---
title: "How to: Create a StackPanel"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "StackPanel control [WPF], creating"
ms.assetid: e7ce65cb-720a-4bb6-95b6-286b74488a58
---
# How to: Create a StackPanel
This example shows how to create a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel>.  
  
## Example  
 A <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel> allows you to stack elements in a specified direction. By using properties that are defined on <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel>, content can flow both vertically, which is the default setting, or horizontally.  
  
 The following example vertically stacks five <xref:System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock> controls, each with a different <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Border> and <xref:System.Windows.Controls.Border.Background%2A>, by using <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel>. The child elements that have no specified <xref:System.Windows.FrameworkElement.Width%2A> stretch to fill the parent window; however, the child elements that have a specified <xref:System.Windows.FrameworkElement.Width%2A>, are centered within the window.  
  
 The default stack direction in a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel> is vertical. To control content flow in a <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel>, use the <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel.Orientation%2A> property. You can control horizontal alignment by using the <xref:System.Windows.FrameworkElement.HorizontalAlignment%2A> property.  
  
```xaml  
<Page xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" WindowTitle="StackPanel Sample">  
  <StackPanel>  
    <Border Background="SkyBlue" BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="1">  
      <TextBlock Foreground="Black" FontSize="12">Stacked Item #1</TextBlock>  
    </Border>  
    <Border Width="400" Background="CadetBlue" BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="1">  
      <TextBlock Foreground="Black" FontSize="14">Stacked Item #2</TextBlock>  
    </Border>  
    <Border Background="LightGoldenRodYellow" BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="1">  
      <TextBlock Foreground="Black" FontSize="16">Stacked Item #3</TextBlock>  
    </Border>  
    <Border Width="200" Background="PaleGreen" BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="1">  
      <TextBlock Foreground="Black" FontSize="18">Stacked Item #4</TextBlock>  
    </Border>  
    <Border Background="White" BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="1">  
      <TextBlock Foreground="Black" FontSize="20">Stacked Item #5</TextBlock>  
    </Border>  
  </StackPanel>  
</Page>  
```  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Controls.StackPanel>
- [Panels Overview](panels-overview.md)
- [How-to Topics](stackpanel-how-to-topics.md)