Horizontally center element css

How to center a div in CSS

In this article, we are going to learn how to center a div in CSS both horizontally and vertically using 15 different methods with examples.

As a web developer, one of the most common things that you will most frequently need to do is to center a div element using CSS .

1. Using align property
2. Using flexbox (justify-content)
3. Position absolute and margin auto
4. Position absolute and translateX
5. Using table
6. Using CSS table property

1. Using flexbox (align-items)
2. Position absolute and margin auto (vertical center)
3. Position absolute and translateY (vertical center)
4. Using table (vertical center)
5. Using CSS table property (vertical center)

Center div Horizontally In CSS

Let’s see how you can align div elements to center horizontally. We have discussed 5 different ways for it, of which margin auto and flexbox is the most commonly used method.

1. Center div Horizontally using margin method

To center a div element horizontally you can simply use the margin property of CSS. It is the easiest way to align a div to the center.

Give margin-left: auto and margin-right: auto to the element or you can use shorthand margin: 0 auto , this will automatically adjust the element to the center of its parent element horizontally by leaving equal spaces to its left and right side.

Here is an example in which a child element is aligned to the center using margin property.

/* center element using margin property */ .center < margin: 0 auto; >.parent < padding: 20px; background: #7E89B4; border: 2px solid #4B5681; >.child

Note : To align any element to center horizontally you need to keep 2 things in mind:

1. The element must be a block label element. If the display property of an element is inline or inline-block then it will not center using align property.
2. The width of the element should be smaller than the parent element. If the element is itself bigger than its parent then will be unable to get equal spacing from its left and right side and hence won’t center.

2. Center div Horizontally using flexbox

One of the best ways to align the div element to the center horizontally is by using the CSS flexbox.

Using flexbox you can position any element in 2D (horizontal and vertical). Here we will center div horizontally.

First, add display: flex property to the parent of the div element to make it a flex container, then use the justify-content property. Set justify-content: center to center horizontally.

Remember the flex property should be applied to the parent element. Here is the example code.

/* center element using flexbox */ .center < display: flex; justify-content: center; >.parent < border: 2px solid #4B5681; background: #7E89B4; padding: 20px; >.child

3. Center div Horizontally Using Position absolute and margin auto

An element having an absolute position is like a floating element in the parent element. You can move it wherever you want within the document.

To align the child element center horizontally you need to apply left: 0 , right: 0 , and margin-left: auto , margin-right: auto to the element ( margin: 0 auto shorthand).

.parent < position: relative; border: 2px solid #4B5681; background: #7E89B4; height: 100px; >/* center element using position absolute and margin auto */ .child

4. Center div horizontally using position absolute and translateX

Using position property and translateX you can align the element horizontally as well as vertically to center. Here we will see horizontal alignment.

For this, the position of the parent element should be relative and the position of the child element should be absolute .

Now, shift the child element 50% to its left.

This left shift of 50% will make the child element start from midway to the right side of the parent element.

You can see in the above picture we want to center the box horizontally but it starts from the middle of the parent element. So we can apply the translateX property and move the child element 50% in a negative direction which will align it in the center. Now add transform: translateX(-50%) to finally center the child element.

5. Center div Horizontally using table

Using a table to design a page layout is not used nowadays, but it’s worth it to know that you can use this to center the element horizontally.

To center an element horizontally in the table use text-align: center to parent and display: inline-block to the child element.

To see the code in effect width of the child should be less than the parent element so we have set the parent width to 100vw for understanding purposes.

Here is HTML and CSS code as an example.

6. Center div Horizontally Using Display table-cell

CSS enables us to change ordinary elements into the effect of table elements. Using this feature and concept used in the above approach you can center the element horizontally.

Set display: table-cell and text-align: center to the parent element and display: inline-block to the child element.

2. Center div Vertically In CSS

Now we will see how to center a div vertically in CSS. For most cases you can refer above methods of horizontal alignment and add a few more properties to center it vertically also, but anyway we will discuss it in detail.

1. Center div Vertically Using flexbox

Using flexbox you can align elements both in the horizontal and vertical direction. Here we will align the div in the vertical direction.

First, you need to define display: flex to the parent element. Now the element inside this parent element becomes flex items.

To align the child elements vertically use the align-items property and set its value as the center .

/* Center vertically */ .parent < display: flex; align-items: center; border: 2px solid #4B5681; background: #7E89B4; height: 200px; >.child

2. Center div Vertically Using Absolute position and margin auto

We already know the element having an absolute position is can be moved very easily within the webpage. Using this we can also align to the center.

To align the child element center vertically you need to apply top: 0 , bottom: 0 and margin-top: auto , margin-bottom: auto to the element ( margin: auto 0 shorthand).

3. Center div Vertically Using position absolute and translateY

In the same way, you centered the element horizontally using position absolute and translateX, you can use translateY to center the element vertically.

To do this set position: relative to the parent element and position: absolute to the child element and top: 50% .

This will flow the child element to start from the verticle middle of the parent element, which is not the center but you can use transform: translateY(-50%) to shift it up by 50% which will make it verticle align to the center.

4. Center div Vertically Using the table

As we have discussed above you can also use the table to create a layout and center element (not recommended).

To center an element vertically in the table use vertical-align: middle to parent and display: inline-block to the child element.

To see the code in effect height of the child should be less than the height parent element so we have set the parent height to 200px for understanding purposes.

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CSS Layout — Horizontal & Vertical Align

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.

Example

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;

Example

Tip: For more examples on how to align text, see the CSS Text chapter.

Center an Image

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

Example

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.

Example

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:

Example

The clearfix Hack

Note: If an element is taller than the element containing it, and it is floated, it will overflow outside of its container. You can use the «clearfix hack» to fix this (see example below).

Without Clearfix

With Clearfix

Then we can add the clearfix hack to the containing element to fix this problem:

Example

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 :

Example

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

I am vertically and horizontally centered.

Example

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.

Example

.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.

Example

.center <
height: 200px;
position: relative;
border: 3px solid green;
>

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

Tip: You will learn more about the transform property in our 2D Transforms Chapter.

Center Vertically — Using Flexbox

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

Example

.center <
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
height: 200px;
border: 3px solid green;
>

Tip: You will learn more about Flexbox in our CSS Flexbox Chapter.

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