`inset` CSS property

The inset CSS shorthand property corresponds to the top, right, bottom, and/or left properties. It has the same multi-value syntax of the margin shorthand.

This inset properties, including inset, have no effect on non-positioned elements.

While part of the CSS logical properties and values module, it does not define logical offsets. It defines physical offsets, regardless of the element's writing mode, directionality, and text orientation.

Try it

inset: 1em;

inset: 5% 0;

inset: 2em 50px 20px;

inset: 10px 30% 20px 0;

inset: 0;

<section id="default-example">
  <div class="example-container">
    <div id="example-element">I am absolutely positioned.</div>
    <p>
      As much mud in the streets as if the waters had but newly retired from the
      face of the earth, and it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus,
      forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn
      Hill.
    </p>
  </div>
</section>

.example-container {
  border: 0.75em solid #ad1457;
  padding: 0.75em;
  text-align: left;
  position: relative;
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 200px;
}

#example-element {
  background-color: #07136c;
  border: 6px solid #ffa000;
  color: white;
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
}

Constituent properties

This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:

• top
• right
• bottom
• left

Syntax

/* <length> values */
inset: 10px; /* value applied to all edges */
inset: 4px 8px; /* top/bottom left/right */
inset: 5px 15px 10px; /* top left/right bottom */
inset: 2.4em 3em 3em 3em; /* top right bottom left */
inset: calc(anchor(50%) + 10px) anchor(self-start) auto auto;
inset: anchor-size(block) calc(anchor(50%) + 10px) auto
  calc(anchor-size(width) / 4);

/* <percentage>s of the width (left/right) or height (top/bottom) of the containing block */
inset: 10% 5% 5% 5%;

/* Keyword value */
inset: auto;

/* Global values */
inset: inherit;
inset: initial;
inset: revert;
inset: revert-layer;
inset: unset;

Values

The inset property takes the same values as the top property.

Formal definition

Formal syntax

inset = 
  <'top'>{1,4}

Examples

Setting offsets for an element

HTML

<div>
  <span class="exampleText">Example text</span>
</div>

CSS

div {
  background-color: yellow;
  width: 150px;
  height: 120px;
  position: relative;
}

.exampleText {
  writing-mode: sideways-rl;
  position: absolute;
  inset: 20px 40px 30px 10px;
  background-color: #c8c800;
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• top, right, bottom, and left
• inset-block and inset-inline
• position
• CSS positioned layout module
• CSS logical properties and values