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height

The height CSS property specifies the height of an element. By default, the property defines the height of the content area. If box-sizing is set to border-box, however, it instead determines the height of the border area.

/* Keyword value */
height: auto;

/* <length> values */
height: 120px;
height: 10em;

/* <percentage> value */
height: 75%;

/* Global values */
height: inherit;
height: initial;
height: unset;

Note: The min-height and max-height properties override height.

Initial value auto
Applies to all elements but non-replaced inline elements, table columns, and column groups
Inherited no
Percentages The percentage is calculated with respect to the height of the generated box's containing block. If the height of the containing block is not specified explicitly (i.e., it depends on content height), and this element is not absolutely positioned, the value computes to auto. A percentage height on the root element is relative to the initial containing block.
Media visual
Computed value a percentage or auto or the absolute length
Animation type a length, percentage or calc();
Canonical order the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

<length>
Defines the height as an absolute value.
<percentage>
Defines the height as a percentage of containing block's height.
border-box
If present, the preceding <length> or <percentage> is applied to the element's border box.
content-box
If present, the preceding <length> or <percentage> is applied to the element's content box.
auto
The browser will calculate and select a height for the specified element.
fill
Use the fill-available inline size or fill-available block size, as appropriate to the writing mode.
max-content
The intrinsic preferred height.
min-content
The intrinsic minimum height.
available
The containing block height minus vertical margin, border and padding.
fit-content
The larger of:
  • the intrinsic minimum height
  • the smaller of the intrinsic preferred height and the available height

Formal syntax

[ <length> | <percentage> ] && [ border-box | content-box ]? | available | min-content | max-content | fit-content | auto

Example

HTML

<div id="taller">I'm 50 pixels tall.</div>
<div id="shorter">I'm 25 pixels tall.</div>
<div id="parent">
  <div id="child">
    I'm half the height of my parent.
  </div>
</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 250px;
  margin-bottom: 5px;
  border: 2px solid blue;
}

#taller {
  height: 50px;
}

#shorter {
  height: 25px;
}

#parent {
  height: 100px;
}

#child {
  height: 50%;
  width: 75%;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Basic Box Model
The definition of 'height' in that specification.
Working Draft Added the max-content, min-content, available, fit-content, border-box, content-box keywords.
CSS Transitions
The definition of 'height' in that specification.
Working Draft Lists height as animatable.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'height' in that specification.
Recommendation Adds support for the <length> values and precises on which element it applies to.
CSS Level 1
The definition of 'height' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.
CSS Intrinsic & Extrinsic Sizing Module Level 3
The definition of 'width' in that specification.
Working Draft Adds new sizing keywords for width and height.

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 1 Yes 1 4 7 1
fill 46 ? ? ? ? ?
fit-content 46 ? ? ? ? ?
max-content 46 ? ? ? ? ?
min-content 46 ? ? ? ? ?
Feature Android webview Chrome for Android Edge mobile Firefox for Android Opera Android iOS Safari Samsung Internet
Basic support 1 1 Yes 4 1 1 ?
fill 46 46 ? ? ? ? ?
fit-content 46 46 ? ? ? ? ?
max-content 46 46 ? ? ? ? ?
min-content 46 46 ? ? ? ? ?

See also

© 2005–2018 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/height