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top

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

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 top edge and the top edge of its containing block. (Containing block needs to have property position: relative)
  • 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 behaves like its position is relative when the element is inside the viewport, and like its position is fixed when it is outside.
  • When position is set to static, the top property has no effect.

When both top and bottom are specified, and height is unspecified or either auto or 100%, both the top and bottom distances are respected. In all other situations, if height is constrained in any way, 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 syntax

<length> | <percentage> | auto

Example

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 Transitions
The definition of 'top' in that specification.
Working Draft Defines top as animatable.
CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3
The 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.
Initial value auto
Applies to positioned elements
Inherited no
Percentages refer to the height of the containing block
Media visual
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();
Canonical order the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

Desktop
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 1 12 1 5
5
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.
6 1
Mobile
Android webview Chrome for Android Edge Mobile Firefox for Android Opera for Android iOS Safari Samsung Internet
Basic support Yes Yes Yes 4 Yes Yes Yes

See also

© 2005–2018 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/top