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Getting Started with the KendoReact Dropdowns

Updated on Nov 4, 2026

This guide provides essential information about using the KendoReact Dropdowns package—you will learn how to install the package, add Dropdowns to your project, style the components, and activate your license. The steps demonstrated in this guide are applicable to all KendoReact Dropdowns.

After completing this guide, you will be able to reproduce the following example.

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Before You Begin

To follow the steps in this guide, you need to have a React project set up. If you don't have one, you can create a new React application using Vite by running the following command in your terminal:

npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react-ts

This guide requires that you have basic knowledge of React and TypeScript, and that you have already created a blank React project.

You can accelerate your Dropdowns journey with the KendoReact Agentic UI Generator and the Component Assistant prompts.

Install the Component

The KendoReact Dropdowns package is distributed via npm and can be installed using the npm package manager.

To install the Dropdowns package along with its dependencies and Kendo theme, run the following command in the root folder of your React project:

npm i @progress/kendo-react-dropdowns @progress/kendo-theme-meridian

Import the CSS file from the package in src/App.tsx. Add this import before your existing App.css import:

jsx

import '@progress/kendo-theme-meridian/dist/all.css';

With this import in place, you already have professionally designed styling applied to your app out-of-box. You can also try any of the other available Kendo UI Themes.

Are you looking for guidance around how to create visually appealing and consistent user interfaces with Telerik UI components? Check out the Progress Design System.

Use the Component

Place the import statements in the App component file (for example: src/App.tsx).

tsx

import { DropDownList } from '@progress/kendo-react-dropdowns';

This guide shows how to add the DropDownList.

Get the data for the DropDownList.

tsx

const sizes = ['X-Small', 'Small', 'Medium', 'Large', 'X-Large', '2X-Large'];

Bind the data to the DropDownList and add the DropDownList's tags to the App component file of your React project (for example, src/App.tsx).

tsx

return (
    <div>
        <div>T-shirt size:</div>
        <DropDownList style={{ width: '300px' }} data={sizes} />
    </div>
);

Build and run the application by typing the following command in the root folder of your project:
sh
```
npm run dev
```
Navigate to http://localhost:5173 to see the KendoReact DropDownList component on the page.

KendoReact Dropdowns Dependencies

The Dropdowns package requires you to install the following peer dependencies in your application:

Package Name	Description
react 18.0.0*	Contains the functionality necessary to define React components.
react-dom	Contains the React renderer for the web.
@progress/kendo-react-buttons	Contains the KendoReact Buttons library, which provides buttons.
@progress/kendo-react-treeview	Contains the KendoReact TreeView package that is used in the DropDowns.
@progress/kendo-react-intl	Contains the KendoReact Internationalization package that applies the desired cultures by providing services and pipes for the parsing and formatting of dates and numbers.
@progress/kendo-licensing	Contains the internal infrastructure related to licensing.
@progress/kendo-svg-icons	Contains the KendoReact SVG icons.

Activating Your License Key

Important: The KendoReact Dropdowns have both free and premium features. Only the premium features require a license key file to be installed in your project:

Trial usage: Start a free trial and download a trial license key file
Commercial usage: Purchase a license and download a commercial license key file

Without a valid license key file, the premium features will display licensing warnings and watermarks.

Follow the instructions on the KendoReact My License page to download and install your license key file. You can skip this step if your application already contains a KendoReact license file.

Next Steps

* This is a free component with premium features.