CSS Margins
CSS Margin Properties
The CSS margin properties are used to generate space around elements.
The margin properties set the size of the white space OUTSIDE the border.
This element has a margin of 80px.
CSS Margins
The CSS margin properties set the size of the white space OUTSIDE the border.
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Note: The margins are completely transparent - and cannot have a background color! |
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With CSS, you have full control over the margins. There are CSS properties for setting the margin for each side of an element (top, right, bottom, and left).
Margin - Individual Sides
CSS has properties for specifying the margin for each side of an element:
margin-topmargin-rightmargin-bottommargin-left
All the margin properties can have the following values:
- auto - the browser calculates the margin
- length - specifies a margin in px, pt, cm, etc.
- % - specifies a margin in % of the width of the containing element
- inherit - specifies that the margin should be inherited from the parent element
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Note: It is also possible to use negative values for margins; to overlap content. |
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The following example sets different margins for all four sides of a <p> element:
Example
p {
margin-top: 100px;
margin-bottom: 100px;
margin-right: 150px;
margin-left: 80px;
}
Try it yourself »
The following example lets the left margin be inherited from the parent element:
Example
div.container {
border: 1px solid red;
margin-left: 100px;
}
p.one {
margin-left:
inherit;
}
Try it yourself »
Margin - Shorthand Property
To shorten the code, it is possible to specify all the margin properties in one property.
The margin property is a shorthand property for the following individual margin properties:
margin-topmargin-rightmargin-bottommargin-left
So, here is how it works:
If the margin property has four values:
- margin: 25px 50px 75px 100px;
- top margin is 25px
- right margin is 50px
- bottom margin is 75px
- left margin is 100px
If the margin property has three values:
- margin: 25px 50px 75px;
- top margin is 25px
- right and left margins are 50px
- bottom margin is 75px
If the margin property has two values:
- margin: 25px 50px;
- top and bottom margins are 25px
- right and left margins are 50px
If the margin property has one value:
- margin: 25px;
- all four margins are 25px
Use of The auto Value
You can set the margin property to auto to horizontally center the element within its container.
The element will then take up the specified width, and the remaining space will be split equally between the left and right margins:
Test Yourself with Exercises!
Exercise 1 » Exercise 2 » Exercise 3 »
All CSS Margin Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| margin | A shorthand property for setting the margin properties in one declaration |
| margin-bottom | Sets the bottom margin of an element |
| margin-left | Sets the left margin of an element |
| margin-right | Sets the right margin of an element |
| margin-top | Sets the top margin of an element |