Web/CSS/margin-top

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

This property has no effect on non-replaced inline elements, such as <span> or <code>.

Syntax

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

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

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

The margin-top 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 browser selects a suitable value to use. See margin.

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 positive and negative top margins

.content { margin-top:   5%; }
.sidebox { margin-top: 10px; }
.logo    { margin-top: -5px; }
#footer  { margin-top:  1em; }

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Basic Box ModelThe definition of 'margin-top' in that specification.	Working Draft	No significant change
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)The definition of 'margin-top' in that specification.	Recommendation	Removes its effect on inline elements.
CSS Level 1The definition of 'margin-top' 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-top`	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.