Web/CSS/align-items

The CSS align-items property sets the align-self value on all direct children as a group. In Flexbox, it controls the alignment of items on the Cross Axis. In Grid Layout, it controls the alignment of items on the Block Axis within their grid area.

The interactive example below demonstrates some of the values for align-items using grid layout.

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.

Syntax

/* Basic keywords */ 
align-items: normal; 
align-items: stretch; 

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

/* Baseline alignment */
align-items: baseline; 
align-items: first baseline; 
align-items: last baseline; /* Overflow alignment (for positional alignment only) */ 
align-items: safe center; 
align-items: unsafe center; 

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

Values

normal

The effect of this keyword is dependent of the layout mode we are in:

• In absolutely-positioned layouts, the keyword behaves like start on replaced absolutely-positioned boxes, and as stretch on all other absolutely-positioned boxes.
• In static position of absolutely-positioned layouts, the keyword behaves as stretch.
• For flex items, the keyword behaves as stretch.
• For grid items, this keyword leads to a behavior similar to the one of stretch, except for boxes with an aspect ratio or an intrinsic sizes where it behaves like start.
• The property doesn't apply to block-level boxes, and to table cells.

flex-start

The cross-start margin edges of the flex items are flushed with the cross-start edge of the line.

flex-end

The cross-end margin edges of the flex items are flushed with the cross-end edge of the line.

center

The flex items' margin boxes are centered within the line on the cross-axis. If the cross-size of an item is larger than the flex container, it will overflow equally in both directions.

start

The items are packed flush to each other toward the start edge of the alignment container in the appropriate axis.

end

The items are packed flush to each other toward the end edge of the alignment container in the appropriate axis.

self-start

The items are packed flush to the edge of the alignment container of the start side of the item, in the appropriate axis.

self-end

The items are packed flush to the edge of the alignment container of the end side of the item, in the appropriate axis.

baseline

first baseline
last baseline

All flex items are aligned such that their flex container baselines align. The item with the largest distance between its cross-start margin edge and its baseline is flushed with the cross-start edge of the line.

stretch

Flex items are stretched such that the cross-size of the item's margin box is the same as the line while respecting width and height constraints.

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	all elements
Inherited	no
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

normal | stretch | <baseline-position> | [ <overflow-position>? <self-position> ]where <baseline-position> = [ first | last ]? baseline<overflow-position> = unsafe | safe<self-position> = center | start | end | self-start | self-end | flex-start | flex-end

Examples

CSS

#container {
  height:200px;
  width: 240px;
  align-items: 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-items: </label>
  <select id="values">
    <option value="normal">normal</option>
    <option value="flex-start">flex-start</option>
    <option value="flex-end">flex-end</option>
    <option value="center" selected>center</option>
    <option value="baseline">baseline</option>
    <option value="stretch">stretch</option>

    <option value="start">start</option>
    <option value="end">end</option>
    <option value="self-start">self-start</option>
    <option value="self-end">self-end</option>
    <option value="left">left</option>
    <option value="right">right</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 self-end">safe self-end</option>
    <option value="unsafe self-end">unsafe self-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.alignItems = evt.target.value;
});

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

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Box Alignment Module Level 3The definition of 'align-items' in that specification.	Working Draft	Update to latest syntax definitions.
CSS Flexible Box Layout ModuleThe definition of 'align-items' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

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 52 Full support 52 Partial support 29 Notes' Notes' Older versions of the specification treat absolute positioned children as though they are a 0 by 0 flex item. Later specification versions take the children out of the flow and set their positions based on align and justify properties. Chrome implements the new behavior beginning with Chrome 52. 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 20 Notes' Full support 20 Notes' Notes' Multi-line flexbox has been supported since Firefox 28. Full support 49 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit- No support 18 — 20 Disabled' Disabled' From version 18 until version 20 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.flexbox.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. 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 Notes' Full support 11 Notes' Notes' In Internet Explorer 10 and 11, if column flex items have align-items: center; set on them and their content is too large, then they will overflow the bounds of their container. See Flexbug #2.	Opera Full support 12.1	Safari Full support 9 Full support 9 Full support 7 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	WebView Android Full support 52 Full support 52 Partial support 4.4 Notes' Notes' Older versions of the specification treat absolute positioned children as though they are a 0 by 0 flex item. Later specification versions take the children out of the flow and set their positions based on align and justify properties. Chrome implements the new behavior beginning with Chrome 52. Full support ≤37 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Chrome Android Full support 52 Full support 52 Partial support 29 Notes' Notes' Older versions of the specification treat absolute positioned children as though they are a 0 by 0 flex item. Later specification versions take the children out of the flow and set their positions based on align and justify properties. Chrome implements the new behavior beginning with Chrome 52. Full support 25 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Firefox Android Full support 20 Notes' Full support 20 Notes' Notes' Multi-line flexbox has been supported since Firefox 28. Full support 49 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit- No support 18 — 20 Disabled' Disabled' From version 18 until version 20 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.flexbox.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. 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 6.0 Full support 6.0 Partial support 2.0 Notes' Notes' Older versions of the specification treat absolute positioned children as though they are a 0 by 0 flex item. Later specification versions take the children out of the flow and set their positions based on align and justify properties. Chrome implements the new behavior beginning with Samsung Internet 6.0. Full support 1.5 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
first baseline and last baseline	Chrome Full support 59	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 45	IE No support No	Opera Full support 46	Safari Full support 11	WebView Android Full support 59	Chrome Android Full support 59	Firefox Android Full support 45	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS Full support 11	Samsung Internet Android Full support 7.0
left and right	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 45	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari Full support 9	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox Android Full support 45	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support 9	Samsung Internet Android No support No
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.
start and end	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 45	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox Android Full support 45	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android No support No

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
start and end	Chrome Full support 57	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 52	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 11	WebView Android Full support 57	Chrome Android Full support 57	Firefox Android Full support 52	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS Full support 11	Samsung Internet Android Full support 7.0

Legend

Full support  

Full support

No support  

No support

See also

• CSS Flexbox Guide: Basic Concepts of Flexbox
• CSS Flexbox Guide: Aligning items in a flex container
• CSS Grid Guide: Box alignment in CSS Grid layouts
• CSS Box Alignment
• The align-self property

align-items by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.