diff --git a/src/Annotator.js b/src/Annotator.js
index 464324412..98b79ddb3 100644
--- a/src/Annotator.js
+++ b/src/Annotator.js
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import {
     THREAD_EVENT,
     ANNOTATOR_EVENT,
     CONTROLLER_EVENT,
-    CLASS_ANNOTATIONS_LOADED
+    CLASS_ANNOTATIONS_LOADED,
+    SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER
 } from './constants';
 
 class Annotator extends EventEmitter {
@@ -103,7 +104,19 @@ class Annotator extends EventEmitter {
         // Get the container dom element if selector was passed, in tests
         this.container = this.options.container;
         if (typeof this.options.container === 'string') {
-            this.container = document.querySelector(this.options.container);
+            this.container = document.querySelector(this.container);
+        }
+
+        // Get the header dom element if selector was passed, in tests
+        this.headerElement = this.options.headerElement;
+        if (typeof this.headerElement === 'string') {
+            this.headerElement = document.querySelector(this.headerElement);
+        }
+
+        // If using box content preview header and no external header element was specified,
+        // fallback to the container element
+        if (this.options.header !== 'none' && !this.headerElement) {
+            this.headerElement = this.container.querySelector(SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER);
         }
 
         // Get annotated element from container
@@ -243,6 +256,7 @@ class Annotator extends EventEmitter {
             const controller = this.modeControllers[type];
             controller.init({
                 container: this.container,
+                headerElement: this.headerElement,
                 annotatedElement: this.annotatedElement,
                 mode: type,
                 modeButton: this.modeButtons[type],
diff --git a/src/__tests__/Annotator-test.js b/src/__tests__/Annotator-test.js
index 2daa793e4..8d8104a37 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/Annotator-test.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/Annotator-test.js
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@ import {
     ANNOTATOR_EVENT,
     THREAD_EVENT,
     CONTROLLER_EVENT,
-    SELECTOR_ANNOTATED_ELEMENT
+    SELECTOR_ANNOTATED_ELEMENT,
+    SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER
 } from '../constants';
 
 let annotator;
 let controller;
 let thread;
-const html = `<button class="bp-btn-annotate"></button>
+const html = `<div class="bp-header-container"></div>
+<button class="bp-btn-annotate"></button>
 <div class="annotated-element"></div>`;
 
 describe('Annotator', () => {
@@ -112,6 +114,12 @@ describe('Annotator', () => {
             expect(annotator.loadAnnotations).toBeCalled();
         });
 
+        it('should set the headerElement to the container as a fallback', () => {
+            annotator.options.header = 'light';
+            annotator.init(5);
+            expect(annotator.headerElement).toEqual(document.querySelector(SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER));
+        });
+
         it('should setup mobile dialog for mobile browsers', () => {
             annotator.isMobile = true;
             annotator.init();
diff --git a/src/constants.js b/src/constants.js
index a61857eb9..8c1c8c312 100644
--- a/src/constants.js
+++ b/src/constants.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ export const CLASS_ANNOTATION_BUTTON_DRAW = 'bp-btn-annotate-draw';
 export const SELECTOR_ANNOTATION_BUTTON_DRAW = `.${CLASS_ANNOTATION_BUTTON_DRAW}`;
 export const CLASS_ANNOTATION_BUTTON_DRAW_ENTER = 'bp-btn-annotate-draw-enter';
 export const SELECTOR_ANNOTATION_BUTTON_DRAW_ENTER = `.${CLASS_ANNOTATION_BUTTON_DRAW_ENTER}`;
+export const CLASS_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER = 'bp-header-container';
+export const SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER = `.${CLASS_BOX_PREVIEW_HEADER_CONTAINER}`;
 
 export const CLASS_BOX_PREVIEW = 'bp';
 export const SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW = `.${CLASS_BOX_PREVIEW}`;
diff --git a/src/controllers/AnnotationModeController.js b/src/controllers/AnnotationModeController.js
index 07eab09d5..612002936 100644
--- a/src/controllers/AnnotationModeController.js
+++ b/src/controllers/AnnotationModeController.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class AnnotationModeController extends EventEmitter {
      */
     init(data) {
         this.container = data.container;
+        this.headerElement = data.headerElement;
         this.annotatedElement = data.annotatedElement;
         this.mode = data.mode;
         this.annotator = data.annotator;
@@ -69,6 +70,10 @@ class AnnotationModeController extends EventEmitter {
         if (this.buttonEl) {
             this.buttonEl.removeEventListener('click', this.toggleMode);
         }
+
+        if (this.modeButton) {
+            this.hideButton();
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -78,7 +83,11 @@ class AnnotationModeController extends EventEmitter {
      * @return {HTMLElement|null} Annotate button element or null if the selector did not find an element.
      */
     getButton(annotatorSelector) {
-        return this.container.querySelector(annotatorSelector);
+        if (!this.headerElement) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return this.headerElement.querySelector(annotatorSelector);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -87,7 +96,7 @@ class AnnotationModeController extends EventEmitter {
      * @return {void}
      */
     showButton() {
-        if (!this.permissions.canAnnotate) {
+        if (!this.permissions.canAnnotate || !this.modeButton) {
             return;
         }
 
@@ -101,6 +110,22 @@ class AnnotationModeController extends EventEmitter {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Hides the annotate button for the specified mode
+     *
+     * @return {void}
+     */
+    hideButton() {
+        if (!this.permissions.canAnnotate || !this.modeButton) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        this.buttonEl = this.getButton(this.modeButton.selector);
+        if (this.buttonEl) {
+            this.buttonEl.classList.add(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Toggles annotation modes on and off. When an annotation mode is
      * on, annotation threads will be created at that location.
@@ -126,7 +151,7 @@ class AnnotationModeController extends EventEmitter {
      */
     exit() {
         this.emit(CONTROLLER_EVENT.exit, { mode: this.mode });
-        replaceHeader(this.container, SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_BASE_HEADER);
+        replaceHeader(this.headerElement, SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_BASE_HEADER);
 
         this.destroyPendingThreads();
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/DrawingModeController.js b/src/controllers/DrawingModeController.js
index 2295c55e9..07a090acf 100644
--- a/src/controllers/DrawingModeController.js
+++ b/src/controllers/DrawingModeController.js
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ class DrawingModeController extends AnnotationModeController {
         // light, dark, or no value given), then we want to use our draw
         // header. Otherwise we expect header UI to be handled by Preview’s
         // consumer
-        if (data.options.header !== 'none') {
-            this.setupHeader(this.container, shell);
+        if (data.options.header !== 'none' || this.headerElement) {
+            this.setupHeader(this.headerElement, shell);
         }
 
         this.handleSelection = this.handleSelection.bind(this);
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class DrawingModeController extends AnnotationModeController {
      */
     enter() {
         super.enter();
-        replaceHeader(this.container, SELECTOR_DRAW_MODE_HEADER);
+        replaceHeader(this.headerElement, SELECTOR_DRAW_MODE_HEADER);
         this.annotatedElement.classList.add(CLASS_ANNOTATION_DRAW_MODE);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/PointModeController.js b/src/controllers/PointModeController.js
index 18057cb76..0549dd5c4 100644
--- a/src/controllers/PointModeController.js
+++ b/src/controllers/PointModeController.js
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ class PointModeController extends AnnotationModeController {
         // light, dark, or no value given), then we want to use our draw
         // header. Otherwise we expect header UI to be handled by Preview’s
         // consumer
-        if (data.options.header !== 'none') {
-            this.setupHeader(this.container, shell);
+        if (data.options.header !== 'none' || this.headerElement) {
+            this.setupHeader(this.headerElement, shell);
         }
     }
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class PointModeController extends AnnotationModeController {
     /** @inheritdoc */
     enter() {
         super.enter();
-        replaceHeader(this.container, SELECTOR_POINT_MODE_HEADER);
+        replaceHeader(this.headerElement, SELECTOR_POINT_MODE_HEADER);
         this.annotatedElement.classList.add(CLASS_ANNOTATION_POINT_MODE);
 
         if (this.buttonEl) {
diff --git a/src/controllers/__tests__/AnnotationModeController-test.js b/src/controllers/__tests__/AnnotationModeController-test.js
index 7d1ae59b1..39e740fce 100644
--- a/src/controllers/__tests__/AnnotationModeController-test.js
+++ b/src/controllers/__tests__/AnnotationModeController-test.js
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ describe('controllers/AnnotationModeController', () => {
     });
 
     describe('destroy()', () => {
+        beforeEach(() => {
+            controller.hideButton = jest.fn();
+        });
+
         it('should destroy all the threads in controller', () => {
             // eslint-disable-next-line new-cap
             controller.threads = { 1: new rbush() };
@@ -89,17 +93,33 @@ describe('controllers/AnnotationModeController', () => {
             controller.destroy();
             expect(controller.buttonEl.removeEventListener).toBeCalled();
         });
+
+        it('should hide the button if modeButton exists', () => {
+            controller.modeButton = {};
+            controller.destroy();
+            expect(controller.hideButton).toBeCalled();
+        });
+
+        it('should not hide the button if modeButton does not exist', () => {
+            controller.modeButton = undefined;
+            controller.destroy();
+            expect(controller.hideButton).not.toBeCalled();
+        });
     });
 
     describe('getButton', () => {
         it('should return the annotation mode button', () => {
             const buttonEl = document.createElement('button');
             buttonEl.classList.add('class');
-            controller.container = document.createElement('div');
-            controller.container.appendChild(buttonEl);
+            controller.headerElement = document.createElement('div');
+            controller.headerElement.appendChild(buttonEl);
 
             expect(controller.getButton('.class')).not.toBeNull();
         });
+
+        it('should return null if no headerElement', () => {
+            expect(controller.getButton('.class')).toBeNull();
+        });
     });
 
     describe('showButton()', () => {
@@ -139,6 +159,58 @@ describe('controllers/AnnotationModeController', () => {
             expect(buttonEl.classList).not.toContain(CLASS_HIDDEN);
             expect(buttonEl.addEventListener).toBeCalledWith('click', controller.toggleMode);
         });
+
+        it('should do nothing if no modeButton', () => {
+            controller.modeButton = undefined;
+            controller.permissions.canAnnotate = false;
+            controller.showButton();
+            expect(buttonEl.classList).toContain(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('hideButton()', () => {
+        let buttonEl;
+
+        beforeEach(() => {
+            controller.modeButton = {
+                type: {
+                    title: 'Annotation Mode',
+                    selector: '.selector'
+                }
+            };
+            buttonEl = document.createElement('button');
+            buttonEl.title = controller.modeButton.title;
+            // buttonEl.classList.add(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+            buttonEl.classList.add('selector');
+            buttonEl.addEventListener = jest.fn();
+
+            controller.permissions = { canAnnotate: true };
+            controller.getButton = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(buttonEl);
+        });
+
+        it('should do nothing if user cannot annotate', () => {
+            controller.permissions.canAnnotate = false;
+            controller.hideButton();
+            expect(buttonEl.classList).not.toContain(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+        });
+
+        it('should do nothing if button is not found', () => {
+            controller.getButton = jest.fn();
+            controller.hideButton();
+            expect(buttonEl.classList).not.toContain(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+        });
+
+        it('should add the bp-is-hidden class to the button', () => {
+            controller.hideButton();
+            expect(buttonEl.classList).toContain(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+        });
+
+        it('should do nothing if no modeButton', () => {
+            controller.modeButton = undefined;
+            controller.permissions.canAnnotate = false;
+            controller.hideButton();
+            expect(buttonEl.classList).not.toContain(CLASS_HIDDEN);
+        });
     });
 
     describe('toggleMode()', () => {
@@ -178,7 +250,7 @@ describe('controllers/AnnotationModeController', () => {
             expect(controller.emit).toBeCalledWith(CONTROLLER_EVENT.exit, expect.any(Object));
             expect(controller.unbindListeners).toBeCalled();
             expect(controller.emit).toBeCalledWith('binddomlisteners');
-            expect(util.replaceHeader).toBeCalledWith(controller.container, SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_BASE_HEADER);
+            expect(util.replaceHeader).toBeCalledWith(controller.headerElement, SELECTOR_BOX_PREVIEW_BASE_HEADER);
         });
     });
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/__tests__/PointModeController-test.js b/src/controllers/__tests__/PointModeController-test.js
index 17156e036..f85c01808 100644
--- a/src/controllers/__tests__/PointModeController-test.js
+++ b/src/controllers/__tests__/PointModeController-test.js
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ describe('controllers/PointModeController', () => {
             // Set up annotation mode
             controller.annotatedElement = document.createElement('div');
             controller.annotatedElement.classList.add(CLASS_ANNOTATION_MODE);
+            controller.headerElement = document.createElement('div');
 
             controller.buttonEl = document.createElement('button');
             controller.buttonEl.classList.add(CLASS_ACTIVE);
@@ -180,6 +181,7 @@ describe('controllers/PointModeController', () => {
 
             controller.annotatedElement = document.createElement('div');
             controller.annotatedElement.classList.add(CLASS_ANNOTATION_MODE);
+            controller.headerElement = document.createElement('div');
 
             controller.buttonEl = document.createElement('button');
             controller.buttonEl.classList.add(CLASS_ACTIVE);
@@ -189,14 +191,14 @@ describe('controllers/PointModeController', () => {
             controller.enter();
             expect(controller.emit).toBeCalledWith(CONTROLLER_EVENT.enter, expect.any(Object));
             expect(controller.bindListeners).toBeCalled();
-            expect(util.replaceHeader).toBeCalledWith(controller.container, SELECTOR_POINT_MODE_HEADER);
+            expect(util.replaceHeader).toBeCalledWith(controller.headerElement, SELECTOR_POINT_MODE_HEADER);
         });
 
         it('should activate mode button if available', () => {
             controller.buttonEl = document.createElement('button');
             controller.enter();
             expect(controller.buttonEl.classList).toContain(CLASS_ACTIVE);
-            expect(util.replaceHeader).toBeCalledWith(controller.container, SELECTOR_POINT_MODE_HEADER);
+            expect(util.replaceHeader).toBeCalledWith(controller.headerElement, SELECTOR_POINT_MODE_HEADER);
         });
     });