top

The top CSS property participates in specifying the vertical position of a positioned element. It has no effect on non-positioned elements.

/* <length> values */
top: 3px;
top: 2.4em;
/* <percentages> of the height of the containing block */
top: 10%;
/* Keyword value */
top: auto;
/* Global values */
top: inherit;
top: initial;
top: unset;

The effect of top depends on how the element is positioned (i.e., the value of the position property):

When position is set to absolute or fixed, the top property specifies the distance between the element's top edge and the top edge of its containing block.
When position is set to relative, the top property specifies the distance the element's top edge is moved below its normal position.
When position is set to sticky, the top property behaves like its position is relative when the element is inside the viewport, and like its position is fixed when it is outside.
When position is set to static, the top property has no effect.

When both top and bottom are specified, and height is unspecified or either auto or 100%, both the top and bottom distances are respected. In all other situations, if height is constrained in any way, the top property takes precedence and the bottom property is ignored.

Initial value	`auto`
Applies to	positioned elements
Inherited	no
Percentages	refer to the height of the containing block
Media	visual
Computed value	if specified as a length, the corresponding absolute length; if specified as a percentage, the specified value; otherwise, `auto`
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

<length>

A negative, null, or positive <length> that represents:

for absolutely positioned elements, the distance to the top edge of the containing block.
for relatively positioned elements, the distance that the element is moved below its normal position.

<percentage>

A <percentage> of the containing block's height, used as described in the summary.

auto

Specifies that:

for absolutely positioned elements, the position of the element is based on the bottom property, while height: auto is treated as a height based on the content.
for relatively positioned elements, the distance of the element from its normal position is based on the bottom property, or if bottom is also auto, the element is not moved vertically at all.

inherit

Specifies that the value is the same as the computed value from its parent element (which might not be its containing block). This computed value is then handled as if it were a <length>, <percentage>, or the auto keyword.

Formal syntax

<length> | <percentage> | auto

Example

body {
  background: beige;
}
div {
  position: absolute;
  top: 10%;
  right: 40%;
  bottom: 20%;
  left: 15%;
  background: gold;
  border: 1px solid blue;
}

<div>The size of this content is determined by the position of its edges.</div>

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Transitions The definition of 'top' in that specification.	Working Draft	Defines `top` as animatable.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'top' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox (Gecko)	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
Basic support	(Yes)	(Yes)	1.0 (1.7 or earlier)	(Yes)^[1]	(Yes)	(Yes)

Feature	Android	Chrome for Android	Edge	Firefox Mobile (Gecko)	IE Mobile	Opera Mobile	Safari Mobile
Basic support	?	?	(Yes)	?	?^[1]	?	?

[1] In Internet Explorer versions before 7.0, when both top and bottom are specified, the element position is over-constrained and the top property has precedence: the computed value of bottom is set to -top, while its specified value is ignored.