background-repeat

The background-repeat CSS property sets how background images are repeated. A background image can be repeated along the horizontal and vertical axes, or not repeated at all.

By default, the repeated images are clipped to the size of the element, but they can be scaled to fit (using round) or evenly distributed from end to end (using space).

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
background-repeat: repeat-x;
background-repeat: repeat-y;
background-repeat: repeat;
background-repeat: space;
background-repeat: round;
background-repeat: no-repeat;

/* Two-value syntax: horizontal | vertical */
background-repeat: repeat space;
background-repeat: repeat repeat;
background-repeat: round space;
background-repeat: no-repeat round;

/* Global values */
background-repeat: inherit;
background-repeat: initial;
background-repeat: unset;

Values

<repeat-style>
The one-value syntax is a shorthand for the full two-value syntax:
Single value Two-value equivalent
repeat-x repeat no-repeat
repeat-y no-repeat repeat
repeat repeat repeat
space space space
round round round
no-repeat no-repeat no-repeat
In the two-value syntax, the first value represents the horizontal repetition behavior and the second value represents the vertical behavior. Here is an explanation of how each option works for either direction:
repeat The image is repeated as much as needed to cover the whole background image painting area. The last image will be clipped if it doesn't fit.
space The image is repeated as much as possible without clipping. The first and last images are pinned to either side of the element, and whitespace is distributed evenly between the images. The background-position property is ignored unless only one image can be displayed without clipping. The only case where clipping happens using space is when there isn't enough room to display one image.
round As the allowed space increases in size, the repeated images will stretch (leaving no gaps) until there is room (space left >= half of the image width) for another one to be added. When the next image is added, all of the current ones compress to allow room. Example: An image with an original width of 260px, repeated three times, might stretch until each repetition is 300px wide, and then another image will be added. They will then compress to 225px.
no-repeat The image is not repeated (and hence the background image painting area will not necessarily be entirely covered). The position of the non-repeated background image is defined by the background-position CSS property.

Formal definition

Initial valuerepeat
Applies toall elements. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line.
Inheritedno
Computed valuea list, each item consisting of two keywords, one per dimension
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

<repeat-style>#

where
<repeat-style> = repeat-x | repeat-y | [ repeat | space | round | no-repeat ]{1,2}

Examples

Setting background-repeat

HTML

<ol>
  <li>no-repeat
    <div class="one"></div>
  </li>
  <li>repeat
    <div class="two"></div>
  </li>
  <li>repeat-x
    <div class="three"></div>
  </li>
  <li>repeat-y
    <div class="four"></div>
  </li>
  <li>space
    <div class="five"></div>
  </li>
  <li>round
    <div class="six"></div>
  </li>
  <li>repeat-x, repeat-y (multiple images)
    <div class="seven"></div>
  </li>
</ol>

CSS

/* Shared for all DIVS in example */
ol,
li {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}
li {
  margin-bottom: 12px;
}
div {
    background-image: url(https://mdn.mozillademos.org/files/12005/starsolid.gif);
    width: 160px;
    height: 70px;
}

/* Background repeats */
.one {
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
}
.two {
  background-repeat: repeat;
}
.three {
  background-repeat: repeat-x;
}
.four {
  background-repeat: repeat-y;
}
.five {
  background-repeat: space;
}
.six {
  background-repeat: round;
}

/* Multiple images */
.seven {
  background-image:  url(https://mdn.mozillademos.org/files/12005/starsolid.gif),
                     url(https://developer.cdn.mozilla.net/media/redesign/img/favicon32.png);
  background-repeat: repeat-x,
                     repeat-y;
  height: 144px;
}

Result

In this example, each list item is matched with a different value of background-repeat.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3
The definition of 'background-repeat' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Adds support for multiple background images, the two-value syntax allowing distinct repetition behavior for the horizontal and vertical directions, the space and round keywords, and for backgrounds on inline-level elements by precisely defining the background painting area.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'background-repeat' in that specification.
Recommendation No significant changes.
CSS Level 1
The definition of 'background-repeat' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
background-repeatChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 4Opera Full support 3.5Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Multiple backgroundsChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.6IE Full support 9Opera Full support 10.5Safari Full support 1.3WebView Android Full support 37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 11Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
round and space keywordsChrome Full support 30Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 49IE Full support 9Opera Full support 17
Full support 17
No support 10.5 — 15
Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 30Firefox Android Full support 49Opera Android Full support 18Safari iOS Full support 8Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0
Two-value syntax (different values for x & y directions)Chrome Full support 3Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 13IE Full support 9Opera Full support 10.5Safari Full support 5WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 14Opera Android Full support 11Safari iOS Full support 4Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also