align-content 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 September 2015.

* Some parts of this feature may have varying levels of support.

The CSS align-content property sets the distribution of space between and around content items along a flexbox's cross axis, or a grid or block-level element's block axis.

This property has no effect on single line flex containers (i.e., ones with flex-wrap: nowrap).

The interactive example below uses grid layout to demonstrate some of the values of this property.

Try it

align-content: start;
align-content: center;
align-content: space-between;
align-content: space-around;
<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div class="example-container">
    <div class="transition-all" id="example-element">
      <div>One</div>
      <div>Two</div>
      <div>Three</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
#example-element {
  border: 1px solid #c5c5c5;
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 60px 60px;
  grid-auto-rows: 40px;
  column-gap: 10px;
  height: 180px;
}

#example-element > div {
  background-color: rgb(0 0 255 / 0.2);
  border: 3px solid blue;
}

Syntax

css
/* Normal alignment */
align-content: normal;

/* Basic positional alignment */
/* align-content does not take left and right values */
align-content: start;
align-content: center;
align-content: end;
align-content: flex-start;
align-content: flex-end;

/* Baseline alignment */
align-content: baseline;
align-content: first baseline;
align-content: last baseline;

/* Distributed alignment */
align-content: space-between;
align-content: space-around;
align-content: space-evenly;
align-content: stretch;

/* Overflow alignment */
align-content: safe center;
align-content: unsafe center;

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

Values

normal

The items are packed in their default position as if no align-content value was set.

start

The items are packed flush to each other against the start edge of the alignment container in the cross axis.

center

The items are packed flush to each other in the center of the alignment container along the cross axis.

end

The items are packed flush to each other against the end edge of the alignment container in the cross axis.

flex-start

The items are packed flush to each other against the edge of the alignment container depending on the flex container's cross-start side. This only applies to flex layout items. For items that are not children of a flex container, this value is treated like start.

flex-end

The items are packed flush to each other against the edge of the alignment container depending on the flex container's cross-end side. This only applies to flex layout items. For items that are not children of a flex container, this value is treated like end.

baseline, first baseline, last baseline

Specifies participation in first- or last-baseline alignment: aligns the alignment baseline of the box's first or last baseline set with the corresponding baseline in the shared first or last baseline set of all the boxes in its baseline-sharing group.

the baseline is the line upon which most letters "sit" and below which descenders extend.

The fallback alignment for first baseline is start, the one for last baseline is end.

space-between

The items are evenly distributed within the alignment container along the cross axis. The spacing between each pair of adjacent items is the same. The first item is flush with the start edge of the alignment container in the cross axis, and the last item is flush with the end edge of the alignment container in the cross axis.

space-around

The items are evenly distributed within the alignment container along the cross axis. The spacing between each pair of adjacent items is the same. The empty space before the first and after the last item equals half of the space between each pair of adjacent items.

space-evenly

The items are evenly distributed within the alignment container along the cross axis. The spacing between each pair of adjacent items, the start edge and the first item, and the end edge and the last item, are all exactly the same.

stretch

If the combined size of the items along the cross axis is less than the size of the alignment container, any auto-sized items have their size increased equally (not proportionally), while still respecting the constraints imposed by max-height/max-width (or equivalent functionality), so that the combined size exactly fills the alignment container along the cross axis.

safe

Used alongside an alignment keyword. If the chosen keyword means that the item overflows the alignment container causing data loss, the item is instead aligned as if the alignment mode were start.

unsafe

Used alongside an alignment keyword. Regardless of the relative sizes of the item and alignment container and whether overflow which causes data loss might happen, the given alignment value is honored.

Note: The <content-distribution> values (space-between, space-around, space-evenly, and stretch) have no effect in block layout as all the content in that block is treated as a single alignment-subject.

Formal definition

Initial valuenormal
Applies toBlock-containers, multi-column containers, flex containers
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

align-content = 
normal |
<baseline-position> |
<content-distribution> |
<overflow-position>? <content-position>

<baseline-position> =
[ first | last ]? &&
baseline

<content-distribution> =
space-between |
space-around |
space-evenly |
stretch

<overflow-position> =
unsafe |
safe

<content-position> =
center |
start |
end |
flex-start |
flex-end

Examples

Effects of different align-content values

In this example, you can switch between three different display property values, including flex, grid, and block. You can also switch between the different values for align-content.

HTML

html
<section>
  <div class="olive">Olive</div>
  <div class="coral">Coral</div>
  <div class="deepskyblue">Deep<br />sky<br />blue</div>
  <div class="orchid">Orchid</div>
  <div class="slateblue">Slateblue</div>
  <div class="maroon">Maroon</div>
</section>

CSS

css
section {
  border: solid 1.5px tomato;
  height: 300px;
  width: 300px;
  flex-wrap: wrap; /* used by flex only */
  gap: 0.2rem; /* not used by block */
}
.olive {
  background-color: olive;
}
.coral {
  background-color: coral;
}
.deepskyblue {
  background-color: deepskyblue;
}
.orchid {
  background-color: orchid;
}
.slateblue {
  background-color: slateblue;
  color: white;
}
.maroon {
  background-color: maroon;
  color: white;
}

Result

Try changing the display value and the align-content value.

In block layout, child elements are treated as a single element, meaning space-between, space-around, and space-evenly behave differently.

Specifications

Specification
CSS Box Alignment Module Level 3
# align-justify-content
CSS Flexible Box Layout Module Level 1
# align-content-property

Browser compatibility

desktop mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
align-content
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 21 (Release date: 2012-07-31)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 29 (Release date: 2013-08-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 49 (Release date: 2016-09-20)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 28 (Release date: 2014-03-18)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Opera – Full support
Opera 16 (Release date: 2013-08-27)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 7 (Release date: 2013-10-22)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari – Full support
Safari 9 (Release date: 2015-09-30)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 25 (Release date: 2013-02-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 29 (Release date: 2013-08-21)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 49 (Release date: 2016-09-20)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 28 (Release date: 2014-03-18)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 16 (Release date: 2013-09-18)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 7 (Release date: 2013-09-18)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1.5 (Release date: 2013-09-25)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 2 (Release date: 2014-10-17)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 7 (Release date: 2013-09-18)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Supported in Block Layout
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 123 (Release date: 2024-03-19)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 123 (Release date: 2024-03-22)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 125 (Release date: 2024-04-16)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 109 (Release date: 2024-03-27)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 17.4 (Release date: 2024-03-05)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 123 (Release date: 2024-03-19)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 125 (Release date: 2024-04-16)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 82 (Release date: 2024-05-02)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 17.4 (Release date: 2024-03-05)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 27 (Release date: 2024-11-06)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 123 (Release date: 2024-03-19)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 17.4 (Release date: 2024-03-05)
footnote Full support
Supported in Flex Layout
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 21 (Release date: 2012-07-31)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 28 (Release date: 2014-03-18)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 9 (Release date: 2015-09-30)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 25 (Release date: 2013-02-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 28 (Release date: 2014-03-18)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1.5 (Release date: 2013-09-25)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
flex_context.baseline
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 57 (Release date: 2017-03-09)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 45 (Release date: 2016-03-08)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 44 (Release date: 2017-03-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 9 (Release date: 2015-09-30)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 57 (Release date: 2017-03-16)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 45 (Release date: 2016-03-08)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 43 (Release date: 2017-09-27)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 7 (Release date: 2018-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 57 (Release date: 2017-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
first baseline
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 59 (Release date: 2017-06-05)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 46 (Release date: 2017-06-22)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 59 (Release date: 2017-06-06)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 43 (Release date: 2017-09-27)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 7 (Release date: 2018-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 59 (Release date: 2017-06-06)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Full support
last baseline
Chrome – No support
Chrome
footnote
footnote See bug 41344054
Edge – No support
Edge
footnote
footnote See bug 41344054
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera – No support
Opera
footnote No support
Safari – Partial support
Safari 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Partial support
footnote This value is recognized, but has no effect. See bug 235005.
Chrome Android – No support
Chrome Android
footnote
footnote See bug 41344054
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – No support
Opera Android
footnote No support
Safari on iOS – Partial support
Safari on iOS 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Partial support
footnote This value is recognized, but has no effect. See bug 235005.
Samsung Internet – No support
Samsung Internet
footnote No support
WebView Android – No support
WebView Android
footnote No support
WebView on iOS – Partial support
WebView on iOS 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Partial support
footnote This value is recognized, but has no effect. See bug 235005.
safe and unsafe
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 115 (Release date: 2023-07-18)
footnote
footnote Before version 115, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
Edge – Full support
Edge 115 (Release date: 2023-07-21)
footnote
footnote Before version 115, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 63 (Release date: 2018-10-23)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 101 (Release date: 2023-07-26)
footnote
footnote Before version 101, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
Safari – Full support
Safari 17.6 (Release date: 2024-07-29)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 115 (Release date: 2023-07-21)
footnote
footnote Before version 115, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 63 (Release date: 2018-10-23)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 77 (Release date: 2023-08-31)
footnote
footnote Before version 77, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 17.6 (Release date: 2024-07-29)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 23 (Release date: 2023-10-18)
footnote
footnote Before version 23.0, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 115 (Release date: 2023-07-21)
footnote
footnote Before version 115, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 17.6 (Release date: 2024-07-29)
footnote Full support
flex_context.space-evenly
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 60 (Release date: 2017-07-25)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 47 (Release date: 2017-08-09)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 60 (Release date: 2017-08-01)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 44 (Release date: 2017-12-11)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 8 (Release date: 2018-07-18)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 60 (Release date: 2017-08-01)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 11 (Release date: 2017-09-19)
footnote Full support
start and end
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 93 (Release date: 2021-08-31)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 93 (Release date: 2021-09-02)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 45 (Release date: 2016-03-08)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 79 (Release date: 2021-09-14)
footnote
footnote Before version 79, this value is recognized, but has no effect.
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.6 (Release date: 2022-07-20)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 93 (Release date: 2021-08-31)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 45 (Release date: 2016-03-08)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – No support
Opera Android
footnote
footnote This value is recognized, but has no effect.
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.6 (Release date: 2022-07-20)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 17 (Release date: 2022-05-04)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 93 (Release date: 2021-08-31)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.6 (Release date: 2022-07-20)
footnote Full support
flex_context.stretch
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 57 (Release date: 2017-03-09)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 44 (Release date: 2017-03-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 9 (Release date: 2015-09-30)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 57 (Release date: 2017-03-16)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 43 (Release date: 2017-09-27)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 7 (Release date: 2018-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 57 (Release date: 2017-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Supported in Grid Layout
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 57 (Release date: 2017-03-09)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 16 (Release date: 2017-10-17)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 44 (Release date: 2017-03-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 10.1 (Release date: 2017-03-27)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 52 (Release date: 2016-07-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 52 (Release date: 2017-03-07)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 43 (Release date: 2017-09-27)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 10.3 (Release date: 2017-03-27)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 6.2 (Release date: 2017-10-26)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 57 (Release date: 2017-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 10.3 (Release date: 2017-03-27)
footnote Full support
Supported in Multi-column Layout
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 123 (Release date: 2024-03-19)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 123 (Release date: 2024-03-22)
footnote Full support
Firefox – No support
Firefox
footnote No support
Opera – Full support
Opera 109 (Release date: 2024-03-27)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 17.4 (Release date: 2024-03-05)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 123 (Release date: 2024-03-19)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – No support
Firefox for Android
footnote No support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 82 (Release date: 2024-05-02)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 17.4 (Release date: 2024-03-05)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 27 (Release date: 2024-11-06)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 123 (Release date: 2024-03-19)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 17.4 (Release date: 2024-03-05)
footnote Full support
normal
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 29 (Release date: 2013-08-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 28 (Release date: 2014-03-18)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 16 (Release date: 2013-08-27)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 9 (Release date: 2015-09-30)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 29 (Release date: 2013-08-21)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 28 (Release date: 2014-03-18)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 16 (Release date: 2013-09-18)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 2 (Release date: 2014-10-17)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 9 (Release date: 2015-09-16)
footnote Full support

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support
Partial support
Partial support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Has more compatibility info.

See also