---
title: Vertical align
description: Utility classes for the vertical-align property on inline and table-cell elements.
summary: Set the vertical alignment of inline, inline-block, inline-table and table-cell elements with a class.
related: [/ui/utilities/margins]
---
import Example from '@components/Example.astro';

Choose from `.align-baseline`, `.align-top`, `.align-middle`, `.align-bottom`, `.align-text-bottom`, and `.align-text-top` as needed.

## Inline elements

Use these classes on inline elements, such as an [icon](/ui/components/icon) or a [badge](/ui/components/badge) next to text, to move them up or down relative to the text line.

<Example>
<div>
  <span class="align-baseline">baseline</span>
  <span class="align-top">top</span>
  <span class="align-middle">middle</span>
  <span class="align-bottom">bottom</span>
  <span class="align-text-top">text-top</span>
  <span class="align-text-bottom">text-bottom</span>
</div>
</Example>

## Table cells

The same classes work on table cells and move the content of a cell to the top, middle or bottom of the row.

<Example>
<table style="height: 100px" class="bg-surface">
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td class="align-baseline border">baseline</td>
      <td class="align-top border">top</td>
      <td class="align-middle border">middle</td>
      <td class="align-bottom border">bottom</td>
      <td class="align-text-top border">text-top</td>
      <td class="align-text-bottom border">text-bottom</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
</Example>

## Accessibility

- Vertical alignment changes where an element sits on the line, not what it means. An icon aligned with `align-middle` still needs a name if it carries information.
- These utilities only work on inline, inline-block and table-cell elements. On a flex or grid child they do nothing - use `align-items` there instead.
- Aligning an icon next to text does not make the two one thing. Keep them inside the same element, or the icon is read separately from the label.
- Do not lower the line height to make alignment look tighter. Users need that space to track lines of text.