inset

The inset CSS property is a shorthand that corresponds to the top, right, bottom, and/or left properties. It has the same multi-value syntax of the margin shorthand.

While part of the CSS Logical Properties specification, it does not define logical offsets. It defines physical offsets, regardless of the element's writing mode, directionality, and text orientation.

/* <length> values */
inset: 10px; /* value applied to all edges */
inset: 4px 8px; /* top/bottom left/right */
inset: 5px 15px 10px; /* top left/right bottom */
inset: 2.4em 3em 3em 3em; /* top right bottom left */

/* <percentage>s of the width (left/right) or height (top/bottom) of the containing block */
inset: 10% 5% 5% 5%;

/* Keyword value */
inset: auto;

/* Global values */
inset: inherit;
inset: initial;
inset: revert;
inset: unset;

Syntax

Values

The inset property takes the same values as the left property.

Formal definition

Initial value	`auto`
Applies to	positioned elements
Inherited	no
Percentages	relative to the containing block’s size in the corresponding axis (e.g. width for left or right, height for top or bottom)
Computed value	same as box offsets: `top`, `right`, `bottom`, `left` properties except that directions are logical
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

<'top'>{1,4}

Examples

Setting offsets for an element

HTML

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

CSS

div {
  background-color: yellow;
  width: 150px;
  height: 120px;
  position: relative;
}

.exampleText {
  writing-mode: sideways-rl;
  position: absolute;
  inset: 20px 40px 30px 10px;
  background-color: #c8c800;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Logical Properties and Values Level 1 # propdef-inset

Browser compatibility

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