How is lazy loading controlled for Elementor background images?

Definition: Elementor's lazy loading feature defers background image loading according to the feature's rules. Elementor documents it as applying to background images except the first one, with a CSS class that can exclude a specific image.

Key facts

• Elementor defines lazy-loading as on-demand loading: necessary resources load first and non-critical resources are deferred. Elementor's lazy loading documentation gives on-screen and off-screen images as its example.
• The Lazy Load Background Images feature applies lazy loading to all background images except the first one, according to Elementor's performance features documentation.
• Elementor's performance page, last updated June 19, 2026, lists the feature among the stable features in the Performance tab and says to select Enable from the dropdown.
• Elementor's article about version 3.21 says the implementation works exclusively on background images set for Containers and can be disabled for a specific background image with the CSS class e-no-lazyload. The article was published on May 1, 2024.

Where is the feature enabled?

Elementor's current performance documentation places Lazy Load Background Images in the stable features of the Performance tab. The same page says, "Turn these features on by using the dropdown menu to select Enable." The control therefore belongs to the site-wide performance settings, while the per-image exception uses a CSS class.

The help page describes the loading model as a sequence: necessary resources load first, while non-critical resources are deferred. For images, it gives the example that on-screen images usually load first and off-screen images later. The page groups this feature with Elementor's separate optimized image loading and widget-level lazy loading options, so this entry concerns the background-image setting specifically.

Which background images are excluded?

The documented general rule is that lazy loading applies to all background images except the first one. Elementor's performance page repeats that wording and places the setting in the Performance tab. It does not define the word "first" as a DOM position, a viewport measurement, or another implementation detail.

Elementor's article on version 3.21 gives a narrower description of the implementation: it says the feature works exclusively on background images set for Containers. The article also says that the feature prioritizes background images according to their size and position, loading images above the fold first and the remaining background images later. These details describe the feature's prioritization and its documented Container scope.

How is one image excluded from lazy loading?

Elementor documents a per-image opt-out. Add e-no-lazyload to the image's CSS Class field while the background-image feature remains enabled for the site.

e-no-lazyload

The class name comes from Elementor's article, which says, "To disable the lazy loading feature on a specific background image, set the CSS Class to ‘e-no-lazyload’." This control is specific to the selected background image, while the Performance tab controls the broader feature.

Related terms

• Can Google access content that loads only after scrolling?
• Infinite scroll
• Rendered DOM

FAQ

Does this setting control every kind of image in Elementor?

No. Elementor describes optimized image loading and widget-level lazy loading separately from lazy loading for background images. The setting covered here is documented for background images.

Where can you turn on lazy loading for background images?

Open Elementor's Performance tab and select Enable for Lazy Load Background Images, as stated in the performance features documentation.

How can you keep one background image from being lazy loaded?

Add e-no-lazyload to that image's CSS Class field. Elementor documents this class in its version 3.21 article.

Sources

1. Elementor, "Lazy loading", 17 December 2024
2. Elementor, "Improve performance features", 19 June 2026
3. Elementor, "Introducing Elementor 3.21: Loop Taxonomy Query for Listings, Performance Improvements, and More!", 1 May 2024

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