use transition on ::-webkit-scrollbar?
It is fairly easy to achieve using Mari M’s background-color: inherit; technique in addition with -webkit-background-clip: text;. Live demo; https://jsfiddle.net/s10f04du/ @media screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio:0) { .container { overflow-y: scroll; overflow-x: hidden; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); -webkit-background-clip: text; transition: background-color .8s; } .container:hover { background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.18); } .container::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { background-color: inherit; } }