position CSS property

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

The position CSS property sets how an element is positioned in a document. The top, right, bottom, and left physical properties and the inset-block-start, inset-block-end, inset-inline-start, and inset-inline-end flow-relative logical properties can be used to determine the final location of positioned elements.

Try it

position: static;

position: relative;
top: 40px;
left: 40px;

position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: 40px;
inset-block-start: 40px;

position: sticky;
top: 20px;

<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div id="example-element-container">
    <p>
      In this demo you can control the <code>position</code> property for the
      yellow box.
    </p>
    <div class="box"></div>
    <div class="box" id="example-element"></div>
    <div class="box"></div>
    <p class="clear">
      To see the effect of <code>sticky</code> positioning, select the
      <code>position: sticky</code> option and scroll this container.
    </p>
    <p>
      The element will scroll along with its container, until it is at the top
      of the container (or reaches the offset specified in <code>top</code>),
      and will then stop scrolling, so it stays visible.
    </p>
    <p>
      The rest of this text is only supplied to make sure the container
      overflows, so as to enable you to scroll it and see the effect.
    </p>
    <hr />
    <p>
      Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the
      western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.
      Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-two million miles is an
      utterly insignificant little blue green planet whose ape-descended life
      forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are
      a pretty neat idea.
    </p>
  </div>
</section>

section {
  align-items: flex-start;
  overflow: auto;
}

.box {
  background-color: rgb(0 0 255 / 0.2);
  border: 3px solid blue;
  float: left;
  width: 65px;
  height: 65px;
}

.box + .box {
  margin-left: 10px;
}

.clear {
  clear: both;
  padding-top: 1em;
}

#example-element-container {
  position: relative;
  text-align: left;
}

#example-element {
  background-color: yellow;
  border: 3px solid red;
  z-index: 1;
}

Syntax

css
position: static;
position: relative;
position: absolute;
position: fixed;
position: sticky;

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

Values

static

The element is positioned according to the Normal Flow of the document. The top, right, bottom, left, and z-index properties have no effect. This is the default value.

relative

The element is positioned according to the normal flow of the document, and then offset relative to itself based on the values of top, right, bottom, and left. The offset does not affect the position of any other elements; thus, the space given for the element in the page layout is the same as if position were static.

This value creates a new stacking context when the value of z-index is not auto. Its effect on table-*-group, table-row, table-column, table-cell, and table-caption elements is undefined.

absolute

The element is removed from the normal document flow, and no space is created for the element in the page layout. The element is positioned relative to its closest positioned ancestor (if any) or to the initial containing block. Its final position is determined by the values of top, right, bottom, and left.

This value creates a new stacking context when the value of z-index is not auto. The margins of absolutely positioned boxes do not collapse with other margins.

fixed

The element is removed from the normal document flow, and no space is created for the element in the page layout. The element is positioned relative to its initial containing block, which is the viewport in the case of visual media. Its final position is determined by the values of top, right, bottom, and left.

This value always creates a new stacking context. In printed documents, the element is placed in the same position on every page.

sticky

The element is positioned according to the normal flow of the document, and then offset relative to its nearest scrolling ancestor and containing block (nearest block-level ancestor), including table-related elements, based on the values of top, right, bottom, and left. The offset does not affect the position of any other elements.

This value always creates a new stacking context. Note that a sticky element "sticks" to its nearest ancestor that has a "scrolling mechanism" (created when overflow is hidden, scroll, auto, or overlay), even if that ancestor isn't the nearest actually scrolling ancestor.

Note: At least one inset property (top, inset-block-start, right, inset-inline-end, etc.) needs to be set to a non-auto value for the axis on which the element needs to be made sticky. If both inset properties for an axis are set to auto, on that axis the sticky value will behave as relative.

Description

Types of positioning

A positioned element is an element whose computed position value is either relative, absolute, fixed, or sticky. (In other words, it's anything except static.)
A relatively positioned element is an element whose computed position value is relative. The top and bottom properties specify the vertical offset from its normal position; the left and right properties specify the horizontal offset.
An absolutely positioned element is an element whose computed position value is absolute or fixed. The top, right, bottom, and left properties specify offsets from the edges of the element's containing block. (The containing block is the ancestor relative to which the element is positioned.) If the element has margins, they are added to the offset. The element establishes a new block formatting context (BFC) for its contents.
A stickily positioned element is an element whose computed position value is sticky. It's treated as relatively positioned until its containing block crosses a specified threshold (such as setting top to value other than auto) within its flow root (or the container it scrolls within), at which point it is treated as "stuck" until meeting the opposite edge of its containing block.

Most of the time, absolutely positioned elements that have height and width set to auto are sized so as to fit their contents. However, non-replaced, absolutely positioned elements can be made to fill the available vertical space by specifying both top and bottom and leaving height unspecified (that is, auto). They can likewise be made to fill the available horizontal space by specifying both left and right and leaving width as auto.

Except for the case just described (of absolutely positioned elements filling the available space):

If both top and bottom are specified (technically, not auto), top wins.
If both left and right are specified, left wins when direction is ltr (English, horizontal Japanese, etc.) and right wins when direction is rtl (Persian, Arabic, Hebrew, etc.).

Accessibility

Ensure that elements positioned with an absolute or fixed value do not obscure other content when the page is zoomed to increase text size.

Performance & Accessibility

Scrolling elements containing fixed or sticky content can cause performance and accessibility issues. As a user scrolls, the browser must repaint the sticky or fixed content in a new location. Depending on the content needing to be repainted, the browser performance, and the device's processing speed, the browser may not be able to manage repaints at 60 fps. Such a scenario can lead to jank and, more importantly, accessibility concerns for people with sensitivities. One solution is to add will-change: transform to the positioned elements to render the element in its own layer, improving repaint speed and therefore improving performance and accessibility.

Formal definition

Initial valueApplies toInherited Computed value Animation typeCreates stacking context

static

all elements

as specified

discrete

yes

Formal syntax

position =
static |
relative |
absolute |
sticky |
fixed |
<running()>

<running()> =
running( <custom-ident> )
This syntax reflects the latest standard as per CSS Generated Content for Paged Media Module, CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3. Not all browsers may have implemented every part. See Browser compatibility for support information.

Examples

Relative positioning

Relatively positioned elements are offset a given amount from their normal position within the document, but without the offset affecting other elements. In the example below, note how the other elements are placed as if "Two" were taking up the space of its normal location.

HTML

html
<div class="box" id="one">One</div>
<div class="box" id="two">Two</div>
<div class="box" id="three">Three</div>
<div class="box" id="four">Four</div>

CSS

css
* {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.box {
  display: inline-block;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  background: red;
  color: white;
}

#two {
  position: relative;
  top: 20px;
  left: 20px;
  background: blue;
}

Absolute positioning

Elements that are relatively positioned remain in the normal flow of the document. In contrast, an element that is absolutely positioned is taken out of the flow; thus, other elements are positioned as if it did not exist. The absolutely positioned element is positioned relative to its nearest positioned ancestor (i.e., the nearest ancestor that is not static). If a positioned ancestor doesn't exist, it is positioned relative to the ICB (initial containing block), which is the containing block of the document's root element.

HTML

html
<h1>Absolute positioning</h1>

<p>
  I am a basic block level element. My adjacent block level elements sit on new
  lines below me.
</p>

<p class="positioned">
  By default we span 100% of the width of our parent element, and we are as tall
  as our child content. Our total width and height is our content + padding +
  border width/height.
</p>

<p>
  We are separated by our margins. Because of margin collapsing, we are
  separated by the width of one of our margins, not both.
</p>

<p>
  inline elements <span>like this one</span> and <span>this one</span> sit on
  the same line as one another, and adjacent text nodes, if there is space on
  the same line. Overflowing inline elements
  <span>wrap onto a new line if possible — like this one containing text</span>,
  or just go on to a new line if not, much like this image will do:
  <img src="https://mdn.github.io/shared-assets/images/examples/long.jpg" />
</p>

CSS

css
* {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

body {
  width: 500px;
  margin: 0 auto;
}

p {
  background: aqua;
  border: 3px solid blue;
  padding: 10px;
  margin: 10px;
}

span {
  background: red;
  border: 1px solid black;
}

.positioned {
  position: absolute;
  background: yellow;
  inset-block-start: 30px;
  inset-inline-start: 30px;
}

Result

Fixed positioning

Fixed positioning is similar to absolute positioning, with the exception that the element's containing block is the initial containing block established by the viewport, unless any ancestor has transform, perspective, or filter property set to something other than none (see fixed positioning containing block), which then causes that ancestor to take the place of the elements containing block. This can be used to create a "floating" element that stays in the same position regardless of scrolling. In the example below, box "One" is fixed at 80 pixels from the top of the page and 10 pixels from the left. Even after scrolling, it remains in the same place relative to the viewport. Also, when the will-change property is set to transform, a new containing block is established.

HTML

html
<div class="outer">
  <p>
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam congue tortor
    eget pulvinar lobortis. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus
    et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Nam ac dolor augue. Pellentesque mi mi,
    laoreet et dolor sit amet, ultrices varius risus. Nam vitae iaculis elit.
    Aliquam mollis interdum libero. Sed sodales placerat egestas. Vestibulum ut
    arcu aliquam purus viverra dictum vel sit amet mi. Duis nisl mauris, aliquam
    sit amet luctus eget, dapibus in enim. Sed velit augue, pretium a sem
    aliquam, congue porttitor tortor. Sed tempor nisl a lorem consequat, id
    maximus erat aliquet. Sed sagittis porta libero sed condimentum. Aliquam
    finibus lectus nec ante congue rutrum. Curabitur quam quam, accumsan id
    ultrices ultrices, tempor et tellus.
  </p>
  <p>
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam congue tortor
    eget pulvinar lobortis. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus
    et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Nam ac dolor augue. Pellentesque mi mi,
    laoreet et dolor sit amet, ultrices varius risus. Nam vitae iaculis elit.
    Aliquam mollis interdum libero. Sed sodales placerat egestas. Vestibulum ut
    arcu aliquam purus viverra dictum vel sit amet mi. Duis nisl mauris, aliquam
    sit amet luctus eget, dapibus in enim. Sed velit augue, pretium a sem
    aliquam, congue porttitor tortor. Sed tempor nisl a lorem consequat, id
    maximus erat aliquet. Sed sagittis porta libero sed condimentum. Aliquam
    finibus lectus nec ante congue rutrum. Curabitur quam quam, accumsan id
    ultrices ultrices, tempor et tellus.
  </p>
  <div class="box" id="one">One</div>
</div>

CSS

css
* {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.box {
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  background: red;
  color: white;
}

#one {
  position: fixed;
  top: 80px;
  left: 10px;
  background: blue;
}

.outer {
  width: 500px;
  height: 300px;
  overflow: scroll;
  padding-left: 150px;
}

Result

Sticky positioning

The following CSS rule positions the element with id one relatively until the viewport is scrolled such that the element is 10 pixels from the top. Beyond that threshold, the element is fixed to 10 pixels from the top.

css
#one {
  position: sticky;
  top: 10px;
}

List with sticky headings

A common use for sticky positioning is for the headings in an alphabetized list. The "B" heading will appear just below the items that begin with "A" until they are scrolled offscreen. Rather than sliding offscreen with the rest of the content, the "B" heading will then remain fixed to the top of the viewport until all the "B" items have scrolled offscreen, at which point it will be covered up by the "C" heading, and so on.

You must specify a threshold with at least one of top, right, bottom, or left for sticky positioning to behave as expected. Otherwise, it will be indistinguishable from relative positioning.

HTML

html
<dl>
  <div>
    <dt>A</dt>
    <dd>Andrew W.K.</dd>
    <dd>Apparat</dd>
    <dd>Arcade Fire</dd>
    <dd>At The Drive-In</dd>
    <dd>Aziz Ansari</dd>
  </div>
  <div>
    <dt>C</dt>
    <dd>Chromeo</dd>
    <dd>Common</dd>
    <dd>Converge</dd>
    <dd>Crystal Castles</dd>
    <dd>Cursive</dd>
  </div>
  <div>
    <dt>E</dt>
    <dd>Explosions In The Sky</dd>
  </div>
  <div>
    <dt>T</dt>
    <dd>Ted Leo &amp; The Pharmacists</dd>
    <dd>T-Pain</dd>
    <dd>Thrice</dd>
    <dd>TV On The Radio</dd>
    <dd>Two Gallants</dd>
  </div>
</dl>

CSS

css
* {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

dl > div {
  background: white;
  padding-top: 24px;
}

dt {
  background: #b8c1c8;
  border-bottom: 1px solid #989ea4;
  border-top: 1px solid #717d85;
  color: white;
  font:
    bold 18px/21px "Helvetica",
    "Arial",
    sans-serif;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 2px 0 0 12px;
  position: -webkit-sticky;
  position: sticky;
  top: -1px;
}

dd {
  font:
    bold 20px/45px "Helvetica",
    "Arial",
    sans-serif;
  margin: 0;
  padding-left: 12px;
  white-space: nowrap;
}

dd + dd {
  border-top: 1px solid #cccccc;
}

Result

Sticky position with all the inset boundaries set

The following example demonstrates an element's behavior when all inset boundaries are set. Here, we have two light bulb emojis in a paragraph. The light bulbs use sticky positioning, and the inset boundaries are specified as 50px from the top and bottom, and 100px from the left and right. A gray background on the parent div element marks the inset area.

HTML

html
Use scrollbars to put the light bulbs(💡) in the right place in the following
text:
<div>
  <p>
    The representation of an idea by a light bulb(<span class="bulb">💡</span>)
    is a commonly used metaphor that symbolizes the moment of inspiration or the
    birth of a new idea. The association between a light bulb and an idea can be
    traced back to the invention of the incandescent light bulb(<span
      class="bulb"
      >💡</span
    >) by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century. The light bulb is a powerful
    symbol because it represents illumination, clarity, and the sudden
    brightening of one's thoughts or understanding. When someone has an idea, it
    is often described as a light bulb turning on in their mind, signifying a
    moment of insight or creativity. The image of a light bulb also suggests the
    idea of energy, power, and the potential for growth and development.
  </p>
</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;
  overflow: scroll;
  scrollbar-width: thin;
  font-size: 16px;
  font-family: "Verdana";
  border: 1px solid;
}

p {
  width: 600px;
  user-select: none;
  margin: 0;
  border: 110px solid transparent;
}

css
.bulb {
  position: sticky;
  inset: 50px 100px;
}

div {
  /* mark area defined by the inset boundaries using gray color */
  background: linear-gradient(#99999999, #99999999) 100px 50px / 192px 100px
    no-repeat;
}

Result

When you put both bulbs in their proper place, you'll notice that they are relatively positioned inside the inset area. When you move them out of the inset area, they are fixed (sticky) to the inset boundary in that direction.

Specifications

Specification

CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3
# position-property

Browser compatibility

Enable JavaScript to view this browser compatibility table.

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position CSS property

In this article

Try it

Syntax

Values

Description

Types of positioning

Accessibility

Performance & Accessibility

Formal definition

Formal syntax

Examples

Relative positioning

HTML

CSS

Absolute positioning

HTML

CSS

Result

Fixed positioning

HTML

CSS

Result

Sticky positioning

List with sticky headings

Sticky position with all the inset boundaries set

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

Help improve MDN