CSS align-items Property

The CSS align-items property specifies the default alignment for flex items. It is similar to the justify-content property but the vertical version.

This property is one of the CSS3 properties.

The align-items property accepts the following values:

  • stretch
  • flex-start
  • center
  • flex-end
  • baseline
Initial Value stretch
Applies to All elements.
Inherited No.
Animatable No.
Version CSS3
DOM Syntax object.style.alignItems = "center";

Syntax

align-items: stretch | center | flex-start | flex-end | baseline | initial | inherit;

Example of the align-items property:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Title of the document</title>
    <style>
      #example {
        width: 220px;
        height: 300px;
        padding: 0;
        border: 1px solid #000;
        display: -webkit-flex;
        /* Safari */
        -webkit-align-items: stretch;
        /* Safari 7.0+ */
        display: flex;
        align-items: stretch;
      }
      #example li {
        -webkit-flex: 1;
        /* Safari 6.1+ */
        flex: 1;
        list-style: none;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Align-items: stretch; example</h2>
    <ul id="example">
      <li style="background-color:#8ebf42;">Green</li>
      <li style="background-color:#1c87c9;">Blue</li>
      <li style="background-color:#ccc;">Gray</li>
    </ul>
  </body>
</html>

Result

CSS align-items Property with the stretch value

In the following example, the items are positioned at the center of the container.

Example of the align-items property with the "center" value:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      #example {
        width: 220px;
        height: 300px;
        padding: 0;
        border: 1px solid #000;
        display: -webkit-flex;
        /* Safari */
        -webkit-align-items: center;
        /* Safari 7.0+ */
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
      }
      #example li {
        -webkit-flex: 1;
        /* Safari 6.1+ */
        flex: 1;
        list-style: none;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Align-items: center; example</h2>
    <ul id="example">
      <li style="background-color:#8ebf42;">Green</li>
      <li style="background-color:#1c87c9;">Blue</li>
      <li style="background-color:#ccc;">Gray</li>
    </ul>
  </body>
</html>

In the next example, the items are placed at the beginning.

Example of the align-items property with the "flex-start" value:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      #example {
        width: 220px;
        height: 300px;
        padding: 0;
        border: 1px solid #000;
        display: -webkit-flex;
        /* Safari */
        -webkit-align-items: flex-start;
        /* Safari 7.0+ */
        display: flex;
        align-items: flex-start;
      }
      #example li {
        -webkit-flex: 1;
        /* Safari 6.1+ */
        flex: 1;
        list-style: none;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Align-items: flex-start; example</h2>
    <ul id="example">
      <li style="background-color:#8ebf42;">Green</li>
      <li style="background-color:#1c87c9;">Blue</li>
      <li style="background-color:#ccc;">Gray</li>
    </ul>
  </body>
</html>

Here, we apply the "flex-end" value which places the items at the end of the container.

Example of the align-items property with the "flex-end" value:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      #example {
        width: 220px;
        height: 300px;
        padding: 0;
        border: 1px solid #000;
        display: -webkit-flex;
        /* Safari */
        -webkit-align-items: flex-end;
        /* Safari 7.0+ */
        display: flex;
        align-items: flex-end;
      }
      #example li {
        -webkit-flex: 1;
        /* Safari 6.1+ */
        flex: 1;
        list-style: none;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Align-items: flex-end; example</h2>
    <ul id="example">
      <li style="background-color:#8ebf42;">Green</li>
      <li style="background-color:#1c87c9;">Blue</li>
      <li style="background-color:#ccc;">Gray</li>
    </ul>
  </body>
</html>

Let’s see our last example with the "baseline" value which places the items at the baseline of the container.

Example of the align-items property with the "baseline" value:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      #example {
        width: 220px;
        height: 300px;
        padding: 0;
        border: 1px solid #000;
        display: -webkit-flex;
        /* Safari */
        -webkit-align-items: baseline;
        /* Safari 7.0+ */
        display: flex;
        align-items: baseline;
      }
      #example li {
        -webkit-flex: 1;
        /* Safari 6.1+ */
        flex: 1;
        list-style: none;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Align-items: baseline; example</h2>
    <ul id="example">
      <li style="background-color:#8ebf42;">Green</li>
      <li style="background-color:#1c87c9;">Blue</li>
      <li style="background-color:#ccc;">Gray</li>
    </ul>
  </body>
</html>

Result

CSS align-items Property with the baseline value

Values

Value Description Play it
stretch Makes items stretch to fit the container. This is the default value for this property. Play it »
center Items are placed at the center of the container. Play it »
flex-start Items are placed at the beginning of the container. Play it »
flex-end Items are placed at the end of the container. Play it »
baseline Items are positioned at the baseline of the container. Play it »
initial It makes the property use its default value. Play it »
inherit It inherits the property from its parents element.

Browser support

chrome firefox safari opera
29.0+
21-28 -webkit-
28.0+ 9.0+
6.1-8.0 -webkit-
12.1+

Practice Your Knowledge

What are the possible values for the 'align-items' property in CSS?

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