Vertical Alignment: TOP
import java.awt.Color; import java.awt.Dimension; import java.awt.FlowLayout; import javax.swing.BorderFactory; import javax.swing.JFrame; import javax.swing.JLabel; import javax.swing.border.Border; public class Main { public static void main(String args[]) { JFrame f = new JFrame("Label Demo"); f.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); f.setSize(200, 360); f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); JLabel label= new JLabel("asdf"); Border border = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.BLACK); label.setBorder(border); label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(150, 100)); label.setText("Top Left"); label.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.LEFT); label.setVerticalAlignment(JLabel.TOP); f.add(label); f.setVisible(true); } }