Web/CSS/border-style

The border-style shorthand CSS property sets the line style for all four sides of an element's border.

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.

Constituent properties

This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
border-style: none;
border-style: hidden;
border-style: dotted;
border-style: dashed;
border-style: solid;
border-style: double;
border-style: groove;
border-style: ridge;
border-style: inset;
border-style: outset;

/* top and bottom | left and right */
border-style: dotted solid;

/* top | left and right | bottom */
border-style: hidden double dashed;

/* top | right | bottom | left */
border-style: none solid dotted dashed; 

/* Global values */
border-style: inherit;
border-style: initial;
border-style: unset;

The border-style property may be specified using one, two, three, or four values.

When one value is specified, it applies the same style to all four sides.
When two values are specified, the first style applies to the top and bottom, the second to the left and right.
When three values are specified, the first style applies to the top, the second to the left and right, the third to the bottom.
When four values are specified, the styles apply to the top, right, bottom, and left in that order (clockwise).

Each value is a keyword chosen from the list below.

Values

<line-style>

Describes the style of the border. It can have the following values:

`none`		Like the `hidden` keyword, displays no border. Unless a `background-image` is set, the computed value of the same side's `border-width` will be `0`, even if the specified value is something else. In the case of table cell and border collapsing, the `none` value has the lowest priority: if any other conflicting border is set, it will be displayed.
`hidden`		Like the `none` keyword, displays no border. Unless a `background-image` is set, the computed value of the same side's `border-width` will be `0`, even if the specified value is something else. In the case of table cell and border collapsing, the `hidden` value has the highest priority: if any other conflicting border is set, it won't be displayed.
`dotted`		Displays a series of rounded dots. The spacing of the dots is not defined by the specification and is implementation-specific. The radius of the dots is half the computed value of the same side's `border-width`.
`dashed`		Displays a series of short square-ended dashes or line segments. The exact size and length of the segments are not defined by the specification and are implementation-specific.
`solid`		Displays a single, straight, solid line.
`double`		Displays two straight lines that add up to the pixel size defined by `border-width`.
`groove`		Displays a border with a carved appearance. It is the opposite of `ridge`.
`ridge`		Displays a border with an extruded appearance. It is the opposite of `groove`.
`inset`		Displays a border that makes the element appear embedded. It is the opposite of `outset`. When applied to a table cell with `border-collapse` set to `collapsed`, this value behaves like `groove`.
`outset`		Displays a border that makes the element appear embossed. It is the opposite of `inset`. When applied to a table cell with `border-collapse` set to `collapsed`, this value behaves like `ridge`.

Formal definition

Initial value	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `border-top-style`: `none` `border-right-style`: `none` `border-bottom-style`: `none` `border-left-style`: `none`
Applies to	all elements. It also applies to `::first-letter`.
Inherited	no
Computed value	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `border-bottom-style`: as specified `border-left-style`: as specified `border-right-style`: as specified `border-top-style`: as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

<line-style>{1,4}where <line-style> = none | hidden | dotted | dashed | solid | double | groove | ridge | inset | outset

Examples

Table with all property values

Here is an example of all the property values.

HTML

<table>
  <tr>
    <td class="b1">none</td>
    <td class="b2">hidden</td>
    <td class="b3">dotted</td>
    <td class="b4">dashed</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="b5">solid</td>
    <td class="b6">double</td>
    <td class="b7">groove</td>
    <td class="b8">ridge</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="b9">inset</td>
    <td class="b10">outset</td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS

/* Define look of the table */
table {
  border-width: 3px;
  background-color: #52E396;
}
tr, td {
  padding: 2px;
}

/* border-style example classes */
.b1 {border-style:none;}
.b2 {border-style:hidden;}
.b3 {border-style:dotted;}
.b4 {border-style:dashed;}
.b5 {border-style:solid;}
.b6 {border-style:double;}
.b7 {border-style:groove;}
.b8 {border-style:ridge;}
.b9 {border-style:inset;}
.b10 {border-style:outset;}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3The definition of 'border-style' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	No change.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)The definition of 'border-style' in that specification.	Recommendation	Adds `hidden` keyword value.
CSS Level 1The definition of 'border-style' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

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
`border-style`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1 Notes' Full support 1 Notes' Notes' Prior to Firefox 50, border styles of rounded corners were always rendered as if `border-style` was solid. This has been fixed in Firefox 50.	IE Full support 4	Opera Full support 3.5	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 3	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4 Notes' Full support 4 Notes' Notes' Prior to Firefox 50, border styles of rounded corners were always rendered as if `border-style` was solid. This has been fixed in Firefox 50.	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 3	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.