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CSS bottom property

The CSS bottom property specifies the bottom position of an element in combination with the position property.

Note: The bottom property has no effect on elements with position: static (the default).

Depending on how the element is positioned, the effect of the bottom property may be different. Particularly:

  • When the positioning of an element is relative, absolute, fixed, or sticky, the bottom value plays a significant role.
  • When the position is fixed, the element is positioned relative to the screen's viewport and stays fixed when scrolling.
  • When it is absolute, the element is positioned relative to its container.
  • When the position is relative, it makes the element's bottom edge move above or below its normal position.
  • For sticky, the element behaves like relative until a scroll threshold is reached, after which it behaves like fixed relative to the viewport.
Initial Valueauto
Applies toAll elements. It also applies to ::first-letter.
InheritedNo.
AnimatableYes. The bottom position can be animatable.
VersionCSS2
DOM Syntaxobject.style.bottom = "10px";

Syntax

Syntax of CSS bottom property

css
bottom: auto | length | percentage | initial | inherit;

Example of the bottom property:

Example of CSS bottom property with position absolute value

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <style>
      div.parent {
        position: relative;
        height: 300px;
        width: 80%;
        border: 3px solid #8ebf42;
      }
      div.absolute {
        position: absolute;
        width: 50%;
        bottom: 10px;
        border: 3px solid #8ebf42;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Bottom property example</h2>
    <div class="parent">
      The position of this div is set to relative.
      <div class="absolute">This div's bottom edge is placed 10 pixels above the bottom edge of the containing element, and the position is set to absolute.</div>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

Result

CSS bottom property

Example of the bottom property with all the positions:

Example of CSS bottom property with all positions

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <style>
      div.parent {
        position: relative;
        height: 180px;
        border: 3px solid #8AC007;
      }
      div.absolute {
        position: absolute;
        width: 50%;
        bottom: 20px;
        border: 3px solid #8AC007;
      }
      div.relative {
        position: relative;
        width: 50%;
        bottom: 2px;
        border: 3px solid #8AC007;
      }
      div.fixed {
        position: fixed;
        width: 50%;
        bottom: 50px;
        border: 3px solid #8AC007;
      }
      div.sticky {
        position: sticky;
        top: 0;
        width: 50%;
        bottom: 10px;
        border: 3px solid #8AC007;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Bottom property example</h2>
    <div class="parent">
      This div element has position: relative.
      <div class="absolute"><strong>position: absolute and bottom 20px</strong>
        <br />This div's bottom edge is placed 20 pixels above the bottom edge of the containing element.</div>
    </div>
    <br />
    <div class="parent">
      This div element has position: relative.
      <div class="relative"><strong>position: relative and bottom 2px</strong>
        <br />This div's bottom edge is placed 2 pixels above its normal position.</div>
    </div>
    <br />
    <div class="fixed"><strong>position: fixed and bottom 50px</strong>
      <br />This div's bottom edge is placed 50 pixels from the bottom of the viewport.</div>
    <div class="parent">
      This div element has position: relative.
      <div class="sticky"><strong>position: sticky and bottom 10px</strong>
        <br />This div is sticky.</div>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

Values

ValueDescriptionPlay it
autoThis is the default value. It lets the browser calculate the bottom edge position.Play it »
percentageDefines the element’s position in percentages of the containing block height.
lengthDefines the position of the element in px, cm, etc. Negative values are allowed.Play it »
initialSets the property to its default value.Play it »
inheritInherits the property from its parent element.

Practice

What does the 'bottom' property in CSS do?

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