background-position

Summary

The background-position CSS property sets the initial position, relative to the background position layer defined by background-origin for each defined background image.

• Initial value 0% 0%
• Applies to all elements
• Inherited no
• Percentages refer to the size of the background positioning area minus size of background image; size refers to the width for horizontal offsets and to the height for vertical offsets
• Media visual
• Computed value a list, each item consisting of two keywords representing the origin and two offsets from that origin, each given as an absolute length (if given a <length>), otherwise as a percentage
• Animatable yes, as a repeatable list of a simple list of a length, percentage or calc(); when both values are lengths, they are interpolated as lengths; when both values are percentages, they are interpolated as percentages; otherwise, both values are converted into a calc() function that is the sum of a length and a percentage (each possibly zero), and these calc() functions have each half interpolated as real numbers.
• Canonical order the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Formal syntax:  <position>#

Values

<position>

Is a <position>, that is one to four values representing a 2D position regarding the edges of the element's box. Relative or absolute offsets can be given. Note that the position can be set outside of the element's box.

Examples

Demo page with basic examples

View the live example

Examples using CSS background and multiple images

There should be seven yellow  elements, each with a star in a different position. The final rectangle has two background images, each with a different background-position.

HTML Content

<div class="exampleone">Example One</div>
<div class="exampletwo">Example Two</div>
<div class="examplethree">Example Three</div>

CSS Content

/* Shared among all DIVS */
div {
    background-color: #FFEE99;
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    width: 300px;
    height: 80px;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}

/* background-position examples */

/* These examples use the background shorthand CSS property */
.exampleone {
    background: url("https://developer.mozilla.org/samples/cssref/images/startransparent.gif") #FFEE99 2.5cm bottom no-repeat;
}
.exampletwo {
    background: url("https://developer.mozilla.org/samples/cssref/images/startransparent.gif") #FFEE99 3em 50% no-repeat;
}

/*
Multiple background images: Each image is matched with the
corresponding position style, from first specified to last.
*/
.examplethree {
    background-image:    url("https://developer.mozilla.org/samples/cssref/images/startransparent.gif"), 
                         url("https://mdn.mozillademos.org/files/7693/catfront.png");
    background-position: 0px 0px,
                         center;
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Background-related CSS properties: Background-related CSS properties: background, background-attachment, background-clip, background-color, background-image, background-origin, background-position, background-repeat, background-size
• Multiple backgrounds