Custom CSS to give linkding a dark, card-based layout

linkding-cards.css

/*
Card-based layout for Linkding
Large images, fully clickable
Entire card selectable in bulk edit mode
Tags moved to expandable sidebar

01/11/2026 - MRC - Modified using Claude AI
to have CSS applied to Linkding 1.45. Also
modified to use same card style layout but
a little differently that meets my needs a
little better.

07/18/2026 - MRC - Modified using Claude AI
Fable to standardize and improve organization
of CSS. Should be no major functional change.

Author: Brett Terpstra (https://brettterpstra.com)
GitHub: @ttscoff <https://github.com/ttscoff>
Modified for updated Linkding version
License: MIT

Refactor notes:
- All colors are defined once in :root as RGB channel triplets, so both
  solid colors and rgba() variants derive from a single source.
  To re-theme the skin, edit only the "PALETTE" block below.
- Layout magic numbers are derived from a few anchor values (image height,
  card padding, actions height). Formulas are noted where they were
  inferred from the original hand-tuned values.
*/

:root {
  /* ==========================================================
     PALETTE — edit these triplets to re-theme the entire skin
     ========================================================== */
  --bg-rgb: 0, 18, 25;            /* page background        (#001219) */
  --mint-rgb: 148, 210, 189;      /* light accent / links   (#94d2bd) */
  --teal-rgb: 10, 147, 150;       /* mid accent / hovers    (#0a9396) */
  --deep-rgb: 0, 95, 115;         /* buttons / tag pills    (#005f73) */
  --orange-rgb: 202, 103, 2;      /* "redux" label          (#ca6702) */
  --cyan-bright-rgb: 15, 217, 222;/* link hover             (#0fd9de) */
  --danger-rgb: 220, 41, 23;      /* delete / destructive   (#dc2917) */
  --danger-bright-rgb: 255, 42, 21; /* confirm-cancel "×"   (#ff2a15) */
  --tooltip-rgb: 0, 91, 127;      /* title tooltip bg       (#005b7f) */
  --khaki-rgb: 153, 136, 87;      /* action btn-link border */
  --neutral-border-rgb: 51, 51, 51;   /* card borders, notes (#333) */
  --neutral-text-rgb: 170, 170, 170;  /* description text    (#aaa) */

  /* Solid colors derived from the triplets */
  --color-bg: rgb(var(--bg-rgb));
  --color-mint: rgb(var(--mint-rgb));
  --color-teal: rgb(var(--teal-rgb));
  --color-deep: rgb(var(--deep-rgb));
  --color-orange: rgb(var(--orange-rgb));
  --color-cyan-bright: rgb(var(--cyan-bright-rgb));
  --color-danger: rgb(var(--danger-rgb));
  --color-danger-bright: rgb(var(--danger-bright-rgb));
  --color-tooltip: rgb(var(--tooltip-rgb));
  --color-border: rgb(var(--neutral-border-rgb));
  --color-desc-text: rgb(var(--neutral-text-rgb));

  /* ==========================================================
     LAYOUT ANCHORS — dependent values derive from these
     ========================================================== */
  --card-image-height: 200px;   /* preview image height (the master value) */
  --card-padding: 10px;         /* inner card padding */
  --card-border-width: 1px;     /* card border */
  --card-radius: 8px;
  --actions-height: 70px;       /* bottom action bar height */
  --sidebar-width: 250px;
  --header-clearance: 100px;    /* sticky offset below the fixed header */

  /* Derived layout values */
  /* Top padding = image height + card padding (was 210px) */
  --card-top-padding: calc(var(--card-image-height) + var(--card-padding));
  /* Clickable image overlay = image height + 50px overlap (was 250px) */
  --card-overlay-height: calc(var(--card-image-height) + 50px);
  /* Bulk-edit checkbox: generous cover, 3x image height (was 600px) */
  --bulk-checkbox-height: calc(var(--card-image-height) * 3);
  /* Checkbox offsets: padding + border(s) (were -11px / -212px) */
  --bulk-checkbox-left: calc(-1 * (var(--card-padding) + var(--card-border-width)));
  --bulk-checkbox-top: calc(-1 * (var(--card-top-padding) + 2 * var(--card-border-width)));

  /* Description overlay (expand-on-hover) */
  --desc-top-offset: 3em;         /* sits just below the title */
  --desc-collapsed-height: 4.3em;
  --desc-expanded-height: 15em;
  /* URL clearance keeps the url line above the actions bar (was 7.3em) */
  --url-bottom-clearance: 7.3em;

  /* Notes tab (collapsed) */
  --notes-tab-width: 44px;
  --notes-tab-height: 23px;
  --notes-tab-bottom: 34px;

  /* ==========================================================
     Linkding theme variables mapped onto the palette
     ========================================================== */
  --primary-color: var(--color-mint);
  --primary-text-color: #fff;
  --btn-primary-bg-color: var(--color-deep);
  --btn-primary-hover-bg-color: var(--color-teal);
  --btn-primary-text-color: #fff;
  --btn-link-text-color: var(--color-mint);
  --btn-link-hover-text-color: var(--color-cyan-bright);
  --checkbox-checked-bg-color: var(--color-deep);
  --checkbox-bg-color: rgba(var(--deep-rgb), 0.75);
  --tab-active-color: var(--color-mint);
  --tab-highlight-color: var(--color-teal);
  --tab-hover-color: var(--color-teal);
  --focus-outline: var(--color-mint);
  --input-border-color: #1e493a;
  --btn-border-color: #1e493a;
}

body {
  --fbc-blue-60: var(--color-bg);
  --fbc-blue-70: var(--color-bg);
  background: var(--color-bg);
  margin-top: 0px;
}

/* Logo */
a {
  color: var(--color-mint);
}

.btn {
  color: var(--color-mint);
}
.btn .btn-primary {
  background: var(--color-deep);
  color: var(--color-mint);
}
.btn .btn-primary:hover {
  color: var(--color-teal);
}

header h1 {
  transform: rotate(-5deg) translate(-7px, -13px);
}
header h1::after {
  color: var(--color-orange);
  content: " redux";
  left: 0;
  opacity: 0.8;
  position: absolute;
  top: 1em;
}

/* Make header sticky */
header {
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
  z-index: 100;
  background: var(--color-bg);
  padding-top: 20px;
  padding-bottom: 20px;
  margin-bottom: 0px;
}

/* Tag cloud styling */
.tag-cloud .unselected-tags a {
  border-radius: 15px;
  border: solid 1px rgba(var(--deep-rgb), 0.3);
  color: var(--color-deep);
  display: inline-block;
  font-weight: 500;
  margin: 0 0 0.25em 0 !important;
  padding: 0 6px;
  transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;
}
.tag-cloud .highlight-char {
  color: var(--color-teal);
}
.tag-cloud .unselected-tags a:hover,
.tag-cloud .unselected-tags a:focus,
.tag-cloud .unselected-tags a:visited:hover,
.tag-cloud .unselected-tags a:visited:focus {
  background: rgba(var(--mint-rgb), 0.8);
  box-shadow: 0 0 4px rgba(var(--mint-rgb), 0.35);
  text-decoration: none;
  transform: scale(1.1);
  transition: all 0.15s ease-in-out;
}
.tag-cloud a {
  font-weight: 500;
}

/* Bookmark cards */
ul.bookmark-list>li {
  background-color: rgba(var(--deep-rgb), 0.09);
  border-radius: var(--card-radius);
  border: solid var(--card-border-width) var(--color-border);
  display: block;
  gap: 0px 0px;
  margin: 0 10px 10px 0;
  min-width: 250px;
  overflow: hidden;
  padding: var(--card-top-padding) var(--card-padding) var(--card-padding) var(--card-padding);
  position: relative;
  width: 100%;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .title img + a::before {
  content: "";
  display: block;
  height: var(--card-overlay-height);
  left: calc(-1 * var(--card-padding));
  position: absolute;
  top: calc(-1 * var(--card-overlay-height));
  width: 110%;
  z-index: 8;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .preview-image {
  height: var(--card-image-height);
  left: 0;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  width: 100%;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .title img {
  top: var(--card-padding);
  transition: transform 0.2s ease-in-out;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .title:hover img {
  transform: translateY(-50%) scale(1.3);
  transition: transform 0.2s ease-in-out;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .title a[data-tooltip]:focus::after,
ul.bookmark-list>li .title a[data-tooltip]:hover::after {
  background: var(--color-tooltip);
  border-color: var(--color-deep);
}

@media screen and (min-width: 770px) {
  ul.bookmark-list>li {
    width: 48%;
  }
}
@media screen and (min-width: 900px) {
  ul.bookmark-list>li {
    width: 32%;
  }
}
@media screen and (min-width: 1300px) {
  ul.bookmark-list>li {
    width: 24%;
  }
}

/* Make image clickable */
ul.bookmark-list {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: row;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

ul.bookmark-list>li .title {
  background: 0;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .content {
  display: block;
  height: 100%;
  max-width: 100%;
  padding-bottom: var(--actions-height);
  position: relative;
  width: 100%;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .title a {
  width: 100%;
  color: #fff;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .url-display,
ul.bookmark-list>li .url-path {
  margin-bottom: var(--url-bottom-clearance);
  color: var(--color-mint);
}

/* Re-enable grid for bookmarks page to show sidebar */
.bookmarks-page.grid {
  display: grid !important;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr var(--sidebar-width) !important;
  gap: 20px;
  max-width: 100%;
}

/* Force main content to take first column */
.bookmarks-page.grid > main.col-2 {
  grid-column: 1 !important;
  min-width: 0; /* Prevent grid overflow */
  height: calc(100vh - var(--header-clearance) - 50px);
  overflow-y: auto;
}

/* Force sidebar to take second column */
.bookmarks-page.grid > div.side-panel.col-1 {
  grid-column: 2 !important;
  display: block !important;
  visibility: visible !important;
  opacity: 1 !important;
  background: rgba(var(--bg-rgb), 0.95);
  border-radius: var(--card-radius);
  border: solid 2px rgba(var(--teal-rgb), 0.85);
  padding: 20px;
  position: sticky;
  top: var(--header-clearance);
  max-height: calc(100vh - var(--header-clearance) - 20px);
  overflow-y: auto;
  width: var(--sidebar-width) !important;
  min-width: var(--sidebar-width) !important;
}

/* Make section-header sticky within main */
.section-header {
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
  z-index: 10;
  background: var(--color-bg);
}

/* Section headers in sidebar */
.bookmarks-page.grid div.side-panel h2,
.bookmarks-page.grid div.side-panel h3,
.bookmarks-page.grid .col-1 h2,
.bookmarks-page.grid .col-1 h3 {
  color: var(--color-teal);
  font-size: var(--font-size-lg);
  margin-bottom: var(--unit-4);
  margin-top: 0;
}

.bookmarks-page.grid div.side-panel section,
.bookmarks-page.grid .col-1 section {
  margin-bottom: var(--unit-8);
}

.bookmarks-page.grid div.side-panel section:last-child,
.bookmarks-page.grid .col-1 section:last-child {
  margin-bottom: 0;
}

/* Bundle menu styling */
.bundle-menu {
  list-style-type: none;
  margin: 0 0 var(--unit-6);
  padding: 0;
}

.bundle-menu .bundle-menu-item {
  margin: 0;
  margin-bottom: var(--unit-2);
}

.bundle-menu .bundle-menu-item a {
  border-radius: 15px;
  padding: var(--unit-1) var(--unit-2);
  color: var(--color-deep);
  border: solid 1px rgba(var(--deep-rgb), 0.3);
  display: block;
  text-decoration: none;
  transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;
  font-weight: 500;
}

.bundle-menu .bundle-menu-item a:hover,
.bundle-menu .bundle-menu-item a:focus {
  background: rgba(var(--mint-rgb), 0.8);
  box-shadow: 0 0 4px rgba(var(--mint-rgb), 0.35);
  text-decoration: none;
  transform: scale(1.05);
}

.bundle-menu .bundle-menu-item.selected a {
  background: var(--color-deep);
  color: var(--color-mint);
  border-color: var(--color-deep);
}

/* Other grid elements stay as block */
.grid:not(.bookmarks-page) {
  display: block;
}

.container {
  max-width: 100%;
}

/* Make entire card clickable in bulk edit mode */
ld-bookmark-page.active ul.bookmark-list>li .form-checkbox.bulk-edit-checkbox {
  cursor: pointer;
  height: var(--bulk-checkbox-height);
  left: var(--bulk-checkbox-left);
  top: var(--bulk-checkbox-top);
  transform: none;
  width: 109%;
  z-index: 10;
}

a[data-turbo-frame="details-modal"] {
  clear: left;
}

/* Card tags */
ul.bookmark-list>li .tags {
  margin: 1em 0;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .tags a:link,
ul.bookmark-list>li .tags a:visited,
ul.bookmark-list>li .tags a:hover,
ul.bookmark-list>li .tags a:focus {
  background: var(--color-deep);
  border-radius: 15px;
  color: var(--color-mint);
  font-size: 90%;
  padding: 3px 6px;
  text-decoration: none;
  transition: all 0.1s linear;
}

/* Preview image */
ul.bookmark-list>li .preview-image,
ul.bookmark-list>li .preview-image.placeholder {
  border: 0;
  border-radius: 0;
  margin-top: 0;
  background: linear-gradient(0deg, var(--color-mint) 0%, var(--color-deep) 100%);
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .preview-image.placeholder .img {
  mask: 0;
  background-color: transparent;
}

/* Description */
ul.bookmark-list>li .description {
  color: var(--color-desc-text);
  margin: 1em 0;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .description.separate {
  -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 60%, transparent);
  max-height: var(--desc-collapsed-height);
  position: absolute;
  top: var(--desc-top-offset);
  background: rgba(var(--bg-rgb), 0.7);
  padding: 5px;
  transition: all 0.2s linear;
  white-space: wrap;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .description.separate:hover {
  -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 60%, #000);
  max-height: var(--desc-expanded-height);
  transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;
  z-index: 11;
}

/* Actions */
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions,
ul.bookmark-list>li .extra-actions {
  bottom: 0;
  display: block;
  left: 0;
  position: absolute;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions {
  bottom: 0;
  height: var(--actions-height);
  margin-top: 10px;
  padding-top: 10px;
  position: absolute;
  width: 100%;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions a {
  padding: 0 4px;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions button.btn-link {
  padding: 0 4px;
  border: solid 1px rgba(var(--khaki-rgb), 0.5);
}

.extra-actions {
  clear: both;
  display: block;
  padding-top: 5px;
  width: 100%;
}

.actions span {
  display: none;
}

.extra-actions .btn {
  background: rgba(var(--teal-rgb), 0.5);
}

ul.bookmark-list>li .actions a {
  background-color: var(--color-deep);
  border-radius: 4px;
  color: var(--color-mint);
  float: left;
  margin: 0 4px 4px 0;
  padding: 0 4px;
  text-align: center;
  width: 50px;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions a:first-of-type {
  background: 0;
  border: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  color: var(--color-deep);
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0 4px 0 0;
  position: absolute;
  right: 0;
  width: auto;
  z-index: 10;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions a:hover {
  background: var(--color-mint);
  color: var(--color-deep) !important;
  transition: all 0.1s linear;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions button.btn-link {
  background: rgba(var(--danger-rgb), 0.25);
  border: solid 1px rgba(var(--danger-rgb), 0.5);
  color: var(--color-danger);
  opacity: 0.6;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions button.btn-link:hover {
  opacity: 1;
  transition: all 0.1s linear;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions a:first-of-type:hover {
  background-color: transparent;
  color: var(--color-mint) !important;
  transition: color 0.1s linear;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions .extra-actions button.btn-link {
  background: 0;
  border: 0;
  color: var(--color-mint);
  opacity: 0.5;
  padding: 0;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions .extra-actions button.btn-link:hover,
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions .extra-actions button.btn-link:focus {
  opacity: 1;
}
ul.bookmark-list>li .actions a {
  float: left;
}

.actions span.confirmation {
  margin-right: 4px;
  display: block;
  float: left;
}
.actions span.confirmation .btn {
  margin: 0 4px;
  margin: 0;
  position: relative;
  visibility: hidden;
  width: 22px;
}
.actions span.confirmation .btn::before {
  border-radius: 4px;
  border: solid 1px;
  color: var(--color-mint);
  content: "\2713";
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 150%;
  font-weight: 600;
  height: 20px;
  left: 0;
  padding: 0;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  visibility: visible;
  width: 20px;
  z-index: 1;
}
.actions span.confirmation .btn.mr-1::before {
  color: var(--color-danger-bright);
  content: "\00D7";
  font-size: 180%;
  line-height: 0.65;
}

ul.bookmark-list>li .actions button.btn-link {
  float: left;
  margin-right: 4px;
}

/* pagination */
.bookmark-pagination.sticky {
  background: var(--color-bg);
  border: 0px;
  margin: 0px;
  padding: 0px;
  position: absolute;
  padding-bottom: 25px;
}
.bookmark-pagination.sticky::before {
  background: var(--color-bg);
}

/* notes */
ul.bookmark-list .notes {
  background: var(--color-border);
  bottom: var(--notes-tab-bottom);
  display: block;
  height: var(--notes-tab-height);
  max-height: 100%;
  overflow: hidden;
  position: absolute;
  right: 0;
  width: var(--notes-tab-width);
  z-index: 1000;
}
ul.bookmark-list .notes::before {
  background: var(--color-border);
  border-radius: 4px;
  color: #888;
  content: "Note";
  cursor: pointer;
  display: block;
  padding: 0 6px;
  position: absolute;
  right: 0;
  top: 1px;
}
ul.bookmark-list .notes:hover {
  width: 100%;
  height: auto;
}
ul.bookmark-list .notes:hover::before {
  display: none;
}

.header-controls {
  margin-right: 15px;
}

/* Reduce card height when preview images are disabled/missing */
ul.bookmark-list>li:not(:has(.preview-image)) {
  padding: var(--card-padding) !important;
}

/* Adjust title positioning when no preview image */
ul.bookmark-list>li:not(:has(.preview-image)) .title img + a::before {
  display: none;
}