The two black rectangles below should look identical. <div style="text-indent: 100px;top: 50px; position: absolute; border:2px solid black"> <div style="background-color:green; width:50px; height:50px; float:left"></div><div style="display:inline-block;width:50px;height:50px;background-color:green"></div></div> <div style="margin-top:1em; top: 100px; height: 50px; width:200px; position: absolute; border:2px solid black"> <div style="position:absolute;background-color:green; width:50px; height:50px;"></div> <div style="position:absolute;left:150px;background-color:green; width:50px; height:50px;"></div> </div> </div>