1. Placement

Contextual menus should appear on the left side of the content they relate to. Consistent placement makes them easier to discover.¹

2. Visibility

Contextual menus must be visible without the need to hover on content.

3. Limit Options

Limit the number of options in contextual menus to around 10. Don’t overwhelm users with a large number of choices. All options should be visible without having to scroll.²

4. Option Order

Options within contextual menus should be ordered by frequency-of-use. To help users find the most relevant options, place the ones used most often at the top.²

5. Nested Menus

Avoid using nested menus within contextual menus. Nested menus triggered from contextual menus can be clumsy to operate. Consider grouping several options between dividers as an alternative. If a submenu is needed, none of its options should contain another submenu.²