Summary

The border-image-slice CSS property divides the image specified by border-image-source in nine regions: the four corners, the four edges and the middle. It does this by specifying 4 inwards offsets.

The nine slices defined by the CSS border-image shorthand or border-image-slice longhand propertiesFour values control the position of the slice lines. If some are not specified, they are inferred from the other with the usual 4-value syntax of CSS.

The middle is not used by the border itself but is used as a background-image if the keyword fill is set. The keyword can be set at any position in the property (before, after or between the other values).

The border-image-repeat, border-image-width, border-image-outset properties define how these images will be used.

The shorthand CSS property border-image may reset this property to its default value.

Initial value100%
Applies toall elements, except internal table elements when border-collapse is collapse. It also applies to ::first-letter.
Inheritedno
Percentagesrefer to the size of the border image
Mediavisual
Computed valueone to four percentage(s) (as specified) or absolute length(s), plus the keyword fill if specified
Animatableno
Canonical orderthe percentages or lengths, eventually followed by the keyword fill

Syntax

/* border-image-slice: slice */
border-image-slice: 30%; 

/* border-image-slice: horizontal vertical */
border-image-slice: 10% 30%;

/* border-image-slice: top horizontal bottom */
border-image-slice: 30 30% 45;

/* border-image-slice: top right bottom left */
border-image-slice: 7 12 14 5; 

/* border-image-slice: … fill */
/* The fill value can be placed between any value */
border-image-slice: 10% fill 7 12;

/* Global values */
border-image-slice: inherit;
border-image-slice: initial;
border-image-slice: unset;

Values

slice
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the four slicing lines. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
horizontal
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the two horizontal slicing lines, the top and the bottom ones. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
vertical
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the two vertical slicing lines, the right and the left ones. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
top
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the top slicing line. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
bottom
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the bottom slicing line. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
right
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the right slicing line. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
left
Is a <number> or a <percentage> of the offset for the left slicing line. The <number> represents pixels for raster images and coordinates for vector images. Also, <percentage> values are relative to the height or width of the image, whichever is adequate. Negative values are invalid and values greater than the relevant size, height or width, are clamped to 100%.
fill
Is a keyword whose presence forces the use of the middle image slice to be displayed over the background image, its size and height are resized like those of the top and left image slices, respectively.
inherit
Is a keyword indicating that all four values are inherited from their parent's element calculated value.

Formal syntax

[<number> | <percentage>]{1,4} && fill?

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3
The definition of 'border-image-slice' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial defintion

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 15.0 15.0 (15.0) 11 15 6
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support 4.1-webkit 15.0 (15.0) No support ? ?

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: chrisdavidmills,