Why Should You Never Center-Align Paragraph Text?
TL;DR Summary: Donโt center-align paragraphs. Center the container; keep text left-aligned; use a sensible max-width. Your readers will thank you.
Donโt Ever Center-Align Paragraphs… PLEASE
If you want people to actually read your content, donโt center-align paragraphs. Centered body text looks โbalanced,โ but itโs harder to read.
This is wrong, IMHO:
Headline
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
This is better:
Headline
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
See? Much easier to read!
Here’s a graphic showing this as well:

The fix is simple: center the container, keep the text left-aligned, and give the column a reasonable width. Thatโs how books, newspapers, and good websites do it. I’ll go over how to do that in this article.
Why Center-Aligned Paragraphs Hurt Readability
- No consistent starting point: With centered text, each line begins in a different spot. Your eyes have to hunt for the start of the next line.
- Worse scanning: People skim. A ragged left edge slows them down.
- More fatigue on wide screens: Long lines across a desktop monitor feel like a wall of text.
The Right Pattern: Centered Container, Left-Aligned Text
Here’s how to keep the layout visually centered, but let the paragraph text anchor to the left inside that centered column. Basically, you don’t want readers to have to read text across the whole web page, so put it inside a container of a smaller width. This is much like newspaper columns.
Here’s the CSS to use – put it in between the <style></style> tags on your page:
/* Reusable reading column */
.text-block {
max-width: 70%; /* or try 48remโ60rem, or 800px */
margin: 0 auto; /* centers the container */
text-align: left; /* keeps paragraphs left-aligned */
}
Drop your content inside a <div class="text-block">...</div> and youโre set – like this:
<div class="text-block">
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
</div>If you prefer character-based comfort, aim for about 60โ75 characters per lineโadjust max-width until it feels right with your font.
Practical Variations
- Percentage-based (fluid):
max-width: 70%keeps things responsive and never edge-to-edge. - Fixed with a ceiling:
max-width: 800pxgives a โmagazineโ feel on desktops and stays comfy on ultra-wide screens. - Clamp it: Combine both:
.text-block { width: min(70%, 60rem); margin: 0 auto; text-align: left; }
When (and When Not) to Center
Here are some easy rules to follow about center-aligning text:
- Center small stuffโshort headlines, buttons, or a one-line callout.
- Donโt center long paragraphs, lists, or anything that runs more than a couple of lines.
A Copy-Paste Example You Can Steal:
<div class="text-block">
<h2>A Readable Section</h2>
<p>This paragraph is left-aligned inside a centered container.
It wonโt stretch across the whole page, so itโs easier to read on large screens.</p>
</div>
FAQs About Center- vs Left-Aligned Paragraphs

Why shouldnโt you center-align paragraph text?
Because each line starts in a different place, which makes your eyes work harder to find the next line. It slows reading and increases fatigue.
Whatโs the best width for paragraphs on a website?
A common guideline is about 60โ75 characters per line. Practically, that often means a max-width around 48โ60rem (or ~700โ900px), depending on your font and size.
Should I use a fixed pixel width or a percentage?
Either works. A fixed max-width (e.g., 800px) is very consistent. A percentage (e.g., 70%) stays fluid. You can combine them with width: min(70%, 60rem); for the best of both.
Is it OK to center headlines?
Short headlines and callouts can be centered. If the line wraps or runs long, left-align it.
How do I center the box but keep the text left?
Use margin: 0 auto; on the container and text-align: left; for the text, like this:
.text-block { max-width: 70%; margin: 0 auto; text-align: left; }๐ Download a PDF of This Article
