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.

Try it

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

Syntax

css
/* <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: revert;
margin-top: revert-layer;
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 inline size (width in a horizontal language, defined by writing-mode) of the containing block.

auto

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

Formal definition

Initial value0
Applies toall elements, except elements with table display types other than table-caption, table and inline-table. It also applies to ::first-letter.
Inheritedno
Percentagesrefer to the width of the containing block
Computed valuethe percentage as specified or the absolute length
Animation typea length

Formal syntax

margin-top = 
  <length-percentage>  |
  auto                 

<length-percentage> = 
  <length>      |
  <percentage>

Examples

Setting positive and negative top margins

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

Specifications

Specification
CSS Box Model Module Level 3
# margin-physical

Browser compatibility

Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
margin-top
auto

See also