How to Create a Floating Transparent and Centered DIV using CSS

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Last updated: 24th July 2022

I am sure you might have come across websites that will ask you to subscribe to their newsletters by showing a small floating window at the center of the screen. Yes, you are right; it’s an alternate (but effective) solution to popup windows. Here in this article, I’ll show you how to create a browser compatible, transparent and centered floating DIV using CSS.
See this demo

And, see this image.

floating DIV using CSS

Scenario

First, I'll add few controls. Two buttons and a textbox. It’s a simple scenario. Suppose you forgot the password and clicking a button (forgot password button) will open a small floating DIV at the center of the screen.

However, the important part in this example is the CSS. That’s where you need to focus and see how to make a transparent DIV, floating at the center.

Note: I have removed jQuery from the example and added plain JavaScript. This is optional. I am using JS to give it a realistic look.

The CSS

We need to add some style to the elements to our <div> float at the center.

<style>
    input { cursor: pointer; }
    
    /* this will keep the element fixed at the center */
    #centerDIV {
        position: fixed;
        top: 0;
        left: 0;
        background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75);
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;    
        padding-top: 100px;
        display: none;	/* keep the element hidden */
    }

    /* this element will float */
    .divFloat {
        margin: 0 auto;
        background-color: #FFF;
        border: solid 1px #999;
        color: #000;
        width: 400px;
        height: auto;
        padding: 20px;
        -webkit-border-radius: 3px;
        -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
        -webkit-transition: 200ms -webkit-transform;
        box-shadow: 0 4px 23px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
        display: block;
    }
    .btClickHere {
        background-color: #587898;
        border: solid 1px #587898;
        color: #FFF;
        -moz-border-radius: 0 7px 7px 0;
        -webkit-border-radius: 0 7px 7px 0;
        border-radius: 0 7px 7px 0;
    }        
    .btClose {
        margin: 0 auto;
        background-color: #FFF;
        color: red;
        border: none;
        width: auto; 
        float: right;
        clear: both;
    }
    .btGetPass {
        color: #FFF;
        padding: 2px 4px;
        width: 150px;
        background-color: #FF780B;
        border: solid 1px #FF780B;
        border-top-right-radius: 10px 20px;
        border-bottom-right-radius: 10px 20px;
        border-bottom-left-radius: 10px 20px;
        border-top-left-radius: 10px 20px;
        display: block;
    }
</style>
The Markup
<body>
    <div style="padding:20px;">
        Forgot password?  <input type="button" id="btClick" class="btClickHere" value="Click here" />
    </div>
    <div id="centerDIV">
        <!-- The element which will float at the center of the screen -->
        <div class="divFloat">
            <input type="button" id="btClose" class="btClose" value="Close (x)" />
            <p style="text-align: left; padding:20px 0;">Enter your email address: 
                <input type="text" id="tbEmail" style="width:300px;" maxlength="100" />
            </p>
            <p><input type="button" class="btGetPass" value="Get New Password" /></p>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>

The floating, transparent and centered DIV is ready. Just a small script is required to show it.

See this demo

Do you know you can add a transparent text over an image using pure CSS? Check this post.

The Script

This is optional. I said this in the beginning, the script only show and hide the floating DIV.

<script>
  window.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
    if (document.getElementById('btClick').contains(e.target)) {
      document.getElementById('centerDIV').style.display = 'block';
    }
    
    if (document.getElementById('btClose').contains(e.target)) {
      document.getElementById('centerDIV').style.display = 'none';
    }
  })    
</script>
Try it

An Overview

#centerDIV {
    position: fixed;
    top: 0;
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75);
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;    
    padding-top: 100px;
}

ID "#centerDIV"

The DIV will cover the entire page using its width and height property, which I have set as 100%. The idea it to disable all other controls on the page, so the focus remains on the textbox control inside the floating DIV. The floating DIV will remain at the center of the screen even when you scroll the page up and down. It will behave like a Model popup control.

See this demo

The properties position:fixed and top:0 plays an important role in this context. Setting the top property to 0 will keep the DIV always on the top.

👉 More on CSS position property: How to Float an element Right with position absolute using CSS

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