus Mega Menu comes with The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro. In a Vertical Menu, only Slide Up/Down (JS) and Fade In/Out (JS) are used as Menu Effects, and there is only one level of panels. The page also warns not to put a mega menu inside another mega menu.

**Q: Why does my vertical mega menu show only a plain link with no panel?**
A: That usually means the panel is not set up as a published Plus Mega Menu item or it is not placed as a sub item under its parent in Appearance > Menus. The panel has to exist as that nested item structure before it can open as a dropdown. If it still feels wrong after that, [click here](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/navigation-menu-widget-settings-overview/) for the Navigation Menu widget settings overview.