CSS background-image Property

The background-image property specifies background images for elements. There can be used one or more images.

By default, a background-image is vertically and horizontally repeated and placed at the top-left corner of the element.

The background of an element is the total size of it including padding and border (not margin).

If the image is unavailable, you need to specify a background-color.

Initial Value none
Applies to All elements. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line.
Inherited No.
Animatable No.
Version CSS1 + some new values in CSS3
DOM Syntax object.style.backgroundImage = "url(img_tree.png)";

Syntax

background-image: url | none | linear-gradient | radial-gradient | repeat-linear-gradient | repeat-radial-gradient | initial | inherit;

Example of the background-image property:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      body {
        background-image: url("/uploads/media/default/0001/02/55a2f152f59bf42a99b576d44a4578ec9daa0ab6.png");
        background-color: #8ebf42;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Background-image property example</h2>
    <p>Hello World!</p>
  </body>
</html>

Result

CSS background-image Property

See another example where two images are used and they are specified with the help of the background-position property.

Example of the background-image property with other background properties:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      body {
        padding: 100px;
        background-image: url("/uploads/media/default/0001/02/55a2f152f59bf42a99b576d44a4578ec9daa0ab6.png"), url("/uploads/media/default/0001/01/b408569013c0bb32b2afb0f0d45e93e982347951.jpeg");
        background-attachment: fixed;
        background-position: 5px 50px;
        background-repeat: no-repeat, repeat;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Background-image property example</h2>
    <p>The background image is positioned 5px from the left, and 50px down from the top.</p>
  </body>
</html>

In this example a "linear-gradient" with two colors is specified as a background image for a <div> element:

Example of the background-image property with the "linear-gradient" value:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <style>
      div {
        height: 300px;
        background-image: linear-gradient(#eee, #1c87c9);
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Linear gradient as a background image example</h2>
    <p>This linear gradient starts at the top. It starts gray, transitioning to blue:</p>
    <div></div>
  </body>
</html>

Example of the background-image property with the "repeating-radial-gradient" value:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>The title of the document</title>
    <style>
      div {
        height: 300px;
        background-color: #cccccc;
        background-image: repeating-radial-gradient(#8ebf42, #eee 15%, #ccc 30%);
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Radial gradient as a background image example</h2>
    <div></div>
  </body>
</html>

Values

Value Description
url Defines the url of the image. It can be specified more then one image separated by commas.
none There will not be any background image. It is the default value.
linear-gradient A linear gradient is specified as the background image.
radial-gradient A radial gradient is specified as the background image.
repeat-linear-gradient Repeats a linear gradient.
repeat-radial-gradient Repeats a radial gradient.
initial Sets the property to its default value.
inherit Inherits the property from its parent element.

Browser support

chrome firefox safari opera
15.0+ 4.0+
3.6 -moz-
7.0+ 11.5+
10.1 -o-

Practice Your Knowledge

What are the properties of CSS that can be used to control the background image of an element?

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