CSS Layout – Align

Center Align Elements

To horizontally center a block element (like <div>), use margin: auto;

Setting the width of the element will prevent it from stretching out to the edges of its container.

The element will then take up the specified width, and the remaining space will be split equally between the two margins.

Example

.center {
  margin: auto;
  width: 50%;
  border: 3px solid green;
  padding: 10px;
}

Note: Center aligning has no effect if the width property is not set (or set to 100%).

Center Align Text

To just center the text inside an element, use text-align: center;.

Example

.center {
  text-align: center;
  border: 3px solid green;
}

Center an Image

To center an image, set left and right margin to auto and make it into a block element.

Example

img {
  display: block;
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto;
  width: 40%;
}

Left and Right Align – Using position

Example

.right {
  position: absolute;
  right: 0px;
  width: 300px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
  padding: 10px;
}

Left and Right Align – Using float

Another method for aligning elements is to use the float property:

Example

.right {
  float: right;
  width: 300px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
  padding: 10px;
}

The clearfix Hack

Example

.clearfix::after {
  content: "";
  clear: both;
  display: table;
}

Center Vertically – Using padding

Example

.center {
  padding: 70px 0;
  border: 3px solid green;
}

Example

.center {
  padding: 70px 0;
  border: 3px solid green;
  text-align: center;
}

Center Vertically – Using line-height

Example

.center {
  line-height: 200px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 3px solid green;
  text-align: center;
}

/* If the text has multiple lines, add the following: */
.center p {
  line-height: 1.5;
  display: inline-block;
  vertical-align: middle;
}

Center Vertically – Using position & transform

Example

.center {
  height: 200px;
  position: relative;
  border: 3px solid green;
}

.center p {
  margin: 0;
  position: absolute;
  top: 50%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}

Center Vertically – Using Flexbox

Example

.center {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
  height: 200px;
  border: 3px solid green;
}