Use Flexbox with display: flex, justify-content: center, and align-items: center for simple and responsive centering, ensuring the container has a defined height; 2. Use CSS Grid with place-items: center or separate justify-items and align-items properties for modern layouts; 3. Use absolute positioning with top: 50%, left: 50%, and transform: translate(-50%, -50%) when container display cannot be changed; 4. Use margin: 0 auto for horizontal centering only on fixed-width block elements, but combine with other methods for vertical centering; the recommended approach for most cases is Flexbox due to its simplicity and flexibility.
Centering an element both horizontally and vertically is a common layout challenge in CSS. There are several reliable methods, depending on your layout context. Here are the most practical and widely used approaches:

1. Using Flexbox (Recommended)
Flexbox is the most straightforward and modern way to center elements.
.container { display: flex; justify-content: center; /* centers horizontally */ align-items: center; /* centers vertically */ height: 100vh; /* make sure container has a height */ }
<div class="container"> <div class="centered-element">Centered Content</div> </div>
? Pros: Simple, responsive, works with dynamic content size.
?? Note: The container must have a defined height (like 100vh
, 400px
, or 100%
of a parent with height).

2. Using CSS Grid
CSS Grid offers another clean method, especially useful in modern layouts.
.container { display: grid; place-items: center; /* shorthand for justify-items and align-items */ height: 100vh; }
Or more explicitly:

.container { display: grid; justify-items: center; align-items: center; height: 100vh; }
This works similarly to Flexbox and is great when you're already using Grid for layout.
3. Using Absolute Positioning Transform
Useful when you can't change the display property of the container (e.g., legacy code).
.container { position: relative; height: 100vh; } .centered-element { position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); }
? Pros: Works with any container type.
?? Note: The parent needs position: relative
(or another positioned context), and the child is taken out of the normal flow.
4. Using Margin Auto (for block elements with fixed width)
Only centers horizontally, so you need additional tricks for vertical centering. Not ideal for full vertical horizontal centering unless combined with other techniques.
But for horizontal-only:
.centered-element { width: 300px; margin: 0 auto; /* centers horizontally */ }
To also center vertically, you’d need to combine with position
or flex/grid
.
Summary: Which Method to Use?
- ? Use Flexbox — most reliable and readable for 90% of cases.
- ? Use Grid — if you're already using grid layout.
- ? Use
position transform
— when you can't modify the container’s display type.
Most developers today prefer Flexbox for its simplicity and flexibility.
Basically, just remember:display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;
—and make sure the container has a height.
The above is the detailed content of How to vertically and horizontally center an element?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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