margin-block-start

This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for usage in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the specification changes.

The margin-block-start CSS property defines the logical block start margin of an element, which maps to a physical margin depending on the element's writing mode, directionality, and text orientation.

/* <length> values */
margin-block-start: 10px;  /* An absolute length */
margin-block-start: 1em;   /* relative to the text size */
margin-block-start: 5%;    /* relative to the nearest block container's width */
/* Keyword values */
margin-block-start: auto;
/* Global values */
margin-block-start: inherit;
margin-block-start: initial;
margin-block-start: unset;

It corresponds to the margin-topmargin-rightmargin-bottom, or margin-left property depending on the values defined for writing-mode, direction, and text-orientation.

It relates to margin-block-end, margin-inline-start, and margin-inline-end, which define the other margins of the element.

Initial value0
Applies tosame as margin
Inheritedno
Percentagesdepends on layout model
Mediavisual
Computed valueif specified as a length, the corresponding absolute length; if specified as a percentage, the specified value; otherwise, auto
Animation typediscrete
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

The margin-block-start property takes the same values as the margin-left property.

Formal syntax

<'margin-left'>

Example

HTML Content

<div>
  <p class="exampleText">Example text</p>
</div>

CSS Content

div {
  background-color: yellow;
  width: 120px;
  height: 120px;
}
.exampleText {
  writing-mode: vertical-lr;
  margin-block-start: 20px;
  background-color: #c8c800;
}

Specification

Specification Status Comment
CSS Logical Properties Level 1
The definition of 'margin-block-start' in that specification.
Editor's Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support No support 41.0 (41.0)[1] No support No support No support
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support No support 41.0 (41.0)[1] No support No support No support

[1] Available since Gecko 38, but behind the preference layout.css.vertical-text.enabled, then disabled by default. The preference has been removed in Gecko 51 and this property cannot be disabled since this version.

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: wbamberg, teoli, Sebastianz, fscholz, kscarfone
 Last updated by: wbamberg,