diff --git a/changelog/upgrade-notes.md b/changelog/upgrade-notes.md
index 0438fdcd3f..9cd3cf4f21 100644
--- a/changelog/upgrade-notes.md
+++ b/changelog/upgrade-notes.md
@@ -2,6 +2,35 @@
 
 ### v3.11.0
 
+#### `ol.interaction.DragBox` and `ol.interaction.DragZoom` changes
+
+Styling is no longer done with `ol.Style`, but with pure CSS. The `style` constructor option is no longer required, and no longer available. Instead, there is a `className` option for the CSS selector. The default for `ol.interaction.DragBox` is `ol-dragbox`, and `ol.interaction.DragZoom` uses `ol-dragzoom`. If you previously had
+```js
+new ol.interaction.DragZoom({
+  style: new ol.style.Style({
+    stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
+      color: 'red',
+      width: 3
+    }),
+    fill: new ol.style.Fill({
+      color: [255, 255, 255, 0.4]
+    })
+  })
+});
+```
+you'll now just need
+```js
+new ol.interaction.DragZoom();
+```
+but with additional css:
+```css
+.ol-dragzoom {
+  border-color: red;
+  border-width: 3px;
+  background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.4);
+}
+```
+
 ### v3.10.0
 
 #### `ol.layer.Layer` changes
diff --git a/css/ol.css b/css/ol.css
index 65577bd10f..43c07a9bea 100644
--- a/css/ol.css
+++ b/css/ol.css
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+.ol-box {
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  border: 2px solid blue;
+}
 
 .ol-mouse-position {
   top: 8px;
diff --git a/examples/box-selection.css b/examples/box-selection.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..90c08960a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/box-selection.css
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+.ol-dragbox {
+  background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.4);
+  border-color: rgba(100,150,0,1);
+}
diff --git a/examples/box-selection.js b/examples/box-selection.js
index ded817496a..69ed2a936a 100644
--- a/examples/box-selection.js
+++ b/examples/box-selection.js
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ goog.require('ol.layer.Tile');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Vector');
 goog.require('ol.source.OSM');
 goog.require('ol.source.Vector');
-goog.require('ol.style.Fill');
-goog.require('ol.style.Stroke');
-goog.require('ol.style.Style');
 
 
 var vectorSource = new ol.source.Vector({
@@ -44,15 +41,7 @@ var selectedFeatures = select.getFeatures();
 
 // a DragBox interaction used to select features by drawing boxes
 var dragBox = new ol.interaction.DragBox({
-  condition: ol.events.condition.platformModifierKeyOnly,
-  style: new ol.style.Style({
-    fill: new ol.style.Fill({
-      color: [255, 255, 255, 0.4]
-    }),
-    stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
-      color: [100, 150, 0, 1]
-    })
-  })
+  condition: ol.events.condition.platformModifierKeyOnly
 });
 
 map.addInteraction(dragBox);
diff --git a/externs/olx.js b/externs/olx.js
index bcfbb01c18..b7abb24f37 100644
--- a/externs/olx.js
+++ b/externs/olx.js
@@ -2281,13 +2281,21 @@ olx.interaction.DragAndDropOptions.prototype.projection;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{condition: (ol.events.ConditionType|undefined),
- *     style: ol.style.Style}}
+ * @typedef {{className: (string|undefined),
+ *     condition: (ol.events.ConditionType|undefined)}}
  * @api
  */
 olx.interaction.DragBoxOptions;
 
 
+/**
+ * CSS class name for styling the box. The default is `ol-dragbox`.
+ * @type {string|undefined}
+ * @api
+ */
+olx.interaction.DragBoxOptions.prototype.className;
+
+
 /**
  * A function that takes an {@link ol.MapBrowserEvent} and returns a boolean
  * to indicate whether that event should be handled.
@@ -2298,14 +2306,6 @@ olx.interaction.DragBoxOptions;
 olx.interaction.DragBoxOptions.prototype.condition;
 
 
-/**
- * Style for the box.
- * @type {ol.style.Style}
- * @api
- */
-olx.interaction.DragBoxOptions.prototype.style;
-
-
 /**
  * @typedef {{kinetic: (ol.Kinetic|undefined)}}
  * @api
@@ -2374,14 +2374,22 @@ olx.interaction.DragRotateOptions.prototype.duration;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{condition: (ol.events.ConditionType|undefined),
- *     duration: (number|undefined),
- *     style: (ol.style.Style|undefined)}}
+ * @typedef {{className: (string|undefined),
+ *     condition: (ol.events.ConditionType|undefined),
+ *     duration: (number|undefined)}}
  * @api
  */
 olx.interaction.DragZoomOptions;
 
 
+/**
+ * CSS class name for styling the box. The default is `ol-dragzoom`.
+ * @type {string|undefined}
+ * @api
+ */
+olx.interaction.DragZoomOptions.prototype.className;
+
+
 /**
  * A function that takes an {@link ol.MapBrowserEvent} and returns a boolean
  * to indicate whether that event should be handled.
@@ -2400,14 +2408,6 @@ olx.interaction.DragZoomOptions.prototype.condition;
 olx.interaction.DragZoomOptions.prototype.duration;
 
 
-/**
- * Style for the box.
- * @type {ol.style.Style|undefined}
- * @api
- */
-olx.interaction.DragZoomOptions.prototype.style;
-
-
 /**
  * @typedef {{clickTolerance: (number|undefined),
  *     features: (ol.Collection.<ol.Feature>|undefined),
@@ -5995,7 +5995,7 @@ olx.style.TextOptions.prototype.rotation;
 
 
 /**
- * Text content. 
+ * Text content.
  * @type {string|undefined}
  * @api
  */
@@ -6003,7 +6003,7 @@ olx.style.TextOptions.prototype.text;
 
 
 /**
- * Text alignment. Possible values: 'left', 'right', 'center', 'end' or 'start'. 
+ * Text alignment. Possible values: 'left', 'right', 'center', 'end' or 'start'.
  * Default is 'start'.
  * @type {string|undefined}
  * @api
@@ -6012,7 +6012,7 @@ olx.style.TextOptions.prototype.textAlign;
 
 
 /**
- * Text base line. Possible values: 'bottom', 'top', 'middle', 'alphabetic', 
+ * Text base line. Possible values: 'bottom', 'top', 'middle', 'alphabetic',
  * 'hanging', 'ideographic'. Default is 'alphabetic'.
  * @type {string|undefined}
  * @api
diff --git a/src/ol/interaction/dragboxinteraction.js b/src/ol/interaction/dragboxinteraction.js
index 7aa5eb19be..ca044f1067 100644
--- a/src/ol/interaction/dragboxinteraction.js
+++ b/src/ol/interaction/dragboxinteraction.js
@@ -93,17 +93,11 @@ ol.interaction.DragBox = function(opt_options) {
 
   var options = opt_options ? opt_options : {};
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {ol.style.Style}
-   */
-  var style = options.style ? options.style : null;
-
   /**
    * @type {ol.render.Box}
    * @private
    */
-  this.box_ = new ol.render.Box(style);
+  this.box_ = new ol.render.Box(options.className || 'ol-dragbox');
 
   /**
    * @type {ol.Pixel}
diff --git a/src/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.js b/src/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.js
index 96bdc04ce5..939dfeb561 100644
--- a/src/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.js
+++ b/src/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.js
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ goog.require('ol.easing');
 goog.require('ol.events.condition');
 goog.require('ol.extent');
 goog.require('ol.interaction.DragBox');
-goog.require('ol.style.Stroke');
-goog.require('ol.style.Style');
 
 
 
@@ -17,6 +15,9 @@ goog.require('ol.style.Style');
  * normally combined with an {@link ol.events.condition} that limits
  * it to when a key, shift by default, is held down.
  *
+ * To change the style of the box, use CSS and the `.ol-dragzoom` selector, or
+ * your custom one configured with `className`.
+ *
  * @constructor
  * @extends {ol.interaction.DragBox}
  * @param {olx.interaction.DragZoomOptions=} opt_options Options.
@@ -34,20 +35,9 @@ ol.interaction.DragZoom = function(opt_options) {
    */
   this.duration_ = options.duration !== undefined ? options.duration : 200;
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {ol.style.Style}
-   */
-  var style = options.style ?
-      options.style : new ol.style.Style({
-        stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
-          color: [0, 0, 255, 1]
-        })
-      });
-
   goog.base(this, {
     condition: condition,
-    style: style
+    className: options.className || 'ol-dragzoom'
   });
 
 };
diff --git a/src/ol/render/box.js b/src/ol/render/box.js
index 7a416a392a..a0541d806f 100644
--- a/src/ol/render/box.js
+++ b/src/ol/render/box.js
@@ -4,18 +4,30 @@ goog.provide('ol.render.Box');
 
 goog.require('goog.Disposable');
 goog.require('goog.asserts');
-goog.require('goog.events');
 goog.require('ol.geom.Polygon');
-goog.require('ol.render.EventType');
 
 
 
 /**
  * @constructor
  * @extends {goog.Disposable}
- * @param {ol.style.Style} style Style.
+ * @param {string} className CSS class name.
  */
-ol.render.Box = function(style) {
+ol.render.Box = function(className) {
+
+  /**
+   * @type {ol.geom.Polygon}
+   * @private
+   */
+  this.geometry_ = null;
+
+  /**
+   * @type {HTMLDivElement}
+   * @private
+   */
+  this.element_ = /** @type {HTMLDivElement} */ (document.createElement('div'));
+  this.element_.style.position = 'absolute';
+  this.element_.className = 'ol-box ' + className;
 
   /**
    * @private
@@ -23,12 +35,6 @@ ol.render.Box = function(style) {
    */
   this.map_ = null;
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {goog.events.Key}
-   */
-  this.postComposeListenerKey_ = null;
-
   /**
    * @private
    * @type {ol.Pixel}
@@ -41,27 +47,68 @@ ol.render.Box = function(style) {
    */
   this.endPixel_ = null;
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {ol.geom.Polygon}
-   */
-  this.geometry_ = null;
-
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {ol.style.Style}
-   */
-  this.style_ = style;
-
 };
 goog.inherits(ol.render.Box, goog.Disposable);
 
 
 /**
- * @private
- * @return {ol.geom.Polygon} Geometry.
+ * @inheritDoc
  */
-ol.render.Box.prototype.createGeometry_ = function() {
+ol.render.Box.prototype.disposeInternal = function() {
+  this.setMap(null);
+  goog.base(this, 'disposeInternal');
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * @private
+ */
+ol.render.Box.prototype.render_ = function() {
+  var startPixel = this.startPixel_;
+  var endPixel = this.endPixel_;
+  goog.asserts.assert(startPixel, 'this.startPixel_ must be truthy');
+  goog.asserts.assert(endPixel, 'this.endPixel_ must be truthy');
+  var px = 'px';
+  var style = this.element_.style;
+  style.left = Math.min(startPixel[0], endPixel[0]) + px;
+  style.top = Math.min(startPixel[1], endPixel[1]) + px;
+  style.width = Math.abs(endPixel[0] - startPixel[0]) + px;
+  style.height = Math.abs(endPixel[1] - startPixel[1]) + px;
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * @param {ol.Map} map Map.
+ */
+ol.render.Box.prototype.setMap = function(map) {
+  if (this.map_) {
+    this.map_.getViewport().removeChild(this.element_);
+    var style = this.element_.style;
+    style.left = style.top = style.width = style.height = 'inherit';
+  }
+  this.map_ = map;
+  if (this.map_) {
+    this.map_.getViewport().appendChild(this.element_);
+  }
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * @param {ol.Pixel} startPixel Start pixel.
+ * @param {ol.Pixel} endPixel End pixel.
+ */
+ol.render.Box.prototype.setPixels = function(startPixel, endPixel) {
+  this.startPixel_ = startPixel;
+  this.endPixel_ = endPixel;
+  this.createOrUpdateGeometry();
+  this.render_();
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Creates or updates the cached geometry.
+ */
+ol.render.Box.prototype.createOrUpdateGeometry = function() {
   goog.asserts.assert(this.startPixel_,
       'this.startPixel_ must be truthy');
   goog.asserts.assert(this.endPixel_,
@@ -78,33 +125,11 @@ ol.render.Box.prototype.createGeometry_ = function() {
   var coordinates = pixels.map(this.map_.getCoordinateFromPixel, this.map_);
   // close the polygon
   coordinates[4] = coordinates[0].slice();
-  return new ol.geom.Polygon([coordinates]);
-};
-
-
-/**
- * @inheritDoc
- */
-ol.render.Box.prototype.disposeInternal = function() {
-  this.setMap(null);
-};
-
-
-/**
- * @param {ol.render.Event} event Event.
- * @private
- */
-ol.render.Box.prototype.handleMapPostCompose_ = function(event) {
-  var geometry = this.geometry_;
-  goog.asserts.assert(geometry, 'geometry should be defined');
-  var style = this.style_;
-  goog.asserts.assert(style, 'style must be truthy');
-  // use drawAsync(Infinity) to draw above everything
-  event.vectorContext.drawAsync(Infinity, function(render) {
-    render.setFillStrokeStyle(style.getFill(), style.getStroke());
-    render.setTextStyle(style.getText());
-    render.drawPolygonGeometry(geometry, null);
-  });
+  if (!this.geometry_) {
+    this.geometry_ = new ol.geom.Polygon([coordinates]);
+  } else {
+    this.geometry_.setCoordinates([coordinates]);
+  }
 };
 
 
@@ -114,45 +139,3 @@ ol.render.Box.prototype.handleMapPostCompose_ = function(event) {
 ol.render.Box.prototype.getGeometry = function() {
   return this.geometry_;
 };
-
-
-/**
- * @private
- */
-ol.render.Box.prototype.requestMapRenderFrame_ = function() {
-  if (this.map_ && this.startPixel_ && this.endPixel_) {
-    this.map_.render();
-  }
-};
-
-
-/**
- * @param {ol.Map} map Map.
- */
-ol.render.Box.prototype.setMap = function(map) {
-  if (this.postComposeListenerKey_) {
-    goog.events.unlistenByKey(this.postComposeListenerKey_);
-    this.postComposeListenerKey_ = null;
-    this.map_.render();
-    this.map_ = null;
-  }
-  this.map_ = map;
-  if (this.map_) {
-    this.postComposeListenerKey_ = goog.events.listen(
-        map, ol.render.EventType.POSTCOMPOSE, this.handleMapPostCompose_, false,
-        this);
-    this.requestMapRenderFrame_();
-  }
-};
-
-
-/**
- * @param {ol.Pixel} startPixel Start pixel.
- * @param {ol.Pixel} endPixel End pixel.
- */
-ol.render.Box.prototype.setPixels = function(startPixel, endPixel) {
-  this.startPixel_ = startPixel;
-  this.endPixel_ = endPixel;
-  this.geometry_ = this.createGeometry_();
-  this.requestMapRenderFrame_();
-};
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.test.js b/test/spec/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.test.js
index 61b0758fe4..987efaff3b 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/interaction/dragzoominteraction.test.js
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ describe('ol.interaction.DragZoom', function() {
       var instance = new ol.interaction.DragZoom();
       expect(instance).to.be.an(ol.interaction.DragZoom);
     });
+    it('sets "ol-dragzoom" as box className', function() {
+      var instance = new ol.interaction.DragZoom();
+      expect(instance.box_.element_.className).to.be('ol-box ol-dragzoom');
+    });
+    it('sets a custom box className', function() {
+      var instance = new ol.interaction.DragZoom({className: 'test-dragzoom'});
+      expect(instance.box_.element_.className).to.be('ol-box test-dragzoom');
+    });
 
   });
 
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/render/box.test.js b/test/spec/ol/render/box.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..958eee52de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/spec/ol/render/box.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+goog.provide('ol.test.render.Box');
+
+describe('ol.render.Box', function() {
+
+  var box, map, target;
+
+  beforeEach(function() {
+    box = new ol.render.Box('test-box');
+
+    target = document.createElement('div');
+    document.body.appendChild(target);
+
+    map = new ol.Map({
+      target: target,
+      view: new ol.View({
+        center: [0, 0],
+        zoom: 0
+      })
+    });
+    map.renderSync();
+    box.setMap(map);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(function() {
+    goog.dispose(map);
+    document.body.removeChild(target);
+  });
+
+  describe('Constructor', function() {
+    it('creates an absolutely positioned DIV with a className', function() {
+      expect(box.element_).to.be.a(HTMLDivElement);
+      expect(box.element_.style.position).to.be('absolute');
+      expect(box.element_.className).to.be('ol-box test-box');
+      expect(box.element_.style.position).to.be('absolute');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('#setPixels()', function() {
+    it('applies correct styles for a box', function()  {
+      box.setPixels([1, 2], [4, 8]);
+      expect(box.element_.style.left).to.be('1px');
+      expect(box.element_.style.top).to.be('2px');
+      expect(box.element_.style.width).to.be('3px');
+      expect(box.element_.style.height).to.be('6px');
+    });
+    it('applies correct styles for a flipped box', function() {
+      box.setPixels([4, 8], [1, 2]);
+      expect(box.element_.style.left).to.be('1px');
+      expect(box.element_.style.top).to.be('2px');
+      expect(box.element_.style.width).to.be('3px');
+      expect(box.element_.style.height).to.be('6px');
+    });
+    it('creates a polygon geometry', function() {
+      expect(box.getGeometry()).to.be(null);
+      box.setPixels([1, 2], [3, 4]);
+      expect(box.getGeometry()).to.be.a(ol.geom.Polygon);
+    });
+  });
+
+});
+
+goog.require('ol.Map');
+goog.require('ol.View');
+goog.require('ol.geom.Polygon');
+goog.require('ol.render.Box');