page-break-before

The page-break-before CSS property adjusts page breaks before the current element.

This property applies to block elements that generate a box. It won't apply on an empty <div> that won't generate a box.

Initial value	auto
Applies to	block-level elements in the normal flow of the root element. User agents may also apply it to other elements like table-row elements.
Inherited	no
Media	visual, paged
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
page-break-before: auto;
page-break-before: always;
page-break-before: avoid;
page-break-before: left;
page-break-before: right;
page-break-before: recto;
page-break-before: verso;

/* Global values */
page-break-before: inherit;
page-break-before: initial;
page-break-before: unset;

Values

auto

Initial value. Automatic page breaks (neither forced nor forbidden).

always

Always force page breaks before the element.

avoid

Avoid page breaks before the element.

left

Force page breaks before the element so that the next page is formatted as a left page.

right

Force page breaks before the element so that the next page is formatted as a right page.

recto

If pages progress left-to-right, then this acts like right. If pages progress right-to-left, then this acts like left.

verso

If pages progress left-to-right, then this acts like left. If pages progress right-to-left, then this acts like right.

Formal syntax

auto | always | avoid | left | right

Examples

/* avoid page break before the div */
div.note { 
    page-break-before: avoid;
} 

Specification

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Logical Properties Level 1 The definition of 'recto and verso' in that specification.	Editor's Draft	Adds the values recto and verso.
CSS Paged Media Module Level 3 The definition of 'page-break-before' in that specification.	Working Draft	Extends the element that this property applies to table rows and table row groups.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'page-break-before' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

See also

• page-break-after, page-break-inside
• orphans, widows