padding-top

The padding-top CSS property sets the height of the padding area on the top of an element.

An element's padding area is the space between its content and its border.

The effect of the CSS padding-top property on the element box

Note: The padding property can be used to set paddings on all four sides of an element with a single declaration.

Syntax

/* <length> values */
padding-top: 0.5em;
padding-top: 0;
padding-top: 2cm;

/* <percentage> value */
padding-top: 10%;

/* Global values */
padding-top: inherit;
padding-top: initial;
padding-top: unset;

The padding-top property is specified as a single value chosen from the list below. Unlike margins, negative values are not allowed for padding.

Values

<length>
The size of the padding as a fixed value. Must be nonnegative.
<percentage>
The size of the padding as a percentage, relative to the width of the containing block. Must be nonnegative.

Formal definition

Initial value0
Applies toall elements, except table-row-group, table-header-group, table-footer-group, table-row, table-column-group and table-column. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line.
Inheritedno
Percentagesrefer to the width of the containing block
Computed valuethe percentage as specified or the absolute length
Animation typea length

Formal syntax

<length> | <percentage>

Examples

Setting top padding using pixels and percentages

.content { padding-top: 5%; }
.sidebox { padding-top: 10px; }

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Basic Box Model
The definition of 'padding-top' in that specification.
Working Draft No change.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'padding-top' in that specification.
Recommendation No change.
CSS Level 1
The definition of 'padding-top' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
padding-topChrome 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 14Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also