W3cubDocs

max-height

The max-height CSS property sets the maximum height of an element. It prevents the used value of the height property from becoming larger than the value specified for max-height.

/* <length> value */
max-height: 3.5em;

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

/* Keyword values */
max-height: none;
max-height: max-content;
max-height: min-content;
max-height: fit-content;
max-height: fill-available;

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

max-height overrides height, but min-height overrides max-height.

Initial value	`none`
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 percentage value is treated as `none`.
Media	visual
Computed value	the percentage as specified or the absolute length or `none`
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

<length>: The maximum height, expressed as a <length>.
<percentage>: The maximum height, expressed as a <percentage> of the containing block's height. If the height of the containing block is not specified explicitly, the percentage value is treated as zero.

Keyword values

none: The height has no maximum value.
max-content: The intrinsic preferred height.
min-content: The intrinsic minimum height.
fill-available: The containing block's height minus the vertical margin, border, and padding. (Note that some browsers implement an ancient name for this keyword, available.)
fit-content: The same as max-content.

Formal syntax

<length> | <percentage> | none | max-content | min-content | fit-content | fill-available

Examples

table { max-height: 75%; }

form { max-height: none; }

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Intrinsic & Extrinsic Sizing Module Level 3 The definition of 'max-height' in that specification.	Working Draft	Adds the `max-content`, `min-content`, `fit-content`, and `fill-available` keywords. (Both CSS3 Box and CSS3 Writing Modes drafts used to define these keywords, but are superseded by this spec.)
CSS Transitions The definition of 'max-height' in that specification.	Working Draft	Defines `max-height` as animatable.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'max-height' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
Basic support	1	Yes	1¹	7	7²	1
`fit-content`, `max-content`, and `min-content`	No³	No	3 -moz- ⁴	No	No	9⁵
`fill-available`	No	No	No	No	No	No

Feature	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Edge mobile	Firefox for Android	Opera Android	iOS Safari	Samsung Internet
Basic support	?	?	Yes	?	?	?	?
`fit-content`, `max-content`, and `min-content`	?	?	No	?	?	9⁵	?
`fill-available`	?	?	No	?	?	?	?

1. CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of max-height with table undefined. Firefox supports applying max-height to table elements.

2. CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of max-height with table undefined. Opera supports applying max-height to table elements.

3. Chrome implements an earlier proposal for setting height to an intrinsic height: the keywords intrinsic (instead of max-content), and min-intrinsic (instead of min-content). There is no equivalent for fill-available or fit-content.

4. Firefox implements the definitions given in CSS3 Basic Box. This defines available and not fit-available. Also, the definition of fit-content is simpler than in CSS3 Sizing.

5. Safari implements an earlier proposal for setting height to an intrinsic height: the keywords intrinsic (instead of max-content), and min-intrinsic (instead of min-content). There is no equivalent for fill-available or fit-content.