Web/CSS/margin-left

The margin-left CSS property sets the margin area on the left side of an element. A positive value places it farther from its neighbors, while a negative value places it closer.

The vertical margins of two adjacent boxes may fuse. This is called margin collapsing.

In the rare cases where width is overconstrained (i.e., when all of width, margin-left, border, padding, the content area, and margin-right are defined), margin-left is ignored, and will have the same calculated value as if the auto value was specified.

Syntax

/* <length> values */
margin-left: 10px;  /* An absolute length */
margin-left: 1em;   /* relative to the text size */
margin-left: 5%;    /* relative to the nearest block container's width */

/* Keyword values */
margin-left: auto;

/* Global values */
margin-left: inherit;
margin-left: initial;
margin-left: unset;

The margin-left property is specified as the keyword auto, or a <length>, or a <percentage>. Its value can be positive, zero, or negative.

Values

<length>

The size of the margin as a fixed value.

<percentage>

The size of the margin as a percentage, relative to the width of the containing block.

auto

The left margin receives a share of the unused horizontal space, as determined mainly by the layout mode that is used. If the values of margin-left and margin-right are both auto, the calculated space is evenly distributed. This table summarizes the different cases:

Value of `display`	Value of `float`	Value of `position`	Computed value of `auto`	Comment
`inline`, `inline-block`, `inline-table`	any	`static` or `relative`	`0`	Inline layout mode
`block`, `inline`, `inline-block`, `block`, `table`, `inline-table`, `list-item`, `table-caption`	any	`static` or `relative`	`0`, except if both `margin-left` and `margin-right` are set to `auto`. In this case, it is set to the value centering the element inside its parent.	Block layout mode
`block`, `inline`, `inline-block`, `block`, `table`, `inline-table`, `list-item`, `table-caption`	`left` or `right`	`static` or `relative`	`0`	Block layout mode (floating element)
any `table-`, except* `table-caption`	any	any	`0`	Internal `table-*` elements don't have margins, use `border-spacing` instead
any, except `flex`, `inline-flex`, or `table-*`	any	`fixed` or `absolute`	`0`, except if both `margin-left` and `margin-right` are set to `auto`. In this case, it is set to the value centering the border area inside the available `width`, if fixed.	Absolutely positioned layout mode
`flex`, `inline-flex`	any	any	`0`, except if there is any positive horizontal free space. In this case, it is evenly distributed to all horizontal `auto` margins.	Flexbox layout mode

Formal definition

Initial value	`0`
Applies to	all elements, except elements with table `display` types other than `table-caption`, `table` and `inline-table`. It also applies to `::first-letter` and `::first-line`.
Inherited	no
Percentages	refer to the width of the containing block
Computed value	the percentage as specified or the absolute length
Animation type	a length

Formal syntax

<length> | <percentage> | auto

Examples

Setting left margin using pixels and percentages

.content { margin-left: 5%; }
.sidebox { margin-left: 10px; }
.logo    { margin-left: -5px; }

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Basic Box ModelThe definition of 'margin-left' in that specification.	Working Draft	No significant change from CSS 2.1.
CSS Flexible Box Layout ModuleThe definition of 'margin-left' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Defines the behavior of `margin-left` on flex items.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)The definition of 'margin-left' in that specification.	Recommendation	Like in CSS1, but removes its effect on inline elements.
CSS Level 1The definition of 'margin-left' 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
`margin-left`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 3	Opera Full support 3.5	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 1	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`auto`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12 Notes' Full support 12 Notes' Notes' The `auto` value is not supported in quirks mode.	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 6 Notes' Full support 6 Notes' Notes' The `auto` value is not supported in quirks mode.	Opera Full support 3.5	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

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