diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.css b/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.css
index 8ff6944..fab2c5f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.css
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.css
@@ -8,16 +8,26 @@
 /* The label sits inside the box with its field, so the two read as one
    control. On wide screens the boxes join into one bar (SearchPage.css). */
 .search-bar__field {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  padding: 8px 14px 6px;
+  /* The field is stretched over the whole box (both grid rows) and given
+     the padding itself, so a click anywhere in the box, also on the label
+     or the edge, lands on the field and opens it. The label sits in the
+     same cell underneath, in the space the field's top padding leaves. */
+  --label-size: 13px;
+  --label-line: 1.3;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-rows: auto 36px;
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   border-radius: 12px;
   background: var(--code-bg);
-  transition: border-color 0.15s;
+  transition:
+    border-color 0.15s,
+    background-color 0.15s;
 
+  /* The tint also shows on wide screens, where the joined bar keeps the
+     border color (SearchPage.css) and the border alone wouldn't change. */
   &:hover {
     border-color: var(--accent-border);
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent-bg) 60%, var(--code-bg));
   }
 
   /* The box shows focus for the field inside it, also when the mouse
@@ -28,18 +38,21 @@
   }
 
   label {
-    font-size: 13px;
+    grid-area: 1 / 1;
+    padding: 8px 14px 0;
+    font-size: var(--label-size);
     font-weight: 600;
-    line-height: 1.3;
+    line-height: var(--label-line);
     color: var(--text);
   }
 
   input,
   select {
+    grid-area: 1 / 1 / 3 / 2;
     width: 100%;
-    height: 30px;
+    min-width: 0;
     box-sizing: border-box;
-    padding: 0;
+    padding: calc(8px + var(--label-size) * var(--label-line)) 14px 6px;
     border: 0;
     font: inherit;
     font-size: 16px;
@@ -48,6 +61,13 @@
     outline: none;
   }
 
+  /* Selects and date fields open a list or picker, so they show it is
+     clickable. The text search keeps its text cursor. */
+  select,
+  input[type='date'] {
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+
   input::placeholder {
     color: var(--text);
     opacity: 0.8;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SearchFilters.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SearchFilters.tsx
index ff7a178..d1e1947 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SearchFilters.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SearchFilters.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,59 @@
 import { useQuery } from '@apollo/client/react'
-import { useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type ChangeEvent } from 'react'
 import { FILTER_OPTIONS_QUERY } from '../graphql/queries'
 import { createRetry } from '../utils/create-retry'
 import { formatCountry } from '../utils/format-sighting'
 import './SearchFilters.css'
 
+interface DateInputProps {
+  id: string
+  value: string
+  min?: string
+  max?: string
+  onCommit: (value: string) => void
+}
+
+/**
+ * A date field that tolerates typing. While the user types, the browser
+ * reports "" for an incomplete date and a valid date for a year like
+ * "0002". Feeding either back into a controlled input wipes or rewrites
+ * what is being typed, so the input is uncontrolled and only complete dates
+ * (four-digit year) or a real clear reach the URL state.
+ */
+function DateInput({ id, value, min, max, onCommit }: DateInputProps) {
+  const ref = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null)
+
+  // Keeps the field in step with changes made elsewhere, such as removing
+  // the filter chip, without touching it while the user is mid-edit.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const input = ref.current
+    if (input && input.value !== value && !input.validity.badInput) {
+      input.value = value
+    }
+  }, [value])
+
+  function handleChange(event: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
+    const { value: next, validity } = event.currentTarget
+    if (next === '') {
+      if (!validity.badInput) onCommit('')
+      return
+    }
+    if (Number(next.slice(0, 4)) >= 1000) onCommit(next)
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <input
+      ref={ref}
+      id={id}
+      type="date"
+      defaultValue={value}
+      min={min}
+      max={max}
+      onChange={handleChange}
+    />
+  )
+}
+
 export interface SearchFiltersValue {
   shape: string
   country: string
@@ -122,22 +171,20 @@ export default function SearchFilters({
           </div>
           <div className="search-bar__field">
             <label htmlFor="filter-from">From</label>
-            <input
+            <DateInput
               id="filter-from"
-              type="date"
               value={filters.from}
               max={filters.to || undefined}
-              onChange={(event) => onChange('from', event.target.value)}
+              onCommit={(value) => onChange('from', value)}
             />
           </div>
           <div className="search-bar__field">
             <label htmlFor="filter-to">To</label>
-            <input
+            <DateInput
               id="filter-to"
-              type="date"
               value={filters.to}
               min={filters.from || undefined}
-              onChange={(event) => onChange('to', event.target.value)}
+              onCommit={(value) => onChange('to', value)}
             />
           </div>
         </div>