text-align 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.

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

The text-align CSS property sets the horizontal alignment of the inline-level content inside a block element or table-cell box. This means it works like vertical-align but in the horizontal direction.

Try it

text-align: start;
text-align: end;
text-align: center;
text-align: justify;
<section id="default-example">
  <div id="example-element">
    <p>
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
      tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim
      veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea
      commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate
      velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat
      cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id
      est laborum.
    </p>
  </div>
</section>
section {
  font-size: 1.5em;
}

#default-example > div {
  width: 250px;
}

Syntax

css
/* Keyword values */
text-align: start;
text-align: end;
text-align: left;
text-align: right;
text-align: center;
text-align: justify;
text-align: match-parent;

/* Block alignment values (Non-standard syntax) */
text-align: -moz-center;
text-align: -webkit-center;

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

The text-align property is specified as a single keyword from the list below.

Values

start

The same as left if direction is left-to-right and right if direction is right-to-left.

end

The same as right if direction is left-to-right and left if direction is right-to-left.

left

The inline contents are aligned to the left edge of the line box.

The inline contents are aligned to the right edge of the line box.

center

The inline contents are centered within the line box.

justify

The inline contents are justified. Spaces out the content to line up its left and right edges to the left and right edges of the line box, except for the last line.

match-parent

Similar to inherit, but the values start and end are calculated according to the parent's direction and are replaced by the appropriate left or right value.

Accessibility

The inconsistent spacing between words created by justified text can be problematic for people with cognitive concerns such as Dyslexia.

Formal definition

Initial valuestart, or a nameless value that acts as left if direction is ltr, right if direction is rtl if start is not supported by the browser.
Applies toblock containers
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified, except for the match-parent value which is calculated against its parent's direction value and results in a computed value of either left or right
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

text-align = 
start |
end |
left |
right |
center |
<string> |
justify |
match-parent |
justify-all

Examples

Start alignment

HTML

html
<p class="example">
  Integer elementum massa at nulla placerat varius. Suspendisse in libero risus,
  in interdum massa. Vestibulum ac leo vitae metus faucibus gravida ac in neque.
  Nullam est eros, suscipit sed dictum quis, accumsan a ligula.
</p>

CSS

css
.example {
  text-align: start;
  border: solid;
}

Result

Centered text

HTML

html
<p class="example">
  Integer elementum massa at nulla placerat varius. Suspendisse in libero risus,
  in interdum massa. Vestibulum ac leo vitae metus faucibus gravida ac in neque.
  Nullam est eros, suscipit sed dictum quis, accumsan a ligula.
</p>

CSS

css
.example {
  text-align: center;
  border: solid;
}

Result

Example using "justify"

HTML

html
<p class="example">
  Integer elementum massa at nulla placerat varius. Suspendisse in libero risus,
  in interdum massa. Vestibulum ac leo vitae metus faucibus gravida ac in neque.
  Nullam est eros, suscipit sed dictum quis, accumsan a ligula.
</p>

CSS

css
.example {
  text-align: justify;
  border: solid;
}

Result

Table alignment

This example demonstrates the use of text-align on <table> elements:

  • The <caption> is set to right-aligned.
  • The first two <th> elements inherit the left alignment from the text-align: left set on the <thead>, while the third is set to right-aligned.
  • Inside the <tbody> element, the first row is set to right-aligned, the second is set to center-aligned, and the third uses the default (left) alignment.
  • Within each row, some cells (c12, c31) are set to override the alignment of the row.

HTML

html
<table>
  <caption>
    Example table
  </caption>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Col 1</th>
      <th>Col 2</th>
      <th class="right">Col 3</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr class="right">
      <td>11</td>
      <td class="center">12</td>
      <td>13</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="center">
      <td>21</td>
      <td>22</td>
      <td>23</td>
    </tr>
    <tr id="r3">
      <td class="right">31</td>
      <td>32</td>
      <td>33</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

CSS

css
table {
  border-collapse: collapse;
  border: solid black 1px;
  width: 250px;
  height: 150px;
}

thead {
  text-align: left;
}

td,
th {
  border: solid 1px black;
}

.center {
  text-align: center;
}

.right,
caption {
  text-align: right;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Logical Properties and Values Module Level 1
# text-align
CSS Text Module Level 3
# text-align-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
text-align
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 3.5 (Release date: 1998-11-18)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1 (Release date: 2003-06-23)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 10.1 (Release date: 2010-11-09)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
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 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
center
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
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 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1 (Release date: 2003-06-23)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
Safari – Full support
Safari 1.3 (Release date: 2005-04-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari – Full support
Safari 4 (Release date: 2009-06-08)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
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 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 3.2 (Release date: 2010-04-03)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
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 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 3.2 (Release date: 2010-04-03)
footnote Full support
end
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 3.1 (Release date: 2008-03-18)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
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 2 (Release date: 2008-07-11)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 37 (Release date: 2014-09-03)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 2 (Release date: 2008-07-11)
footnote Full support
justify
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1 (Release date: 2003-06-23)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
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 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
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 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
left
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
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 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1 (Release date: 2003-06-23)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
Safari – Full support
Safari 1.3 (Release date: 2005-04-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari – Full support
Safari 4 (Release date: 2009-06-08)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
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 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 3.2 (Release date: 2010-04-03)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
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 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 3.2 (Release date: 2010-04-03)
footnote Full support
match-parent
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 16 (Release date: 2011-12-13)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 40 (Release date: 2015-08-11)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.4 (Release date: 2022-03-14)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 40 (Release date: 2015-08-11)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.4 (Release date: 2022-03-14)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 37 (Release date: 2014-09-03)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.4 (Release date: 2022-03-14)
footnote Full support
right
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
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 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1 (Release date: 2003-06-23)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
Safari – Full support
Safari 1.3 (Release date: 2005-04-15)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari – Full support
Safari 4 (Release date: 2009-06-08)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
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 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 3.2 (Release date: 2010-04-03)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
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 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
prefix
prefix Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 3.2 (Release date: 2010-04-03)
footnote Full support
start
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 79 (Release date: 2020-01-15)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 3.1 (Release date: 2008-03-18)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
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 2 (Release date: 2008-07-11)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 37 (Release date: 2014-09-03)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 2 (Release date: 2008-07-11)
footnote Full support

Legend

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

Full support
Full support
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Has more compatibility info.

See also