CSS Questions & Answers Logo
CSS Questions & Answers Part of the Q&A Network
Q&A Logo

How can I center a child element both vertically and horizontally in a flex container?

Asked on Sep 27, 2025

Answer

To center a child element both vertically and horizontally within a flex container, you can use the CSS Flexbox properties. These properties make it straightforward to align items in the center.
<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
    <div class="flex-container">
      <div class="child">Centered</div>
    </div>

    <style>
      .flex-container {
        display: flex;
        justify-content: center; /* Centers horizontally */
        align-items: center;    /* Centers vertically */
        height: 200px;          /* Example height */
        border: 1px solid #ccc; /* Optional styling */
      }
      .child {
        padding: 10px;
        background-color: #f0f0f0; /* Optional styling */
      }
    </style>
    <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->
Additional Comment:
  • Use "display: flex;" on the parent container to enable Flexbox.
  • "justify-content: center;" aligns the child horizontally.
  • "align-items: center;" aligns the child vertically.
  • Ensure the container has a defined height for vertical centering to work.
  • This method is widely supported across modern browsers.
✅ Answered with CSS best practices.

← Back to All Questions
The Q&A Network