Css: Background image and padding

html

responsive-design

css

background-image

byNikita Barsukov·Oct 16, 2024

To ensure a CSS background image covers the area inside the padding, use the property background-clip. When set to border-box, it includes the padding:

.my-element {
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat;
  padding: 20px;
  background-clip: border-box; /* We've got the padding covered! */
}

Alternatively, set it to content-box to exclude the padding:

.my-element {
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat;
  padding: 20px;
  background-clip: content-box; /* Padding? Never heard of it! */
}

You can modify background-clip to tailor the background to your specific design requirements.

Setting the stage: Background origin

The background-origin property helps define the initial position of your background:

.my-element {
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat center center;
  padding: 20px;
  background-origin: content-box; /* Like home, the start point */
}

Combine calc() with background-position for exact pixel-perfect placement:

.my-element {
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat;
  padding: 20px;
  background-position: calc(100% - 20px) center; /* Pinpoint precision! */
}

Advanced tactics: Lists, pseudo-elements, and hovers

Applying styles to ul or li elements? Pseudo-elements can be your best friends. They add a whole new layer of control!

ul li::before {
  content: url('bullet-image.jpg');
  padding-right: 10px; /* Putting some space between us */
}

Activate hover selectors for a modern, interactive UX, and use no-repeat to keep your images from turning into a broken record.

ul li:hover::after {
  content: "";
  background: url('hover-background.jpg') no-repeat; /* One and done image */
  display: block;
  height: 100px; /* Super hover power activated! */
}

Minding the width: Dynamic responsiveness

To ensure that your swanky background image gels with different widths, leverage percentage values:

.my-element {
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat 50% 50%; /* In position, captain */
  padding: 5%; /* A little room to breathe */
}

This clever trick lets the image scale accordingly, offering you a fluid, responsive design.

Responsive images and cool overlays

Upgrade to responsive background images that bend and flex with padding change-ups:

.my-element {
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat;
  padding: 20px;
  background-size: cover; /* Fits like a glove */
}

A pseudo-element can offer an Instagram-like overlay to ramp up interactivity:

.my-element::before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); /* Dark arts at play */
}

Potential pitfalls: Devil in the details

Keep an eye out for cases where background images get clipped due to padding changes. You might want to call in the help of a placeholder image in such scenarios. Also, be mindful of box-sizing's impact:

.my-element {
  box-sizing: border-box;  /* Take a deep breath */
  width: 100%;
  background: url('image.jpg') no-repeat;
  padding: 20px; /* The padding goes in, not out */
}