Web/CSS/top

The top CSS property participates in specifying the vertical position of a positioned element. It has no effect on non-positioned elements.

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.

The effect of top depends on how the element is positioned (i.e., the value of the position property):

When position is set to absolute or fixed, the top property specifies the distance between the element's outer margin of top edge and the inner boarder of the top edge of its containing block.
When position is set to relative, the top property specifies the distance the element's top edge is moved below its normal position.
When position is set to sticky, the top property is used to compute the sticky-constraint rectangle.
When position is set to static, the top property has no effect.

When both top and bottom are specified, position is set to absolute or fixed, and height is unspecified (either auto or 100%) both the top and bottom distances are respected. In all other situations, if height is constrained in any way or position is set to relative, the top property takes precedence and the bottom property is ignored.

Syntax

/* <length> values */
top: 3px;
top: 2.4em;

/* <percentage>s of the height of the containing block */
top: 10%;

/* Keyword value */
top: auto;

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

Values

<length>: A negative, null, or positive <length> that represents:

for absolutely positioned elements, the distance to the top edge of the containing block. for relatively positioned elements, the distance that the element is moved below its normal position.

<percentage>: A <percentage> of the containing block's height.
auto: Specifies that:

for absolutely positioned elements, the position of the element is based on the bottom property, while height: auto is treated as a height based on the content; or if bottom is also auto, the element is positioned where it should vertically be positioned if it were a static element. for relatively positioned elements, the distance of the element from its normal position is based on the bottom property; or if bottom is also auto, the element is not moved vertically at all.

inherit: Specifies that the value is the same as the computed value from its parent element (which might not be its containing block). This computed value is then handled as if it were a <length>, <percentage>, or the auto keyword.

Formal definition

Initial value	`auto`
Applies to	positioned elements
Inherited	no
Percentages	refer to the height of the containing block
Computed value	if specified as a length, the corresponding absolute length; if specified as a percentage, the specified value; otherwise, `auto`
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

<length> | <percentage> | auto

Examples

A positioned element set 10% from the top

body {
  background: beige;
}

div {
  position: absolute;
  top: 10%;
  right: 40%;
  bottom: 20%;
  left: 15%;
  background: gold;
  border: 1px solid blue;
}

<div>The size of this content is determined by the position of its edges.</div>

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3The definition of 'top' in that specification.	Working Draft	Adds behavior for sticky positioning.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)The definition of '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
`top`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 5 Notes' Full support 5 Notes' Notes' In Internet Explorer versions before 7, when both `top` and `bottom` are specified, the element position is overconstrained and the `top` property has precedence; the computed value of `bottom` is set to `-top`, while its specified value is ignored.	Opera Full support 6	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.