CSS transform-origin Property

Description

The transform-origin property lets you modify the origin for transformations of an element. For example, the transform-origin of the rotate() function is the centre of rotation.

Initial value: 50% 50%
Applies to: Transformable elements
Inherited: No
Media: Visual
Computed value: For <length> the absolute value, otherwise a percentage
Animatable: Yes
CSS Version: CSS3
JavaScript syntax: object.style.transformOrigin

Syntax

transform-origin: [ left | center | right | top | bottom | <percentage> | <length> ]
 | 
   [ left | center | right | <percentage> | <length> ]
  [ top | center | bottom | <percentage> | <length> ] <length>?
 |
   [ center | [ left | right ] ] && [ center | [ top | bottom ] ] <length>?

Values

<percentage>A percentage for the horizontal offset is relative to the width of the bounding box. A percentage for the vertical offset is relative to height of the bounding box. The value for the horizontal and vertical offset represent an offset from the top left corner of the bounding box.
<length>A length value gives a fixed length as the offset. The value for the horizontal and vertical offset represent an offset from the top left corner of the bounding box.
topComputes to '0%' for the vertical position.
rightComputes to '100%' for the horizontal position.
bottomComputes to '100%' for the vertical position.
leftComputes to '0%' for the horizontal position.
centerComputes to '50%' ('left 50%') for the horizontal position if the horizontal position is not otherwise specified, or '50%' ('top 50%') for the vertical position if it is.

Example

HTML

<h2>Example of using the transform-origin property in CSS</h2> 

<div class="static"><div class="test" > 50% 50% 0 </div></div> 

<div class="static"><div class="test2" > left top </div></div> 

<div class="static"><div class="test3"> center bottom </div></div> 

<br> 

<div class="static"><div class="test4"> 100% 0% </div></div> 

<div class="static"><div class="test5"> 50% 50% 250px </div></div> 

<div class="static"><div class="test6"> 50% top -250px </div></div>

CSS

.static {
   margin: 10px;
   background: gray;
   display: inline-block; 
} 
div {
   width: 180px; 
   height: 100px; 
   line-height: 100px;
   text-align: center; 
} 
.test, .test3, .test5 { 
   background: plum;  
} 
.test2, .test4, .test6 { 
   background: orange;  
}
@ -webkit-keyframes iliketomoveit {
   100% { 
      -moz-transform: rotate(2turn);
      -webkit-transform: rotate(2turn);
      -ms-transform: rotate(2turn);
      transform: rotate(2turn);
   } 
} 
@keyframes iliketomoveit { 
   100% { 
      -moz-transform: rotate(2turn);
      -webkit-transform: rotate(2turn);
      -ms-transform: rotate(2turn);
      transform: rotate(2turn);
   } 
}
.test:hover {
   -webkit-animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite; 
   animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite;
   transform-origin: 50% 50% 0; 
   -webkit-transform-origin: 50% 50% 0; 
   -moz-transform-origin: 50% 50% 0; 
   -ms-transform-origin: 50% 50% 0; 
}  
.test2:hover { 
   -webkit-animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite;
   animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite; 
   transform-origin: left top; 
   -webkit-transform-origin : left top; 
   -moz-transform-origin: left top; 
   -ms-transform-origin: left top; 
} 
.test3:hover { 
   -webkit-animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite; 
   animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite; 
   transform-origin: center bottom; 
   -webkit-transform-origin: center bottom; 
   -moz-transform-origin: center bottom; 
   -ms-transform-origin: center bottom; 
}  
.test4:hover { 
   -webkit-animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite; 
   animation: iliketomoveit 2s linear infinite; 
   transform-origin: 100% 0%;
   -webkit-transform-origin: 100% 0%;
   -moz-transform-origin: 100% 0%;
   -ms-transform-origin: 100% 0%;
}  
.test5 {
    -webkit-animation: iliketomoveit 5s ease-out infinite; 
    animation: iliketomoveit 5s ease-out infinite; 
    transform-origin: 50% 50% 250px;
   -webkit-transform-origin: 50% 50% 250px; 
   -moz-transform-origin: 50% 50% 250px; 
   -ms-transform-origin: 50% 50% 250px;
   transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
   -webkit-transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
   -moz-transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
   -ms-transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
}  
.test6 {
   -webkit-animation: iliketomoveit 5s ease-out infinite; 
   animation: iliketomoveit 5s ease-out infinite;
   transform-origin: 50% top -250px; 
   -webkit-transform-origin: 50% top -250px;
   -moz-transform-origin: 50% top -250px; 
   -ms-transform-origin: 50% top -250px;
   transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
   -webkit-transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
   -moz-transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2);
   -ms-transform: scale3d(0.5, -1, 2); 
}

Result