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 value	`0`
Applies to	all 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`.
Inherited	no
Percentages	refer to the width of the containing block
Computed value	the percentage as specified or the absolute length
Animation type	a 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.	Candidate Recommendation	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

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