<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style type="text/css"> .separator { height: 20px; background-color: blue; } .spacer { height: 20px; } #overflow { overflow-y: auto; height: 200px; background-color: lightgreen; } .margin { height: 40px; } #child { height: 160px; background-color: green; } </style> </head> <body> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="spacer"></div> <div id="overflow"> <div class="margin"></div> <div id="child"></div> <div class="margin"></div> </div> <div class="spacer"></div> <div class="separator"></div> </body> </html>