outline-offset CSS property

The outline-offset CSS property sets the amount of space between an outline and the edge or border of an element.

Try it

outline-offset: 4px;
outline-offset: 0.6rem;
outline-offset: 12px;
outline: 5px dashed blue;
<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div class="transition-all" id="example-element">
    This is a box with an outline around it.
  </div>
</section>
#example-element {
  border: 2px solid crimson;
  outline: 0.75em solid;
  padding: 0.75em;
  width: 80%;
  height: 100px;
}

Syntax

css
/* <length> values */
outline-offset: 3px;
outline-offset: 0.2em;

/* Global values */
outline-offset: inherit;
outline-offset: initial;
outline-offset: revert;
outline-offset: revert-layer;
outline-offset: unset;

Values

<length>

The width of the space between the element and its outline. A negative value places the outline inside the element. A value of 0 places the outline so that there is no space between it and the element.

Description

An outline is a line that is drawn around an element, outside the border edge. The space between an element and its outline is transparent. In other words, it is the same as the parent element's background.

Formal definition

Initial value0
Applies toall elements
Inheritedno
Computed valuethe absolute <length>, snapped as a line width
Animation typea length

Formal syntax

outline-offset = 
  <length>

Examples

undefined

Setting outline offset in pixels

HTML

html
<p>Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres.</p>

CSS

css
p {
  outline: 1px dashed red;
  outline-offset: 10px;
  background: yellow;
  border: 1px solid blue;
  margin: 15px;
}

Result

Specifications

See also