Web/CSS/align-content

The CSS align-content property sets the distribution of space between and around content items along a flexbox's cross-axis or a grid's block axis.

The interactive example below use Grid Layout to demonstrate some of the values of this property.

The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.

This property has no effect on single line flex containers (i.e. ones with flex-wrap: nowrap).

Syntax

/* Basic positional alignment */
/* align-content does not take left and right values */
align-content: center;     /* Pack items around the center */
align-content: start;      /* Pack items from the start */
align-content: end;        /* Pack items from the end */
align-content: flex-start; /* Pack flex items from the start */
align-content: flex-end;   /* Pack flex items from the end */

/* Normal alignment */
align-content: normal;

/* Baseline alignment */ 
align-content: baseline;
align-content: first baseline;
align-content: last baseline;

/* Distributed alignment */
align-content: space-between; /* Distribute items evenly
                                 The first item is flush with the start,
                                 the last is flush with the end */
align-content: space-around;  /* Distribute items evenly
                                 Items have a half-size space
                                 on either end */
align-content: space-evenly;  /* Distribute items evenly
                                 Items have equal space around them */
align-content: stretch;       /* Distribute items evenly
                                 Stretch 'auto'-sized items to fit
                                 the container */

/* Overflow alignment */
align-content: safe center;
align-content: unsafe center;

/* Global values */
align-content: inherit;
align-content: initial;
align-content: unset;

Values

start: The items are packed flush to each other against the start edge of the alignment container in the cross axis.
end: The items are packed flush to each other against the end edge of the alignment container in the cross axis.
flex-start: The items are packed flush to each other against the edge of the alignment container depending on the flex container's cross-start side. This only applies to flex layout items. For items that are not children of a flex container, this value is treated like start.
flex-end: The items are packed flush to each other against the edge of the alignment container depending on the flex container's cross-end side. This only applies to flex layout items. For items that are not children of a flex container, this value is treated like end.
center: The items are packed flush to each other in the center of the alignment container along the cross axis.
normal: The items are packed in their default position as if no align-content value was set.
baseline first baseline last baseline: the baseline is the line upon which most letters "sit" and below which descenders extend.; Specifies participation in first- or last-baseline alignment: aligns the alignment baseline of the box’s first or last baseline set with the corresponding baseline in the shared first or last baseline set of all the boxes in its baseline-sharing group. The fallback alignment for first baseline is start, the one for last baseline is end.
space-between: The items are evenly distributed within the alignment container along the cross axis. The spacing between each pair of adjacent items is the same. The first item is flush with the start edge of the alignment container in the cross axis, and the last item is flush with the end edge of the alignment container in the cross axis.
space-around: The items are evenly distributed within the alignment container along the cross axis. The spacing between each pair of adjacent items is the same. The empty space before the first and after the last item equals half of the space between each pair of adjacent items.
space-evenly: The items are evenly distributed within the alignment container along the cross axis. The spacing between each pair of adjacent items, the start edge and the first item, and the end edge and the last item, are all exactly the same.
stretch: If the combined size of the items along the cross axis is less than the size of the alignment container, any auto-sized items have their size increased equally (not proportionally), while still respecting the constraints imposed by max-height/max-width (or equivalent functionality), so that the combined size exactly fills the alignment container along the cross axis.
safe: Used alongside an alignment keyword. If the chosen keyword means that the item overflows the alignment container causing data loss, the item is instead aligned as if the alignment mode were start.
unsafe: Used alongside an alignment keyword. Regardless of the relative sizes of the item and alignment container and whether overflow which causes data loss might happen, the given alignment value is honored.

Formal definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	multi-line flex containers
Inherited	no
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

normal | <baseline-position> | <content-distribution> | <overflow-position>? <content-position>where <baseline-position> = [ first | last ]? baseline<content-distribution> = space-between | space-around | space-evenly | stretch<overflow-position> = unsafe | safe<content-position> = center | start | end | flex-start | flex-end

Examples

CSS

#container {
  height:200px;
  width: 240px;
  align-content: center; /* Can be changed in the live sample */
  background-color: #8c8c8c;
}

.flex {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

.grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, 50px);
}

div > div {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  border: 2px solid #8c8c8c;
  width: 50px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

#item1 {
  background-color: #8cffa0;
  min-height: 30px;
}

#item2 {
  background-color: #a0c8ff;
  min-height: 50px;
}

#item3 {
  background-color: #ffa08c;
  min-height: 40px;
}

#item4 {
  background-color: #ffff8c;
  min-height: 60px;
}

#item5 {
  background-color: #ff8cff;
  min-height: 70px;
}

#item6 {
  background-color: #8cffff;
  min-height: 50px;
  font-size: 30px;
}

select {
  font-size: 16px;
}

.row {
  margin-top: 10px;
}

HTML

<div id="container" class="flex">
  <div id="item1">1</div>
  <div id="item2">2</div>
  <div id="item3">3</div>
  <div id="item4">4</div>
  <div id="item5">5</div>
  <div id="item6">6</div>
</div>

<div class="row">
  <label for="display">display: </label>
  <select id="display">
    <option value="flex">flex</option>
    <option value="grid">grid</option>
  </select>
</div>

<div class="row">
  <label for="values">align-content: </label>
  <select id="values">
    <option value="normal">normal</option>
    <option value="stretch">stretch</option>
    <option value="flex-start">flex-start</option>
    <option value="flex-end">flex-end</option>
    <option value="center" selected>center</option>
    <option value="space-between">space-between</option>
    <option value="space-around">space-around</option>
    <option value="space-evenly">space-evenly</option>

    <option value="start">start</option>
    <option value="end">end</option>
    <option value="left">left</option>
    <option value="right">right</option>

    <option value="baseline">baseline</option>
    <option value="first baseline">first baseline</option>
    <option value="last baseline">last baseline</option>

    <option value="safe center">safe center</option>
    <option value="unsafe center">unsafe center</option>
    <option value="safe right">safe right</option>
    <option value="unsafe right">unsafe right</option>
    <option value="safe end">safe end</option>
    <option value="unsafe end">unsafe end</option>
    <option value="safe flex-end">safe flex-end</option>
    <option value="unsafe flex-end">unsafe flex-end</option>
  </select>
</div>

JavaScript

var values = document.getElementById('values');
var display = document.getElementById('display');
var container = document.getElementById('container');

values.addEventListener('change', function (evt) {
  container.style.alignContent = evt.target.value;
});

display.addEventListener('change', function (evt) {
  container.className = evt.target.value;
});

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Box Alignment Module Level 3The definition of 'align-content' in that specification.	Working Draft	last ]? baseline, start, end, left, right, unsafe \| safe values.
CSS Flexible Box Layout ModuleThe definition of 'align-content' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Initial definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	multi-line flex containers
Inherited	no
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Browser compatibility

Support in Flex layout

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
Supported in Flex Layout	Chrome Full support 29 Full support 29 Full support 21 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Edge Full support 12 Full support 12 Full support 12 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Firefox Full support 28 Full support 28 Full support 49 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit- Full support 48 Prefixed' Disabled' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit- Disabled' From version 48: this feature is behind the `layout.css.prefixes.webkit` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE Full support 11	Opera Full support 12.1	Safari Full support 9 Full support 9 Full support 6.1 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	WebView Android Full support 4.4 Full support 4.4 Full support ≤37 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Chrome Android Full support 29 Full support 29 Full support 25 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Firefox Android Full support 28 Full support 28 Full support 49 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit- Full support 48 Prefixed' Disabled' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit- Disabled' From version 48: this feature is behind the `layout.css.prefixes.webkit` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android Full support 12.1	Safari iOS Full support 9 Full support 9 Full support 7 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0 Full support 2.0 Full support 1.5 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
`baseline`	Chrome Full support 57	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 45	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 9	WebView Android Full support 57	Chrome Android Full support 57	Firefox Android Full support 45	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS Full support 9	Samsung Internet Android Full support 7.0
`first baseline` and `last baseline`	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 52	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari Full support 11	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox Android Full support 52	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support 11	Samsung Internet Android No support No
`left` and `right`	Chrome No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Edge No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Firefox No support 52 — 60 Notes' No support 52 — 60 Notes' Notes' `align-content` no longer accepts the `left` and `right` values	IE No support No	Opera No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Chrome Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Firefox Android No support 52 — 60 Notes' No support 52 — 60 Notes' Notes' `align-content` no longer accepts the `left` and `right` values	Opera Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.
`safe` and `unsafe`	Chrome No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Edge No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Firefox Full support 63	IE No support No	Opera No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Safari No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	WebView Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Chrome Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Firefox Android Full support 63	Opera Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Safari iOS No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Samsung Internet Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.
`space-evenly`	Chrome Full support 60	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 52	IE No support No	Opera Full support 47	Safari Full support 11	WebView Android Full support 60	Chrome Android Full support 60	Firefox Android Full support 52	Opera Android Full support 44	Safari iOS Full support 11	Samsung Internet Android Full support 8.0
`start` and `end`	Chrome No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Edge No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Firefox Full support 45	IE No support No	Opera No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Chrome Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Firefox Android Full support 45	Opera Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' This value is recognized, but has no effect.
`stretch`	Chrome Full support 57	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 52	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 9	WebView Android Full support 57	Chrome Android Full support 57	Firefox Android Full support 52	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS Full support 9	Samsung Internet Android Full support 7.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.': User must explicitly enable this feature.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.': Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

Support in Grid layout

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
Supported in Grid Layout	Chrome Full support 57	Edge Full support 16	Firefox Full support 52	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 10.1	WebView Android Full support 57	Chrome Android Full support 52	Firefox Android Full support 52	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS Full support 10.3	Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.2

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support

Web/CSS/align-content

Contents

Syntax

Values

Formal definition

Formal syntax

Examples

CSS

HTML

JavaScript

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Support in Flex layout

Legend

Support in Grid layout

Legend

See also