How do I center a div of one column size within the container (12 columns) in Twitter Bootstrap 3?
.centered {
background-color: red;
}
<!-- Latest compiled and minified CSS -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.7/css/bootstrap.min.css" integrity="sha384-BVYiiSIFeK1dGmJRAkycuHAHRg32OmUcww7on3RYdg4Va+PmSTsz/K68vbdEjh4u" crossorigin="anonymous">
<body class="container">
<div class="col-lg-1 col-offset-6 centered">
<img data-src="holder.js/100x100" alt="" />
</div>
</body>
I want a div, with a class .centered to be centered within the container. I may use a row if there are multiple divs, but for now I just want a div with the size of one column centered within the container (12 columns).
I am also not sure the above approach is good enough as the intention is not to offset the div by half. I do not need free spaces outside the div and the contents of the div shrink in proportion. I want to empty space outside the div to be evenly distributed (shrink till the container width is equal to one column).
There are two approaches to centering a column <div> in Bootstrap 3:
Approach 1 (offsets):
The first approach uses Bootstrap's own offset classes so it requires no change in markup and no extra CSS. The key is to set an offset equal to half of the remaining size of the row. So for example, a column of size 2 would be centered by adding an offset of 5, that's (12-2)/2.
In markup this would look like:
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-2 col-md-offset-5"></div>
</div>
Now, there's an obvious drawback for this method. It only works for even column sizes, so only .col-X-2, .col-X-4, col-X-6, col-X-8, and col-X-10 are supported.
Approach 2 (the old margin:auto)
You can center any column size by using the proven margin: 0 auto; technique. You just need to take care of the floating that is added by Bootstrap's grid system. I recommend defining a custom CSS class like the following:
.col-centered{
float: none;
margin: 0 auto;
}
Now you can add it to any column size at any screen size, and it will work seamlessly with Bootstrap's responsive layout:
<div class="row">
<div class="col-lg-1 col-centered"></div>
</div>
Note: With both techniques you could skip the .row element and have the column centered inside a .container, but you would notice a minimal difference in the actual column size because of the padding in the container class.
Update:
Since v3.0.1 Bootstrap has a built-in class named center-block that uses margin: 0 auto, but is missing float:none, you can add that to your CSS to make it work with the grid system.
The preferred method of centering columns is to use "offsets" (ie: col-md-offset-3)
Bootstrap 3.x centering examples
For centering elements, there is a center-block helper class.
You can also use text-center to center text (and inline elements).
Responsive Demo: http://bootply.com/91632
EDIT - As mentioned in the comments, center-block works on column contents and display:block elements, but won't work on the column itself (col-* divs) because Bootstrap uses float.
Update 2020
Now with Bootstrap 4, the centering methods have changed..
text-center is still used for display:inline elements
mx-auto replaces center-block to center display:block elements
offset-* or mx-auto can be used to center grid columns
mx-auto (auto x-axis margins) will center display:block or display:flex elements that have a defined width, (%, vw, px, etc..). Flexbox is used by default on grid columns, so there are also various flexbox centering methods.
Demo Bootstrap 4 Horizontal Centering
For vertical centering in BS4 see https://stackoverflow.com/a/41464397/171456
Now Bootstrap 3.1.1 is working with .center-block, and this helper class works with the column system.
Bootstrap 3 Helper Class Center.
Please check this jsfiddle DEMO:
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="center-block">row center-block</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-6 brd">
<div class="center-block">1 center-block</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-6 brd">
<div class="center-block">2 center-block</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-xs-2 col-center-block">row col-xs-2 col-center-block</div>
</div>
Row column center using col-center-block helper class.
.col-center-block {
float: none;
display: block;
margin: 0 auto;
/* margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; */
}
Simply add the following to your custom CSS file. Editing Bootstrap CSS files directly is not recommended and cancels your ability to use a CDN.
.center-block {
float: none !important
}
Why?
Bootstrap CSS (version 3.7 and lower) uses margin: 0 auto;, but it gets overridden by the float property of the size container.
PS:
After you add this class, don't forget to set classes by the right order.
<div class="col-md-6 center-block">Example</div>
Bootstrap 3 now has a built-in class for this .center-block
.center-block {
display: block;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
If you are still using 2.X then just add this to your CSS.
My approach to center columns is to use display: inline-block for columns and text-align: center for the container parent.
You just have to add the CSS class 'centered' to the row.
HTML:
<div class="container-fluid">
<div class="row centered">
<div class="col-sm-4 col-md-4">
Col 1
</div>
<div class="col-sm-4 col-md-4">
Col 2
</div>
<div class="col-sm-4 col-md-4">
Col 3
</div>
</div>
</div>
CSS:
.centered {
text-align: center;
font-size: 0;
}
.centered > div {
float: none;
display: inline-block;
text-align: left;
font-size: 13px;
}
JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/steyffi/ug4fzcjd/
Bootstrap version 3 has a .text-center class.
Just add this class:
text-center
It will simply load this style:
.text-center {
text-align: center;
}
Example:
<div class="container-fluid">
<div class="row text-center">
<div class="col-md-12">
Bootstrap 4 is coming....
</div>
</div>
</div>
With Bootstrap v3 and v4, this can be accomplished just by adding .justify-content-center to the .row <div>
<div class="row justify-content-center">
<div class="col-1">centered 1 column</div>
</div>
https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.0/utilities/flex/#justify-content
This works. A hackish way probably, but it works nicely. It was tested for responsive (Y).
.centered {
background-color: teal;
text-align: center;
}
With bootstrap 4 you can simply try justify-content-md-center as it is mentioned here
<div class="container">
<div class="row justify-content-md-center">
<div class="col col-lg-2">
1 of 3
</div>
<div class="col-md-auto">
Variable width content
</div>
<div class="col col-lg-2">
3 of 3
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col">
1 of 3
</div>
<div class="col-md-auto">
Variable width content
</div>
<div class="col col-lg-2">
3 of 3
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="container-fluid">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-lg-4 col-lg-offset-4">
<img src="some.jpg">
</div>
</div>
</div>
To center the col- we need to use the below code. cols are floater elements besides margin auto. We will also set it to float none,
<body class="container">
<div class="col-lg-1 col-md-4 centered">
<img data-src="holder.js/100x100" alt="" />
</div>
</body>
To center the above col-lg-1 with class of centered, we will write:
.centered {
float: none;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
To center the content inside the div, use text-align:center,
.centered {
text-align: center;
}
If you want to center it only on the desktop and larger screen, not on mobile, then use the following media query.
#media (min-width: 768px) {
.centered {
float: none;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
}
And to center the div only on mobile version, use the below code.
#media (max-width: 768px) {
.centered {
float: none;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
}
Just set your one column that displays content to col-xs-12 (mobile-first ;-) and configure the container only to control how wide you want your centred content to be, so:
.container {
background-color: blue;
}
.centered {
background-color: red;
}
<body class="container col-xs-offset-3 col-xs-6">
<div class="col-xs-12 centered">
<img data-src="holder.js/100x100" alt="" />
</div>
</body>
<body class="container col-xs-offset-1 col-xs-10">
<div class="col-xs-12 centered">
<img data-src="holder.js/100x100" alt="" />
</div>
</body>
For a demo, see http://codepen.io/Kebten/pen/gpRNMe :-)
You can use text-center for the row and can make sure the internal divs have display:inline-block (with not float).
As:
<div class="container">
<div class="row text-center" style="background-color : black;">
<div class="redBlock">A red block</div>
<div class="whiteBlock">A white block</div>
<div class="yellowBlock">A yellow block</div>
</div>
</div>
And CSS:
.redBlock {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: aqua;
display: inline-block
}
.whiteBlock {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: white;
display: inline-block
}
.yellowBlock {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: yellow;
display: inline-block
}
The fiddle:
http://jsfiddle.net/DTcHh/3177/
Another approach of offsetting is to have two empty columns, for example:
<div class="col-md-4"></div>
<div class="col-md-4">Centered Content</div>
<div class="col-md-4"></div>
This is probably not the best answer, but there is one more creative solution to this. As pointed out by koala_dev the column offsetting works only for even column sizes. However, by nesting rows you can achieve centering uneven columns as well.
To stick with the original question where you want to center a column of 1 inside a grid of 12.
Center a column of 2 by offsetting it 5
Make a nested row, so you get a new 12 columns inside your 2 columns.
Since you want to center a column of 1, and 1 is "half" of 2 (what we centered in step 1), you now need to center a column of 6 in your nested row, which is easily done by offsetting it 3.
For example:
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-offset-5 col-md-2">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-offset-3 col-md-6">
centered column with that has an "original width" of 1 col
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
See this fiddle, please note that you have to increase the size of the output window in order too see the result, otherwise the columns will wrap.
This is not my code, but it works perfectly (tested on Bootstrap 3) and I don't have to mess around with col-offset.
Demo:
/* centered columns styles */
.col-centered {
display: inline-block;
float: none;
/* inline-block space fix */
margin-right: -4px;
background-color: #ccc;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
<div class="container">
<div class="row text-center">
<div class="col-xs-6 col-centered">Column 6</div>
<div class="col-xs-6 col-centered">Column 6</div>
<div class="col-xs-3 col-centered">Column 3</div>
<div class="col-xs-3 col-centered">Column 3</div>
<div class="col-xs-3 col-centered">Column 3</div>
</div>
</div>
Append the following snippet inside your .row or your .col. This is for Bootstrap 4*.
d-flex justify-content-center
We can achieve this by using the table layout mechanism:
The mechanism is:
Wrap all columns in one div.
Make that div as a table with a fixed layout.
Make each column as a table cell.
Use vertical-align property to control content position.
The sample demo is here
As koala_dev used in his approach 1, I would prefer the offset method instead of center-block or margins which has limited usage, but as he mentioned:
Now, there's an obvious drawback for this method, it only works for even column sizes, so only .col-X-2, .col-X-4, col-X-6, col-X-8 and col-X-10 are supported.
This can be solved using the following approach for odd columns.
<div class="col-xs-offset-5 col-xs-2">
<div class="col-xs-offset-3">
// Your content here
</div>
</div>
Use mx-auto in your div class using Bootstrap 4.
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="mx-auto">
You content here
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bootstrap 4 solution:
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="col align-self-center">
Column in the middle, variable width
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="container">
<div class="row row-centered">
<div class="col-xs-6 col-centered">Column 6</div>
<div class="col-xs-6 col-centered">Column 6</div>
<div class="col-xs-3 col-centered">Column 3</div>
<div class="col-xs-3 col-centered">Column 3</div>
<div class="col-xs-3 col-centered">Column 3</div>
</div>
</div>
CSS
/* centered columns styles */
.row-centered {
text-align:center;
}
.col-centered {
display:inline-block;
float:none;
/* reset the text-align */
text-align:left;
/* inline-block space fix */
margin-right:-4px;
text-align: center;
background-color: #ccc;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
Because I never have the need to center only a single .col- within a .row, I set the following class on the wrapping .row of my target columns.
.col-center > [class*="col-"] {
float: none;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
Example
<div class="full-container">
<div class="row col-center">
<div class="col-xs-11">
Foo
</div>
<div class="col-xs-11">
Bar
</div>
</div>
</div>
For those looking to center the column elements on the screen when you don't have the exact number to fill your grid, I have written a little piece of JavaScript to return the class names:
function colCalculator(totalNumberOfElements, elementsPerRow, screenSize) {
var arrayFill = function (size, content) {
return Array.apply(null, Array(size)).map(String.prototype.valueOf, content);
};
var elementSize = parseInt(12 / elementsPerRow, 10);
var normalClassName = 'col-' + screenSize + '-' + elementSize;
var numberOfFittingElements = parseInt(totalNumberOfElements / elementsPerRow, 10) * elementsPerRow;
var numberOfRemainingElements = totalNumberOfElements - numberOfFittingElements;
var ret = arrayFill(numberOfFittingElements, normalClassName);
var remainingSize = 12 - numberOfRemainingElements * elementSize;
var remainingLeftSize = parseInt(remainingSize / 2, 10);
return ret.concat(arrayFill(numberOfRemainingElements, normalClassName + ' col-' + screenSize + '-push-' + remainingLeftSize));
}
If you have 5 elements and you want to have 3 per row on a md screen, you do this:
colCalculator(5, 3, 'md')
>> ["col-md-4", "col-md-4", "col-md-4", "col-md-4 col-md-push-2", "col-md-4 col-md-push-2"]
Keep in mind, the second argument must be dividable by 12.
To center more than one column in a Bootstrap row - and the number of cols are odd, simply add this css class to all the columns in that row:
.many-cols-centered { // To horizontally center bootstrap odd cols, eg col-lg-9, col-md-3, works well in lg
display:inline-block;
float:none;
}
So in your HTML you have something like:
<div class="row text-center"> <!-- text-center centers all text in that row -->
<div class="col-lg-3 col-md-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-12 many-cols-centered">
<img src='assets/image1.jpg'>
<h3>You See</h3>
<p>I love coding.</p>
</div>
<div class="col-lg-3 col-md-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-12 many-cols-centered">
<img src='assets/image2.jpg'>
<h3>You See</h3>
<p>I love coding.</p>
</div>
<div class="col-lg-3 col-md-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-12 many-cols-centered">
<img src='assets/image3.jpg'>
<h3>You See</h3>
<p>I love coding.</p>
</div>
</div>
Try this
<div class="row">
<div class="col-xs-2 col-xs-offset-5"></div>
</div>
You can use other col as well like col-md-2, etc.
I suggest simply to use the class text-center:
<body class="container">
<div class="col-md-12 text-center">
<img data-src="holder.js/100x100" alt="" />
</div>
</body>
You can use the very flexible solution flexbox to your Bootstrap.
justify-content: center;
can center your column.
Check out flex.
Try this code.
<body class="container">
<div class="col-lg-1 col-lg-offset-10">
<img data-src="holder.js/100x100" alt="" />
</div>
</body>
Here I have used col-lg-1, and the offset should be 10 for properly centered the div on large devices. If you need it to center on medium-to-large devices then just change the lg to md and so on.
I'm trying to put some extra margin/padding space between columns on my Bootstrap grid layout. I've tried this but I don't like the result. Here is my code:
<div class="row">
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
Widget 1
</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
Widget 2
</div>
</div>
I want to add margin: 10px and padding:10px. Some people suggest to change their classes to col-md-5 with pull-left and pull-right, but the gap between them will be too large.
Simply add a div within col-md-6 that has the extra padding that you need. The col-md-6 is the 'backbone' to keep the column integrity, but you can add additional padding within it.
<div class="row">
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
<div class="classWithPad">Widget 1</div>
</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
<div class="classWithPad">Widget 2</div>
</div>
</div>
CSS
.classWithPad { margin:10px; padding:10px; }
Bootstrap 5 (Update 2021)
Bootstrap 5 has still includes spacing utilities for padding. However, because of new RTL support "left" and "right" have been changed to "start" and "end". For example pl-2 is now ps-2.
pl-* => ps-* (padding-left)
pr-* => pe-* (padding-right)
ml-* => ms-* (margin-left)
mr-* => me-* (margin-right)
Additionally, Bootstrap 5 introduces new grid gutter classes that can be used to adjust the spacing between columns. The guttter is set on the row instead of each col-* inside the row. For example, use g-0 for no spacing between columns.
Bootstrap 5 column spacing demo
Bootstrap 4 (Update 2018)
Bootstrap 4 has spacing utilities that make adding (or substracting) the space (gutter) between columns easier. Extra CSS isn't necessary.
<div class="row">
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
<div class="mr-2">Widget 1</div>
</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
<div class="ml-2">Widget 2</div>
</div>
</div>
You can adjust margins on the column contents using the margin utils such as ml-0 (margin-left:0), mr-0 (margin-right:0), mx-1 (.25rem left & right margins), etc...
Or, you can adjust padding on the columns (col-*) using the padding utils such as pl-0 (padding-left:0), pr-0 (padding-right:0), px-2 (.50rem left & right padding), etc...
Bootstrap 4 Column Spacing Demo
Notes
Changing the left/right margin(s) on col-* will break the grid.
Change the left/right margin(s) on the content of col-* works.
Change the left/right padding on the col-* also works.
I was facing the same issue; and the following worked well for me. Hope this helps someone landing here:
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="col-md-12">
Set room heater temperature
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-6">
<div class="col-md-12">
Set room heater temperature
</div>
</div>
</div>
This will automatically render some space between the 2 divs.
Just add 'justify-content-around' class. that would automatically add gap between 2 divs.
Documentation:
https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.1/layout/grid/#horizontal-alignment
Sample:
<div class="row justify-content-around">
<div class="col-4">
One of two columns
</div>
<div class="col-4">
One of two columns
</div>
</div>
You may use the padding and margin shorthand Bootstrap 4 classes as follows:
For extra small devices i.e. xs
{property}{sides}-{size}
For other devices/viewports (small, medium, large and extra large)
{property}{sides}-{breakpoint}-{size}
Where:
property = m for margin and p for padding
Following are sides shorthand meanings:
l = defines the left-margin or left-padding
r = defines the right-margin or right-padding
t = defines the top-margin or top-padding
b = defines the bottom-margin or right-padding
x = For setting left and right padding and margins by the single call
y = For setting top and bottom margins
blank = margin and padding for all sides
The breakpoint = sm, md, lg, and xl.
Combining all the above, the left padding complete code can be (for example):
For left padding in extra small devices
pl-2
or for medium to extra large
pl-md-2
Try This:
<div class="row">
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
<div class="col-md-12">
Widget 1
</div>
</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-6">
<div class="col-md-12">
Widget 2
</div>
</div>
</div>
I would keep an extra column in the middle for larger displays and reset to default when the columns collapse on smaller displays. Something like this:
<div class="row">
<div class="text-center col-md-5 col-sm-6">
Widget 1
</div>
<div class="col-md-2">
<!-- Gap between columns -->
</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-5 col-sm-6">
Widget 2
</div>
</div>
Super easy with flexbox. Leave room for some space by changing the columns to col-md-5
<div class="row widgets">
<div class="text-center col-md-5">
Widget 1
</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-5">
Widget 2
</div>
</div>
CSS
.widgets {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-around;
}
For those looking to control the space between a dynamic number of columns, try:
<div class="row no-gutters">
<div class="col">
<div class="inner">
<!-- content here -->
</div>
</div>
<div class="col">
<div class="inner">
<!-- content here -->
</div>
</div>
<!-- etc. -->
</div>
CSS:
.col:not(:last-child) .inner {
margin: 2px; // Or whatever you want your spacing to be
}
A solution for someone like me when cells got background color
HTML
<div class="row">
<div class="col-6 cssBox">
a<br />ba<br />ba<br />b
</div>
<div class="col-6 cssBox">
a<br />b
</div>
</div>
CSS
.cssBox {
background-color: red;
margin: 0 10px;
flex-basis: calc(50% - 20px);
}
In the otherside if you like to remove double padding between columns just add class "nogap" inside row
<div class="row nogap">
<div class="text-center col-md-6">Widget 1</div>
<div class="text-center col-md-6">Widget 2</div>
</div>
and create additional css class for it
.nogap > .col{ padding-left:7.5px; padding-right: 7.5px}
.nogap > .col:first-child{ padding-left: 15px; }
.nogap > .col:last-child{ padding-right: 15px; }
Thats it, check here: https://codepen.io/michal-lukasik/pen/xXvoYJ
I had the same issue and worked it out by nesting a div inside bootstrap col and adding padding to it. Something like:
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-4">
<div class="custom-box">Your content with padding</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4">
<div class="custom-box">Your content with padding</div>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4">
<div class="custom-box">Your content with padding</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
I have just found a solution that works for me, although it doesnt actually create a space between the boxes so may not be exactly what you are looking for.
border border-white
Doesn't actually create a space but gives the effect of space between cols. Only works if you have a bg-color obviously.
Try this:
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-5">
Set room heater temperature
</div>
<div class="col-md-2"></div>
<div class="col-md-5">
Set room heater temperature
</div>
</div>
For the more curious, I have also found that adding
border: 5px solid white
or any other variant of your liking, to make it blend in, works superbly.