border-style

The border-style shorthand CSS property sets the line style for all four sides of an element's border.

Constituent properties

This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
border-style: none;
border-style: hidden;
border-style: dotted;
border-style: dashed;
border-style: solid;
border-style: double;
border-style: groove;
border-style: ridge;
border-style: inset;
border-style: outset;

/* vertical | horizontal */
border-style: dotted solid;

/* top | horizontal | bottom */
border-style: hidden double dashed;

/* top | right | bottom | left */
border-style: none solid dotted dashed;

/* Global values */
border-style: inherit;
border-style: initial;
border-style: unset;

The border-style property may be specified using one, two, three, or four values.

  • When one value is specified, it applies the same style to all four sides.
  • When two values are specified, the first style applies to the top and bottom, the second to the left and right.
  • When three values are specified, the first style applies to the top, the second to the left and right, the third to the bottom.
  • When four values are specified, the styles apply to the top, right, bottom, and left in that order (clockwise).

Each value is a keyword chosen from the list below.

Values

<line-style>
Describes the style of the border. It can have the following values:
none
Like the hidden keyword, displays no border. Unless a background-image is set, the computed value of the same side's border-width will be 0, even if the specified value is something else. In the case of table cell and border collapsing, the none value has the lowest priority: if any other conflicting border is set, it will be displayed.
hidden
Like the none keyword, displays no border. Unless a background-image is set, the computed value of the same side's border-width will be 0, even if the specified value is something else. In the case of table cell and border collapsing, the hidden value has the highest priority: if any other conflicting border is set, it won't be displayed.
dotted
Displays a series of rounded dots. The spacing of the dots is not defined by the specification and is implementation-specific. The radius of the dots is half the computed value of the same side's border-width.
dashed
Displays a series of short square-ended dashes or line segments. The exact size and length of the segments are not defined by the specification and are implementation-specific.
solid
Displays a single, straight, solid line.
double
Displays two straight lines that add up to the pixel size defined by border-width.
groove
Displays a border with a carved appearance. It is the opposite of ridge.
ridge
Displays a border with an extruded appearance. It is the opposite of groove.
inset
Displays a border that makes the element appear embedded. It is the opposite of outset. When applied to a table cell with border-collapse set to collapsed, this value behaves like groove.
outset

Displays a border that makes the element appear embossed. It is the opposite of inset. When applied to a table cell with border-collapse set to collapsed, this value behaves like ridge.

Formal definition

Initial valueas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Applies toall elements. It also applies to ::first-letter.
Inheritedno
Computed valueas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

<line-style>{1,4}

where
<line-style> = none | hidden | dotted | dashed | solid | double | groove | ridge | inset | outset

Examples

Table with all property values

Here is an example of all the property values.

HTML

<table>
  <tr>
    <td class="b1">none</td>
    <td class="b2">hidden</td>
    <td class="b3">dotted</td>
    <td class="b4">dashed</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="b5">solid</td>
    <td class="b6">double</td>
    <td class="b7">groove</td>
    <td class="b8">ridge</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="b9">inset</td>
    <td class="b10">outset</td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS

/* Define look of the table */
table {
  border-width: 3px;
  background-color: #52E396;
}
tr, td {
  padding: 2px;
}

/* border-style example classes */
.b1 {border-style:none;}
.b2 {border-style:hidden;}
.b3 {border-style:dotted;}
.b4 {border-style:dashed;}
.b5 {border-style:solid;}
.b6 {border-style:double;}
.b7 {border-style:groove;}
.b8 {border-style:ridge;}
.b9 {border-style:inset;}
.b10 {border-style:outset;}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3
The definition of 'border-style' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation No change.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'border-style' in that specification.
Recommendation Adds hidden keyword value.
CSS Level 1
The definition of 'border-style' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
border-styleChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1
Notes
Full support 1
Notes
Notes Prior to Firefox 50, border styles of rounded corners were always rendered as if border-style was solid. This has been fixed in Firefox 50.
IE Full support 4Opera Full support 3.5Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 3Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes Prior to Firefox 50, border styles of rounded corners were always rendered as if border-style was solid. This has been fixed in Firefox 50.
Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 3Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also