Lazy loading is a powerful technique to improve your website’s performance by delaying the loading of off-screen images until the user scrolls near them. In this guide, we’ll show you how to implement lazy load in Elementor Pro, improve page speed, and boost user experience — step by step.
What Is Lazy Load in Elementor Pro?
Lazy loading in Elementor Pro is a method that defers the loading of images that are not immediately visible on the screen. Instead of loading all images during the initial page load, lazy loading allows images to load only when needed — saving bandwidth and speeding up the page.
Why Use Lazy Load in Elementor Pro?
- Faster page load time
- Lower server resource usage
- Better Core Web Vitals (especially LCP and CLS)
- Enhanced SEO and rankings
- Improved mobile performance
How to Implement Lazy Load for Images in Elementor Pro
Step 1: Ensure You’re Using Elementor Pro
Make sure Elementor Pro is installed and activated on your WordPress site. Lazy loading is automatically enabled by WordPress 5.5+ on img tags, but Elementor gives more control when you combine it with best practices.
Step 2: Use the Built-In Lazy Load Support
Elementor automatically applies the loading=”lazy” attribute to image widgets. Here’s how to make sure your images are optimized:
Method 1: Use Elementor’s Image Widget
- Edit any page with Elementor Pro
- Drag the Image widget into your layout
- Upload your image or select from Media Library
- Elementor automatically applies the loading=”lazy” attribute
All Image widgets added via Elementor include lazy load by default (unless overridden by browser or theme).
Step 3: Optimize Background Images (Manually)
By default, background images in Elementor are not lazy-loaded. To enable lazy load in Elementor Pro for background images, follow this workaround:
Method 2: Convert Backgrounds to Foreground Images
- Instead of using a Section background, use an Image widget inside the section or column.
- This enables browser-based lazy loading automatically.
Method 3: Use Custom CSS for Lazy Load with Background Images
You can also use a plugin or write JavaScript to load background images lazily, but this requires more effort. Plugins like:
- a3 Lazy Load
- WP Rocket (premium)
- Flying Scripts or Flying Images
These plugins extend lazy loading support for background images used in Elementor Pro sections.
Step 4: Use Performance Plugins with Lazy Load in Elementor Pro
To enhance native lazy loading in Elementor Pro, combine it with a performance plugin:
Recommended Plugins:
| Plugin | Features |
| WP Rocket | Lazy load images, iframes, videos, background images |
| LiteSpeed Cache | Lazy load with extra optimization for Elementor |
| Perfmatters | Script manager + lazy load control |
| a3 Lazy Load | Adds support for images, iframes, and background images |
After installing, configure the plugin to enable lazy load, especially for:
- Images
- Background images
- iFrames or videos
Tips to Improve Lazy Load in Elementor Pro
- Compress images before uploading using tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel
- Use modern formats like WebP
- Avoid placing large hero images as background elements without optimization
- Test with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix
Testing Lazy Load in Elementor Pro
Use browser DevTools (right-click > Inspect > Network tab) or the “View Source” method:
- Look for loading=”lazy” in <img> tags
- Scroll down and see images load dynamically
- Use Lighthouse audit to validate lazy loading behavior
Conclusion
Implementing lazy load in Elementor Pro is simple but highly effective. Elementor already supports native lazy loading for image widgets, but you can go further by optimizing background images and using performance plugins.
Whether you run a blog, portfolio, or WooCommerce store, enabling lazy loading in Elementor Pro will help improve performance, SEO, and user experience.
