Web/CSS/inset

The inset CSS property is a shorthand that corresponds to the top, right, bottom, and/or left properties. It has the same multi-value syntax of the margin shorthand.

While part of the ' CSS Logical Properties specification, it does not define logical offsets. It defines physical offsets, regardless of the element's writing mode, directionality, and text orientation.

/* <length> values */
inset: 10px; /* value applied to all edges */
inset: 4px 8px; /* top/bottom left/right */ 
inset: 5px 15px 10px; /* top left/right bottom */
inset: 2.4em 3em 3em 3em; /* top right bottom left */

/* <percentage>s of the width (left/right) or height (top/bottom) of the containing block */
inset: 10% 5% 5% 5%;

/* Keyword value */
inset: auto;

/* Global values */
inset: inherit;
inset: initial;
inset: unset;

Syntax

Values

The inset property takes the same values as the left property.

Formal definition

Initial value	`auto`
Applies to	positioned elements
Inherited	no
Percentages	logical-height of containing block
Computed value	same as box offsets: `top`, `right`, `bottom`, `left` properties except that directions are logical
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

<'top'>{1,4}

Examples

Setting offsets for an element

HTML

<div>
  <span class="exampleText">Example text</span>
</div>

CSS

div {
  background-color: yellow;
  width: 150px;
  height: 120px;
  position: relative;
}

.exampleText {
  writing-mode: sideways-rl;
  position: absolute;
  inset: 20px 40px 30px 10px;
  background-color: #c8c800;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Logical Properties and Values Level 1The definition of 'inset' in that specification.	Editor's Draft	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
`inset`	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 66	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox Android Full support 66	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support