Adding Smooth Parallax Scrolling in Squarespace 7.1

Squarespace Tutorial
Written By Walid Hasan

In today’s online-saturated world, you need to invest time and resources into building an engaging (read: great-looking and interactive) website if you want to retain your audience’s attention. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through parallax scrolling or a simple motion effect that adds depth and, of course, usability.

Squarespace 7.1 gives you beautiful design freedom, but it doesn’t natively support real parallax layouts. But the good news? You can simply implement parallax scrolling with Scrollax.js, a simple, little JavaScript library.

In this extensive guide, you will learn how to implement a fully working, responsive, and customisable parallax scrolling effect on your Squarespace 7.1 site within just a few steps.

What is Parallax Scrolling?

Parallax scrolling is a component of web design in which the background image moves at a slower rate than the foreground content while scrolling. This makes for a visual illusion that’s 3D-like, which enhances the whole look.

In simpler terms:

Just imagine, you scroll through a page and your content seems to float over the background image – it’s storytelling in motion.

Why Use Parallax on a Squarespace Website?

While Squarespace 7.1 offers modern templates and animations, it doesn’t provide the flexibility or customization needed for advanced scroll-based interactions.

Here’s why adding parallax manually is worth it:

  • Improves user engagement by making content feel more dynamic

  • Highlights key visuals like hero images, calls-to-action, or testimonials

  • Keeps users scrolling longer, improving bounce rates and conversions

  • Gives a modern, high-end design feel to your brand

  • Pairs beautifully with storytelling layouts for portfolios, service pages, or product showcases

What You’ll Need to Get Started

To successfully implement parallax scrolling, you’ll need:

  • A Squarespace 7.1 website

  • Access to the Code Injection area (requires a Business or higher plan)

  • A basic understanding of how to copy and paste code

  • A high-quality background image

  • Two lightweight libraries:

Step-by-Step Setup for Parallax Scrolling

Let’s walk through the exact implementation using Scrollax.js on your Squarespace 7.1 site.

Step 1: Add jQuery and Scrollax to Your Site

Go to your Squarespace dashboard:

  • Navigate to Pages → Custom Code → Code Injection

  • In the Footer section, paste the following script:

Copied!

<!-- Include jQuery and Scrollax -->
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.6.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/scrollax@1.0.0/scrollax.min.js"></script>
<!-- Scrollax Initialization -->
<script>
  document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () {
    $('.has-background').attr('data-scrollax-parent', 'true');
    $('.has-background .section-background').attr('data-scrollax', 'properties: { translateY: "20%" }');
    if (typeof $.Scrollax !== 'undefined') {
      $.Scrollax().reload(); // Ensures it detects the DOM correctly
    }
  });
</script>

This code loads the necessary libraries and tells Scrollax to track any section with the .has-background class. The translateY: "20%" effect creates the scrolling movement.

Step 2: Add CSS to Enable Smooth Background Behavior

Still in the Footer → Code Injection, just below the script, add this style block:

Copied!

<style>
  .has-background {
    overflow: hidden;
    position: relative;
    z-index: 0;
  }
  .has-background .section-background {
    will-change: transform;
    transition: transform 0.2s ease-out;
  }
</style>

This CSS ensures the background layer behaves properly while scrolling and avoids layout shifting.

How to Customize the Parallax Effect

You can tweak the scroll behavior using additional properties in the Scrollax config.

Example: Add scaling and fade-in effect

Copied!

$('.has-background .section-background').attr('data-scrollax', 'properties: { translateY: "30%", opacity: 0.8, scale: 1.1 }');

Available properties include:

Property Description
translateY Moves the image vertically on scroll
scale Zooms the image as you scroll
opacity Fade the image in/out

These can be combined for rich animations without relying on heavy libraries.

Responsive Considerations for Mobile

Some mobile browsers don’t support parallax effects due to hardware acceleration limits. Use a CSS media query fallback to prevent visual bugs:

Copied!

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .section-background {
    transform: none !important;
  }
}

You can paste this in Design → Custom CSS or directly below your code injection styles.

Best Practices for Parallax in Squarespace

  • Use high-resolution, optimized images — Aim for 1920px wide JPG/WEBP images under 300 KB

  • Apply parallax only to strategic sections — Don’t overdo it

  • Test across devices and browsers — Use Chrome DevTools or tools like BrowserStack

  • Minimize DOM elements inside scrollable sections — Too many elements can break scroll performance

  • Keep your custom classes scoped — Use .has-background only where needed

Real-World Use Cases

Want to know where this technique shines?

  • Creative Agency Homepage — Add a parallax hero image with a CTA

  • Photographer Portfolio — Use image-led sections that scroll behind the captions

  • Product Landing Page — Feature one product image fixed behind multiple selling points

  • About Section with Founder Image — Let the image move subtly while the bio content scrolls

Final Thoughts

Parallax scrolling is more than just eye candy when used correctly; it becomes a powerful storytelling tool. Thanks to lightweight tools like Scrollax.js, you don’t need to rely on heavy animation plugins or custom developers.

By following this guide, you’ve added a premium design touch to your Squarespace 7.1 website that’s:

  • Lightweight and fast

  • Fully customizable

  • Visually impactful

  • Easy to maintain

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1: Does Squarespace 7.1 have native support for parallax scrolling?

A: No, Squarespace 7.1's built-in feature lacks real Parallax scrolling. Certain templates might give a basic parallax effect, but if you want full control and smooth animation, you need to write your own.

2: Do I have to know how to code to add parallax to my Squarespace site?

A: Not much! If you’re willing to copy and paste some code into Squarespace’s Code Injection area, you can create parallax scrolling by following these instructions. No advanced development skills needed.

3: Does this work for every template in Squarespace 7.1?

A: Yes, the Scrollax.JS method is universal across all Squarespace 7.1 templates as long as you apply the correctly! Add .has-background classes to the sections you want to animate.

4: Is it possible to apply the parallax effect to only one section or background?

A: Absolutely. Only sections with the. The .has-background class will be affected. This grants you complete freedom over where the parallax effect is implemented.

5: Is Scrollax. js lightweight? Will it slow down my site?

A: No, it’s not only more lightweight but also won’t impact your performance visibly. Scrollax.js is a lightweight, vanilla JavaScript micro-library. This is NOT a full animation library like Velocity.

6: Will parallax work on mobile devices?

A: Not always. Parallax is disabled for performance reasons. Many mobile browsers prevent parallax from scrolling. That’s why the guide also features a mobile fallback that won’t make the navigation look terrible on smaller screens by using a CSS media query.