flex-shrink

The flex-shrink CSS property sets the flex shrink factor of a flex item. If the size of all flex items is larger than the flex container, items shrink to fit according to flex-shrink.

In use, flex-shrink is used alongside the other flex properties flex-grow and flex-basis, and normally defined using the flex shorthand.

Syntax

/* <number> values */
flex-shrink: 2;
flex-shrink: 0.6;

/* Global values */
flex-shrink: inherit;
flex-shrink: initial;
flex-shrink: unset;

The flex-shrink property is specified as a single <number>.

Values

<number>
See <number>. Negative values are invalid. Defaults to 1.

Formal definition

Initial value1
Applies toflex items, including in-flow pseudo-elements
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typea number

Formal syntax

<number>

Examples

Setting flex item shrink factor

HTML

<p>The width of content is 500px; the flex-basis of the flex items is 120px.</p>
<p>A, B, C have flex-shrink:1 set. D and E have flex-shrink:2 set</p>
<p>The width of D and E is less than the others.</p>
<div id="content">
  <div class="box" style="background-color:red;">A</div>
  <div class="box" style="background-color:lightblue;">B</div>
  <div class="box" style="background-color:yellow;">C</div>
  <div class="box1" style="background-color:brown;">D</div>
  <div class="box1" style="background-color:lightgreen;">E</div>
</div>

CSS

#content {
  display: flex;
  width: 500px;
}

#content div {
  flex-basis: 120px;
  border: 3px solid rgba(0,0,0,.2);
}

.box {
  flex-shrink: 1;
}

.box1 {
  flex-shrink: 2;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Flexible Box Layout Module
The definition of 'flex-shrink' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
flex-shrinkChrome Full support 29
Full support 29
Full support 22
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 12
Full support 12
Full support 12
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Full support 20
Notes
Full support 20
Notes
Notes Since Firefox 28, multi-line flexbox is supported.
Notes Before Firefox 32, Firefox wasn't able to animate values starting or stopping at 0.
Full support 49
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 44
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 44: this feature is behind the layout.css.prefixes.webkit preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
No support 18 — 20
Disabled
Disabled From version 18 until version 20 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.flexbox.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE Full support 10
Notes
Full support 10
Notes
Notes Internet Explorer 10 uses 0 instead of 1 as the initial value for the flex-shrink property. A workaround is to always set an explicit value for flex-shrink. See Flexbug #6 for more info.
Opera Full support 12.1
Full support 12.1
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari Full support 9
Full support 9
Full support 8
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android Full support 4.4
Full support 4.4
Full support ≤37
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 29
Full support 29
Full support 25
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Android Full support 20
Notes
Full support 20
Notes
Notes Since Firefox 28, multi-line flexbox is supported.
Notes Before Firefox 32, Firefox wasn't able to animate values starting or stopping at 0.
Full support 49
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 44
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 44: this feature is behind the layout.css.prefixes.webkit preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
No support 18 — 20
Disabled
Disabled From version 18 until version 20 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.flexbox.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 12.1
Full support 12.1
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari iOS Full support 9
Full support 9
Full support 8
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0
Full support 2.0
Full support 1.5
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-

Legend

Full support
Full support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also