How to Center an Image Using Tailwind CSS

Centering an image is a common design need—whether you’re displaying a logo, avatar, product photo, or illustration. With Tailwind CSS, you can center images horizontally, vertically, or both using its powerful utility classes.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to center an image in different scenarios using Tailwind CSS.

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✅ Center an Image Horizontally

Method 1: Using mx-auto for Block Images

If your image is a block-level element, you can use mx-auto to center it horizontally.

Example:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Centered Image" class="block mx-auto w-48 h-auto">

Explanation:

• block: Makes the image a block element (by default, <img> is inline).
• mx-auto: Applies margin-left: auto and margin-right: auto, centering it horizontally.
• w-48: Sets width (optional).
• h-auto: Maintains aspect ratio.

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✅ Center an Image Vertically and Horizontally

To center an image both horizontally and vertically, use Flexbox.

Example:

<div class="flex items-center justify-center h-screen bg-gray-100">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Centered Image" class="w-48 h-auto">
</div>

Explanation:

• flex: Makes the container a flexbox.
• items-center: Vertically centers the image.
• justify-center: Horizontally centers the image.
• h-screen: Makes the container full viewport height.

Perfect for full-screen hero sections or loading screens.

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✅ Centering Inline Images

If your image is inline (inside text or inline layout), use text-center on the parent.

Example:

<div class="text-center">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Centered Inline Image" class="inline w-32 h-auto">
</div>

Explanation:

• text-center: Centers inline content in the container.
• inline: Ensures the image behaves as an inline element.

Useful when centering icons or avatars inside a card or paragraph block.

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🎨 Bonus Tip: Responsive Image Centering

Tailwind allows you to center images differently at various screen sizes:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Responsive Centered Image" class="block mx-auto md:mx-0 md:ml-auto w-40 h-auto">

• On small screens: centered (mx-auto)
• On medium+ screens: right-aligned (ml-auto)

This approach is helpful for responsive layouts where alignment changes on different devices.

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📝 Conclusion

Tailwind CSS makes image centering incredibly simple. Whether you need to center an image horizontally, vertically, or responsively, Tailwind’s utility-first classes give you full control without writing custom CSS.

🔑 Summary of Methods:

Goal	Tailwind Classes
Horizontal center (block)	block mx-auto
Horizontal center (inline)	text-center + inline
Full center (vertical + horiz)	flex items-center justify-center
Responsive alignment	Use breakpoint modifiers like md:mx-0