Responsive grid of hexagons

Here is the demo and the repositery for the responsive grid of hexagons. The code here isn't maintained. It was moved to github and improved so comments, issue reporting and contributions should be made there.

Responsive grid of hexagons

This technique uses :

the <img> tag
an unordered list : each hexagon is contained in a <li> tag and an <a> tag
transform rotate and skew to make the hexagon shapes
overflow:hidden;
nth-child() to space the hexagons in a regular pattern

And more to create the hexagon grid with the <img> tag.

Hexagon grid features :

The grid is responsive as it relies on percent widths. The hexagons maintain their aspect ratio with the padding-bottom technique and the images resize to fit the hexagon shape.
A hover effect over the hexagons : a text slides in with a transparent overlay over the image.
Each hexagon maintains its boundaries : the hover effect (or click event) for each hexagon only triggered inside the actual shape.

Full code

The following snippet isn't the latest version of the grid. The GitHub repo is maintained and up to date. Issues and contributions can be made there.

* {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

body {
    font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif;
    background: rgb(123, 158, 158);
}

#hexGrid {
    overflow: hidden;
    width: 90%;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding:0.707% 0;
}

#hexGrid:after {
    content: "";
    display: block;
    clear: both;
}

.hex {
    position: relative;
    list-style-type: none;
    float: left;
    overflow: hidden;
    visibility: hidden;
    -webkit-transform: rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
        -ms-transform: rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
            transform: rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
}

.hex * {
    position: absolute;
    visibility: visible;
}

.hexIn {
    display:block;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    text-align: center;
    color: #fff;
    overflow: hidden;
    -webkit-transform: skewY(-30deg) rotate(60deg);
        -ms-transform: skewY(-30deg) rotate(60deg);
            transform: skewY(-30deg) rotate(60deg);
    -webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;
            backface-visibility: hidden;
}


/* HEX CONTENT */

.hex img {
    left: -100%;
    right: -100%;
    width: auto;
    height: 100%;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

.hex h1, .hex p {
    width: 90%;
    padding: 0 5%;
    background-color: #008080;
    background-color: rgba(0, 128, 128, 0.8);
    font-family: 'Raleway', sans-serif;
    -webkit-transition: top .2s ease-out, bottom .2s ease-out, .2s padding .2s ease-out;
            transition: top .2s ease-out, bottom .2s ease-out, .2s padding .2s ease-out;
}

.hex h1 {
    bottom: 110%;
    font-style: italic;
    font-weight: normal;
    font-size: 1.5em;
    padding-top: 100%;
    padding-bottom: 100%;
}

.hex h1:after {
    content: '';
    display: block;
    position: absolute;
    bottom: -1px;
    left: 45%;
    width: 10%;
    text-align: center;
    z-index: 1;
    border-bottom: 2px solid #fff;
}

.hex p {
    padding-top: 50%;
    top: 110%;
    padding-bottom: 50%;
}


/* HOVER EFFECT  */

.hexIn:hover h1 {
    bottom: 50%;
    padding-bottom: 10%;
}

.hexIn:hover p {
    top: 50%;
    padding-top: 10%;
}

/* SPACING AND SIZING */

@media (min-width:1201px) {
    .hex {
        width: 19.2%; /* = (100-4) / 5 */
        padding-bottom: 22.170%; /* =  width / sin(60deg) */
    }
    .hex:nth-child(9n+6),
    .hex:nth-child(9n+7),
    .hex:nth-child(9n+8),
    .hex:nth-child(9n+9) {
        margin-top: -4.676%;
        margin-bottom: -4.676%;
        -webkit-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
            -ms-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
                transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
    }
    .hex:nth-child(9n+6):last-child,
    .hex:nth-child(9n+7):last-child,
    .hex:nth-child(9n+8):last-child,
    .hex:nth-child(9n+9):last-child {
        margin-bottom: 0;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(9n+6) {
        margin-left: 0.5%;
        clear: left;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(9n+10) {
        clear: left;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(9n+2),
    .hex:nth-child(9n+ 7) {
        margin-left: 1%;
        margin-right: 1%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(9n+3),
    .hex:nth-child(9n+4),
    .hex:nth-child(9n+8) {
        margin-right: 1%;
    }
}

@media (max-width: 1200px) and (min-width:901px) {
    .hex {
        width: 24.25%; /* = (100-3) / 4 */
        padding-bottom: 28.001%; /* =  width / sin(60deg) */
    }
    .hex:nth-child(7n+5),
    .hex:nth-child(7n+6),
    .hex:nth-child(7n+7) {
        margin-top: -6.134%;
        margin-bottom: -6.134%;
        -webkit-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
            -ms-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
                transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
    }
    .hex:nth-child(7n+5):last-child,
    .hex:nth-child(7n+6):last-child,
    .hex:nth-child(7n+7):last-child {
        margin-bottom: 0;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(7n+2),
    .hex:nth-child(7n+6) {
        margin-left: 1%;
        margin-right: 1%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(7n+3) {
        margin-right: 1%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(7n+8) {
        clear: left;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(7n+5) {
        clear: left;
        margin-left: 0.5%;
    }
}

@media (max-width: 900px) and (min-width:601px) {
    .hex {
        width: 32.666%; /* = (100-2) / 3 */
        padding-bottom: 37.720%; /* =  width / sin(60) */
    }
    .hex:nth-child(5n+4),
    .hex:nth-child(5n+5) {
        margin-top: -8.564%;
        margin-bottom: -8.564%;
        -webkit-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
            -ms-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
                transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
    }
    .hex:nth-child(5n+4):last-child,
    .hex:nth-child(5n+5):last-child {
        margin-bottom: 0;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(5n+4) {
        margin-right: 1%;
        margin-left: 0.5%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(5n+2) {
        margin-left: 1%;
        margin-right: 1%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(5n+6) {
        clear: left;
    }
}

@media (max-width: 600px) {
    .hex {
        width: 49.5%; /* = (100-1) / 2 */
        padding-bottom: 57.158%; /* =  width / sin(60) */
    }
    .hex:nth-child(3n+3) {
        margin-top: -13.423%;
        margin-bottom: -13.423%;
        -webkit-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
            -ms-transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
                transform: translateX(50%) rotate(-60deg) skewY(30deg);
    }
    .hex:nth-child(3n+3):last-child {
        margin-bottom: 0;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(3n+3) {
        margin-left: 0.5%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(3n+2) {
        margin-left: 1%;
    }
    .hex:nth-child(3n+4) {
        clear: left;
    }
}

<link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400italic,700italic,800italic,400,700,800' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>
<link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Raleway:400,700,300,200,100,900' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>

<ul id="hexGrid">
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8048823381_0fbc2d8efb.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4144/5053682635_b348b24698.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10384422264_d9c7299146.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6216951796_e50778255c.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6055581292_d94c2d90e3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10384422264_d9c7299146.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6895047173_d4b1a0d798.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/12953056854_b8cdf14f21.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6139/5986939269_10721b8017.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3165/5733278274_2626612c70.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6822904141_50277565c3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/13199704015_72aa535bd7.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6055581292_d94c2d90e3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6895047173_d4b1a0d798.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/10944255073_973d2cd25c.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8048823381_0fbc2d8efb.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4144/5053682635_b348b24698.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10384422264_d9c7299146.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6216951796_e50778255c.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6055581292_d94c2d90e3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10384422264_d9c7299146.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6895047173_d4b1a0d798.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/12953056854_b8cdf14f21.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/10944255073_973d2cd25c.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8048823381_0fbc2d8efb.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4144/5053682635_b348b24698.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10384422264_d9c7299146.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6216951796_e50778255c.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6055581292_d94c2d90e3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10384422264_d9c7299146.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6895047173_d4b1a0d798.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/12953056854_b8cdf14f21.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6139/5986939269_10721b8017.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3165/5733278274_2626612c70.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6822904141_50277565c3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/13199704015_72aa535bd7.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6055581292_d94c2d90e3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6895047173_d4b1a0d798.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6139/5986939269_10721b8017.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3165/5733278274_2626612c70.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6822904141_50277565c3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/13199704015_72aa535bd7.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6055581292_d94c2d90e3.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
  <li class="hex">
    <a class="hexIn" href="#">
      <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6895047173_d4b1a0d798.jpg" alt="" />
      <h1>This is a title</h1>
      <p>Some sample text about the article this hexagon leads to</p>
    </a>
  </li>
</ul>

Changing the number of hexagons per row

The grid adapts the number of hexagons per row according to the viewport width from 5 on screens wider than 1200px to 2 on screens narrower than 600px.

If you don't need the media queries but just want to change the number of hexagons per row, you can keep the CSS from the corresponding media query and remove the unneeded ones.

For more customization, see sizing and spacing of hexagons.

Demos

For a list of all the demos, see this codepen collection: Responsive grids of hexagons with different numbers of hexagons per row, centering options and more...

Here is the original codepen demo with the .pusher element to make an irregular grid of hexagons. The .pusher element is used to make the "holes" in the grid with empty hexagons.

Alright, here's a clean, cross-browser compatible solution that will even allow you to honeycomb the hexagons:

For this to work, you need to wrap each image in 2 containers, since one will be used for the top left / bottom right cut-off and the other for the top right / bottom left cut-off.

<div class="outerclip">
    <div class="innerclip">
        <img src="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090714124528/firefly/images/thumb/1/11/Firefly_class_ship.jpg/100px-136,568,0,431-Firefly_class_ship.jpg" />
    </div>
</div>

The CSS then gives each cut-off container a skew that adds the angles to the image:

.outerclip {
    -webkit-transform: skew(-30deg);
    -ms-transform: skew(-30deg);
    -transform: skew(-30deg);
    overflow: hidden;
    display: inline-block;
}
.innerclip {
    -webkit-transform: skew(50deg);
    -ms-transform: skew(50deg);
    transform: skew(50deg);
    overflow: hidden;
    display: inline-block;
}
img {
    -webkit-transform: skew(-30deg);
    -ms-transform: skew(-30deg);
    transform: skew(-30deg);
}

Demo: http://jsfiddle.net/XkQtF/3/

Note: to improve the render quality, I'd advise to give both .outerclip and .innerclip the same fixed height.

To get the honeycombs, you can put several images in a row container and then offset each odd row by a couple of pixels like this:

Honeycombs

Demo: http://jsfiddle.net/XkQtF/4/

Responsive grid of hexagons

Hexagon grid features :

Full code

Changing the number of hexagons per row

Demos

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