---
title: CSS Align
description: "## Center Align Elements To horizontally center a block element (like ), use `margin: auto;` Setting the width of the element will prevent it from stretching out to the edges of its container. The element will then take up the specified…"
url: "https://apprentice.mn/docs/css-align/"
updated: "2021-05-10"
category: CSS
---

# CSS Align

## Center Align Elements

To horizontally center a block element (like <div>), use `margin: auto;`

Setting the width of the element will prevent it from stretching out to the edges of its container.

The element will then take up the specified width, and the remaining space will be split equally between the two margins:

This div element is centered.

      `.center {
  margin: auto;
  width: 50%;
  border: 3px solid green;
  padding: 10px;
}`

**Note:** Center aligning has no effect if the `width` property is not set (or set to 100%).

## Center Align Text

To just center the text inside an element, use `text-align: center;`

This text is centered.

      `.center {
  text-align: center;
  border: 3px solid green;
}`

## Center an Image

To center an image, set left and right margin to `auto` and make it into a `block` element:

     ![Paris](https://mgl-bucket.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/mgl/35.jpg)     `img {
  display: block;
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto;
  width: 40%;
}`

## Left and Right Align – Using position

One method for aligning elements is to use `position: absolute;`:

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.

                             `.right {
  position: absolute;
  right: 0px;
  width: 300px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
  padding: 10px;
}`

**Note:** Absolute positioned elements are removed from the normal flow, and can overlap elements.

## Left and Right Align – Using float

Another method for aligning elements is to use the `float` property:

     `.right {
  float: right;
  width: 300px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
  padding: 10px;
}`

## Center Vertically – Using padding

There are many ways to center an element vertically in CSS. A simple solution is to use top and bottom `padding`:

I am vertically centered.

      `.center {
  padding: 70px 0;
  border: 3px solid green;
}`

To center both vertically and horizontally, use `padding` and `text-align: center`:

I am vertically and horizontally centered.

      `.center {
  padding: 70px 0;
  border: 3px solid green;
  text-align: center;
}`

## Center Vertically – Using line-height

Another trick is to use the `line-height` property with a value that is equal to the `height` property:

I am vertically and horizontally centered.

      `.center {
  line-height: 200px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 3px solid green;
  text-align: center;
}

/* If the text has multiple lines, add the following: */
.center p {
  line-height: 1.5;
  display: inline-block;
  vertical-align: middle;
}`

## Center Vertically – Using position & transform

If `padding` and `line-height` are not options, another solution is to use positioning and the `transform` property:

I am vertically and horizontally centered.

      `.center {
  height: 200px;
  position: relative;
  border: 3px solid green;
}

.center p {
  margin: 0;
  position: absolute;
  top: 50%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}`

## Center Vertically – Using Flexbox

You can also use flexbox to center things. Just note that flexbox is not supported in IE10 and earlier versions:

      I am vertically and horizontally centered.      `.center {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
  height: 200px;
  border: 3px solid green;
}`        [https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fapprentice.mn%2Fdocs%2Fcss-align%2F&linkname=CSS%20Align](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fapprentice.mn%2Fdocs%2Fcss-align%2F&linkname=CSS%20Align)[https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fapprentice.mn%2Fdocs%2Fcss-align%2F&linkname=CSS%20Align](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fapprentice.mn%2Fdocs%2Fcss-align%2F&linkname=CSS%20Align)[https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fapprentice.mn%2Fdocs%2Fcss-align%2F&linkname=CSS%20Align](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fapprentice.mn%2Fdocs%2Fcss-align%2F&linkname=CSS%20Align)[https://www.addtoany.com/share](https://www.addtoany.com/share)