Custom Tkinter: Build Modern, Stylish Python GUIs Easily

Ever wished your Python apps looked less plain and more unique? You’re not alone—many developers want their Tkinter GUIs to stand out and match their project’s personality. Knowing how to customize Tkinter lets you go beyond the default, giving your applications a professional and inviting feel.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the essentials of customising Tkinter—from styling widgets to adding colors and fonts. You’ll get practical steps, helpful tips, and creative insights to bring your GUIs to life.

Related Video

How to Use CustomTkinter: Creating Modern and Customizable GUIs in Python

If you’re looking to build modern, attractive, and highly customizable Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) in Python, CustomTkinter is one of the best libraries you can use. It builds on top of the well-known Tkinter library and brings a stylish and flexible approach to GUI development—perfect for those who want more than just the standard look.

In this guide, you’ll learn what CustomTkinter is, how to install it and start building with it, plus tips to get the most out of your interface. We’ll walk through setup, key components, advantages, common challenges, and practical suggestions for success.

---

What is CustomTkinter?

CustomTkinter is a modern Python GUI framework built as an extension of the original Tkinter module. While Tkinter is powerful and simple, it often appears outdated and lacks advanced customization without significant extra code.

CustomTkinter solves this by providing:

• Modern, native-looking widgets (buttons, entries, labels, etc.)
• Support for light and dark themes out of the box
• Enhanced options for colors, fonts, and shapes
• An intuitive API that feels familiar if you’ve used standard Tkinter

The result is a GUI that not only works well but also delights users with a polished appearance.

---

Why Choose CustomTkinter Over Tkinter?

Here are key reasons why developers prefer CustomTkinter:

• Modern Aesthetics: Pre-styled components make your app look clean and professional without extra effort.
• Theme Support: Quickly toggle between light and dark themes.
• Customization: Almost every UI element (color, shape, font, behavior) can be tailored to your preferences.
• Ease of Use: The API is straightforward—if you know Tkinter, you can pick up CustomTkinter fast.
• Cross-Platform: Works smoothly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

---

Installing CustomTkinter

Getting started is simple if you have Python installed:

1. Open Command Prompt, Terminal, or your IDE’s terminal.
2. Enter the following command:

pip install customtkinter

1. Wait for the installation to complete. That’s it!

Practical Tip:
If you’re using a virtual environment, make sure it’s activated before installing CustomTkinter. Check your Python and pip versions if you encounter errors, ensuring compatibility.

---

Your First CustomTkinter GUI: Step-By-Step

Let’s create a simple window with a label, an entry box, and a button. This will give you a feel for CustomTkinter basics.

1. Import CustomTkinter

Replace the standard import for tkinter with CustomTkinter:

import customtkinter as ctk

2. Create the Main Application Window

app = ctk.CTk()
app.title("My First CustomTkinter App")
app.geometry("300x200")

3. Add Widgets

Here’s how to add a label, an input box, and a button:

label = ctk.CTkLabel(master=app, text="Enter your name:")
label.pack(pady=10)

entry = ctk.CTkEntry(master=app)
entry.pack(pady=10)

def say_hello():
    name = entry.get()
    label.configure(text=f"Hello, {name}!")

button = ctk.CTkButton(master=app, text="Greet Me", command=say_hello)
button.pack(pady=10)

4. Start the Event Loop

app.mainloop()

Congratulations!
You’ve made a stylish, interactive GUI app in just a few lines.

---

Key Components and Features in CustomTkinter

CustomTkinter offers many widgets and features to power up your GUI applications. Here are some you’ll find especially useful:

• CTkButton – Enhanced button with custom color, size, and style options.
• CTkLabel – Display text or images, fully styleable.
• CTkEntry – Modern input box for single-line text.
• CTkTextbox – Multi-line text area.
• CTkOptionMenu and CTkComboBox – Dropdown lists for user choices.
• CTkSwitch and CTkCheckBox – Toggleable inputs.
• CTkSlider – Interactive sliders for numeric input.
• CTkFrame – Container for grouping and organizing widgets.
• CTkTabview – Tabbed interface for multiple pages within the same window.
• CTkProgressBar – Show progress of ongoing tasks.

Customization Highlights:
– Every widget allows customization for:
– Color (background, text, border)
– Corner radius
– Hover/active effects
– Typography (font type, size)
– Padding and spacing

---

Step-by-Step: Building a Simple Form

Let’s build a basic user form with CustomTkinter, highlighting how simple yet stylish GUIs can be.

What The Form Will Have:

• Name entry field
• Email entry field
• Submit button
• Confirmation label

The Process

1. Set Up the Main Window

python
import customtkinter as ctk
app = ctk.CTk()
app.title("User Form")
app.geometry("350x260")

1. Add Form Widgets

“`python
name_label = ctk.CTkLabel(app, text=”Name:”)
name_label.pack(pady=(20, 0))

name_entry = ctk.CTkEntry(app, width=240)
name_entry.pack(pady=5)

email_label = ctk.CTkLabel(app, text=”Email:”)
email_label.pack(pady=(10, 0))

email_entry = ctk.CTkEntry(app, width=240)
email_entry.pack(pady=5)

result_label = ctk.CTkLabel(app, text=””)
result_label.pack(pady=10)
“`

1. Add the Submit Button

“`python
def submit():
name = name_entry.get()
email = email_entry.get()
result_label.configure(text=f”Submitted:\n{name}, {email}”)

submit_btn = ctk.CTkButton(app, text=”Submit”, command=submit)
submit_btn.pack(pady=15)
“`

1. Run the App

python
app.mainloop()

With a minimal amount of code, you’ve created a visually appealing, fully functional form.

---

Benefits of Using CustomTkinter

• Quick Prototyping: Build modern GUIs in less time.
• Professional Looks: Out-of-the-box themes make your app look polished.
• Extensive Customization: Achieve almost any desired style.
• Active Development: Ongoing updates and community support.
• Consistent Cross-Platform Design: Apps behave and look the same on all major OS.

---

Common Challenges (And How to Tackle Them)

While CustomTkinter is designed to be straightforward, you might run into a few stumbling blocks. Here’s how to handle them:

• Compatibility Issues:
  Make sure your Python version is 3.7 or higher. If using other GUI libraries, avoid importing both tkinter and customtkinter widgets in the same window to lessen conflicts.

• Theme Not Applying:
  Use ctk.set_appearance_mode("dark") or "light" before creating your widgets to set the theme globally.

python
ctk.set_appearance_mode("dark")

• Widget Placement:
  For precise layouts, combine pack(), grid(), or place() methods as per your preference. Don’t mix layout managers in the same frame.

• Performance:
  If your app feels slow, optimize heavy tasks using threading or multiprocessing. Use progress bars to indicate ongoing background tasks.

---

Best Practices and Practical Tips

• Plan Your Layout:
  Use frames to group related widgets and organize complex layouts.

• Use Themes Early:
  Set themes and styling at the start, so you don’t need to refactor your code for visual consistency.

• Centralize Configuration:
  Store common colors, fonts, and styles as variables or constants to update your app’s style efficiently.

• Code Modularly:
  Break your code into classes or functions to keep it maintainable as your app grows.

• Test Across Platforms:
  Ensure your app looks good and functions well on Windows, macOS, and Linux if cross-platform use is intended.

• Stay Updated:
  Check for new CustomTkinter versions periodically, as new widgets and bug fixes are released often.

---

Cost Considerations

There are no extra costs or shipping fees associated with using CustomTkinter. It is a free and open-source library available via pip. If distributing your app, you might consider packaging tools like PyInstaller or cx_Freeze to ship executables, but the use of CustomTkinter itself does not introduce licensing fees or deployment costs.

---

Summary

CustomTkinter is a fantastic library for Python developers who want to create modern, beautiful, and customizable desktop applications with ease. It takes the simplicity of Tkinter and adds a new layer of visual appeal and flexibility. With its straightforward installation, intuitive API, and powerful widgets, you can build anything from simple tools to complex, professional-looking interfaces.

Whether you’re prototyping an idea or building a full-featured product, CustomTkinter provides the tools and efficiency to bring your vision to life—no design or advanced GUI experience required.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I install CustomTkinter in my Python environment?

To install CustomTkinter, open your command line or terminal and run:

pip install customtkinter

Make sure your Python version is 3.7 or newer.

---

2. Can I use CustomTkinter with standard Tkinter widgets?

Yes, you can mix CustomTkinter widgets with standard Tkinter widgets in the same app. However, for visual consistency and to avoid conflicts, it’s best to stick to one style per window or frame wherever possible.

---

3. How can I switch between light and dark modes in my app?

You can set the appearance mode at the start of your application with:

import customtkinter as ctk
ctk.set_appearance_mode("dark")  # or "light"

This affects the look of all CustomTkinter widgets created afterward.

---

4. What are some common problems beginners face with CustomTkinter?

Some common issues include:
– Widgets not displaying as expected due to mixed layout managers.
– Forgetting to use the ctk. prefix, resulting in import errors.
– Incompatibility from outdated Python versions or pip errors during installation.

---

5. Is CustomTkinter suitable for building large or complex applications?

Absolutely! CustomTkinter is scalable and can support complex layouts, multiple tabs, pop-ups, dialogs, and custom themes. For bigger projects, maintain organized code using classes and modules for each window or major component.

---

By following these steps, tips, and answers, you’ll be well-equipped to create stunning Python GUIs using CustomTkinter. Happy coding!