How to customize Bootstrap 3 tab color
On the selector .nav-tabs > li > a:hover add !important to the background-color.
.nav-tabs{
background-color:#161616;
}
.tab-content{
background-color:#303136;
color:#fff;
padding:5px
}
.nav-tabs > li > a{
border: medium none;
}
.nav-tabs > li > a:hover{
background-color: #303136 !important;
border: medium none;
border-radius: 0;
color:#fff;
}<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="http://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.2/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
<link href="http://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.2/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"/>
<ul class="nav nav-tabs" id="myTab">
<li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" href="#search">SEARCH</a></li>
<li><a data-toggle="tab" href="#advanced">ADVANCED</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="tab-content">
<div id="search" class="tab-pane fade in active">
Aliquip placeat salvia cillum iphone. Seitan aliquip quis cardigan american apparel,
butcher voluptate nisi qui.
</div>
<div id="advanced" class="tab-pane fade">
Vestibulum nec erat eu nulla rhoncus fringilla ut non neque. Vivamus nibh urna.
</div>
</div>I think you should edit the anchor tag on bootstrap.css. Otherwise give customized style to the anchor tag with !important (to override the default style on bootstrap.css).
Example code
.nav {
background-color: #000 !important;
}
.nav>li>a {
background-color: #666 !important;
color: #fff;
}<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.2.0/css/bootstrap.min.css">
<script src="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.2.0/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
<div role="tabpanel">
<!-- Nav tabs -->
<ul class="nav nav-tabs" role="tablist">
<li role="presentation" class="active"><a href="#home" aria-controls="home" role="tab" data-toggle="tab">Home</a></li>
<li role="presentation"><a href="#profile" aria-controls="profile" role="tab" data-toggle="tab">Profile</a></li>
<li role="presentation"><a href="#messages" aria-controls="messages" role="tab" data-toggle="tab">Messages</a></li>
<li role="presentation"><a href="#settings" aria-controls="settings" role="tab" data-toggle="tab">Settings</a></li>
</ul>
<!-- Tab panes -->
<div class="tab-content">
<div role="tabpanel" class="tab-pane active" id="home">...</div>
<div role="tabpanel" class="tab-pane" id="profile">tab1</div>
<div role="tabpanel" class="tab-pane" id="messages">tab2</div>
<div role="tabpanel" class="tab-pane" id="settings">tab3</div>
</div>
</div>Fiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/zjjpocv6/2/
.panel.with-nav-tabs .panel-heading {
padding: 5px 5px 0 5px;
}
.panel.with-nav-tabs .nav-tabs {
border-bottom: none;
}
.panel.with-nav-tabs .nav-justified {
margin-bottom: -1px;
}
/********************************************************************/
/*** PANEL DEFAULT ***/
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #777;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>.open>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>.open>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>.open>a:focus,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #777;
background-color: #ddd;
border-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.active>a:focus {
color: #555;
background-color: #fff;
border-color: #ddd;
border-bottom-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu {
background-color: #f5f5f5;
border-color: #ddd;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a {
color: #777;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus {
background-color: #ddd;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-default .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:focus {
color: #fff;
background-color: #555;
}
/********************************************************************/
/*** PANEL PRIMARY ***/
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #fff;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>.open>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>.open>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>.open>a:focus,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #fff;
background-color: #3071a9;
border-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.active>a:focus {
color: #428bca;
background-color: #fff;
border-color: #428bca;
border-bottom-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu {
background-color: #428bca;
border-color: #3071a9;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a {
color: #fff;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus {
background-color: #3071a9;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-primary .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:focus {
background-color: #4a9fe9;
}
/********************************************************************/
/*** PANEL SUCCESS ***/
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #3c763d;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>.open>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>.open>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>.open>a:focus,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #3c763d;
background-color: #d6e9c6;
border-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.active>a:focus {
color: #3c763d;
background-color: #fff;
border-color: #d6e9c6;
border-bottom-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu {
background-color: #dff0d8;
border-color: #d6e9c6;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a {
color: #3c763d;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus {
background-color: #d6e9c6;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-success .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:focus {
color: #fff;
background-color: #3c763d;
}
/********************************************************************/
/*** PANEL INFO ***/
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #31708f;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>.open>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>.open>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>.open>a:focus,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #31708f;
background-color: #bce8f1;
border-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.active>a:focus {
color: #31708f;
background-color: #fff;
border-color: #bce8f1;
border-bottom-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu {
background-color: #d9edf7;
border-color: #bce8f1;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a {
color: #31708f;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus {
background-color: #bce8f1;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-info .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:focus {
color: #fff;
background-color: #31708f;
}
/********************************************************************/
/*** PANEL WARNING ***/
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #8a6d3b;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>.open>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>.open>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>.open>a:focus,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #8a6d3b;
background-color: #faebcc;
border-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.active>a:focus {
color: #8a6d3b;
background-color: #fff;
border-color: #faebcc;
border-bottom-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu {
background-color: #fcf8e3;
border-color: #faebcc;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a {
color: #8a6d3b;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus {
background-color: #faebcc;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-warning .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:focus {
color: #fff;
background-color: #8a6d3b;
}
/********************************************************************/
/*** PANEL DANGER ***/
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #a94442;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>.open>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>.open>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>.open>a:focus,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li>a:focus {
color: #a94442;
background-color: #ebccd1;
border-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.active>a:focus {
color: #a94442;
background-color: #fff;
border-color: #ebccd1;
border-bottom-color: transparent;
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu {
background-color: #f2dede;
/* bg color */
border-color: #ebccd1;
/* border color */
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a {
color: #a94442;
/* normal text color */
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>li>a:focus {
background-color: #ebccd1;
/* hover bg color */
}
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:hover,
.with-nav-tabs.panel-danger .nav-tabs>li.dropdown .dropdown-menu>.active>a:focus {
color: #fff;
/* active text color */
background-color: #a94442;
/* active bg color */
}<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<link href="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.2.0/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet" id="bootstrap-css">
<script src="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.2.0/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
<!------ Include the above in your HEAD tag ---------->
<div class="container">
<div class="page-header">
<h1>Panels with nav tabs.<span class="pull-right label label-default">:)</span></h1>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="panel with-nav-tabs panel-default">
<div class="panel-heading">
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#tab1default" data-toggle="tab">Default 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab2default" data-toggle="tab">Default 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab3default" data-toggle="tab">Default 3</a></li>
<li class="dropdown">
<a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Dropdown <span class="caret"></span></a>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
<li><a href="#tab4default" data-toggle="tab">Default 4</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab5default" data-toggle="tab">Default 5</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="tab1default">Default 1</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab2default">Default 2</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab3default">Default 3</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab4default">Default 4</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab5default">Default 5</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="panel with-nav-tabs panel-primary">
<div class="panel-heading">
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#tab1primary" data-toggle="tab">Primary 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab2primary" data-toggle="tab">Primary 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab3primary" data-toggle="tab">Primary 3</a></li>
<li class="dropdown">
<a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Dropdown <span class="caret"></span></a>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
<li><a href="#tab4primary" data-toggle="tab">Primary 4</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab5primary" data-toggle="tab">Primary 5</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="tab1primary">Primary 1</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab2primary">Primary 2</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab3primary">Primary 3</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab4primary">Primary 4</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab5primary">Primary 5</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="panel with-nav-tabs panel-success">
<div class="panel-heading">
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#tab1success" data-toggle="tab">Success 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab2success" data-toggle="tab">Success 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab3success" data-toggle="tab">Success 3</a></li>
<li class="dropdown">
<a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Dropdown <span class="caret"></span></a>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
<li><a href="#tab4success" data-toggle="tab">Success 4</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab5success" data-toggle="tab">Success 5</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="tab1success">Success 1</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab2success">Success 2</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab3success">Success 3</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab4success">Success 4</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab5success">Success 5</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="panel with-nav-tabs panel-info">
<div class="panel-heading">
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#tab1info" data-toggle="tab">Info 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab2info" data-toggle="tab">Info 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab3info" data-toggle="tab">Info 3</a></li>
<li class="dropdown">
<a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Dropdown <span class="caret"></span></a>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
<li><a href="#tab4info" data-toggle="tab">Info 4</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab5info" data-toggle="tab">Info 5</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="tab1info">Info 1</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab2info">Info 2</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab3info">Info 3</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab4info">Info 4</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab5info">Info 5</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="panel with-nav-tabs panel-warning">
<div class="panel-heading">
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#tab1warning" data-toggle="tab">Warning 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab2warning" data-toggle="tab">Warning 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab3warning" data-toggle="tab">Warning 3</a></li>
<li class="dropdown">
<a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Dropdown <span class="caret"></span></a>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
<li><a href="#tab4warning" data-toggle="tab">Warning 4</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab5warning" data-toggle="tab">Warning 5</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="tab1warning">Warning 1</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab2warning">Warning 2</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab3warning">Warning 3</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab4warning">Warning 4</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab5warning">Warning 5</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="panel with-nav-tabs panel-danger">
<div class="panel-heading">
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#tab1danger" data-toggle="tab">Danger 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab2danger" data-toggle="tab">Danger 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab3danger" data-toggle="tab">Danger 3</a></li>
<li class="dropdown">
<a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Dropdown <span class="caret"></span></a>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
<li><a href="#tab4danger" data-toggle="tab">Danger 4</a></li>
<li><a href="#tab5danger" data-toggle="tab">Danger 5</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="tab1danger">Danger 1</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab2danger">Danger 2</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab3danger">Danger 3</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab4danger">Danger 4</div>
<div class="tab-pane fade" id="tab5danger">Danger 5</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br/>