shape-outside

The shape-outside CSS property defines a shape—which may be non-rectangular—around which adjacent inline content should wrap. By default, inline content wraps around its margin box; shape-outside provides a way to customize this wrapping, making it possible to wrap text around complex objects rather than simple boxes.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
shape-outside: none;
shape-outside: margin-box;
shape-outside: content-box;
shape-outside: border-box;
shape-outside: padding-box;

/* Function values */
shape-outside: circle();
shape-outside: ellipse();
shape-outside: inset(10px 10px 10px 10px);
shape-outside: polygon(10px 10px, 20px 20px, 30px 30px);
shape-outside: path("M100,0 A100,100 0 1,1 100,200 A100,100 0 1,1 100,0");

/* <url> value */
shape-outside: url(image.png);

/* <gradient> value */
shape-outside: linear-gradient(45deg, #fff 150px, red 150px);

/* Global values */
shape-outside: inherit;
shape-outside: initial;
shape-outside: revert;
shape-outside: revert-layer;
shape-outside: unset;

The shape-outside property is specified using the values from the list below, which define the float area for float elements. The float area determines the shape around which inline content (float elements) wrap.

Values

none

The float area is unaffected. Inline content wraps around the element's margin box, like usual.

<shape-box>

The float area is computed according to the shape of a float element's edges (as defined by the CSS box model). This can be margin-box, border-box, padding-box, or content-box. The shape includes any curvature created by the border-radius property (behavior which is similar to background-clip).

margin-box: Defines the shape enclosed by the outside margin edge. The corner radii of this shape are determined by the corresponding border-radius and margin values. If the border-radius / margin ratio is 1 or more, then the margin box corner radius is border-radius + margin. If the ratio is less than 1, then the margin box corner radius is border-radius + (margin * (1 + (ratio - 1) ^ 3)).
border-box: Defines the shape enclosed by the outside border edge. The shape follows the normal border radius shaping rules for the outside of the border.
padding-box: Defines the shape enclosed by the outside padding edge. The shape follows the normal border radius shaping rules for the inside of the border.
content-box: Defines the shape enclosed by the outside content edge. Each corner radius of this box is the larger of 0 or border-radius - border-width - padding.

<basic-shape>

The float area is computed based on the shape created by of one of inset(), circle(), ellipse(), polygon() or, as added in the level 2 specification, path(). If a <shape-box> is also supplied, it defines the reference box for the <basic-shape> function. Otherwise, the reference box defaults to margin-box.

<image>

The float area is extracted and computed based on the alpha channel of the specified <image> as defined by shape-image-threshold.

Note: If the image is invalid, the effect is as if the keyword none had been specified. Additionally, the image must be served with CORS headers allowing its use.

Formal definition

Initial value	none
Applies to	floats
Inherited	no
Computed value	as defined for <basic-shape> (with <shape-box> following, if supplied); else the computed <image>; else the keyword as specified
Animation type	as defined for <basic-shape>, otherwise discrete

Formal syntax

none | [ <basic-shape> || <shape-box> ] | <image>

Examples

Funneling text

HTML

<div class="main">
  <div class="left"></div>
  <div class="right"></div>
  <p>
    Sometimes a web page's text content appears to be funneling your attention
    towards a spot on the page to drive you to follow a particular link.
    Sometimes you don't notice.
  </p>
</div>

CSS

.main {
  width: 530px;
}

.left,
.right {
  background-color: lightgray;
  height: 12ex;
  width: 40%;
}

.left {
  clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
  float: left;
  shape-outside: polygon(0 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
}

.right {
  clip-path: polygon(100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
  float: right;
  shape-outside: polygon(100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
}

p {
  text-align: center;
}

css properties shape-outside