min-height

The min-height CSS property sets the minimum height of an element. It prevents the used value of the height property from becoming smaller than the value specified for min-height.

The element's height is set to the value of min-height whenever min-height is larger than max-height or height.

Syntax

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

/* <percentage> value */
min-height: 10%;

/* Keyword values */
min-height: max-content;
min-height: min-content;
min-height: fit-content(20em);

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

Values

<length>
Defines the min-height as an absolute value.
<percentage>
Defines the min-height as a percentage of the containing block's height.
auto
The browser will calculate and select a min-height for the specified element.
none
No limit on the size of the box.
max-content
The intrinsic preferred min-height.
min-content
The intrinsic minimum min-height.
fit-content(<length-percentage>)
Uses the fit-content formula with the available space replaced by the specified argument, i.e. min(max-content, max(min-content, argument)).

Formal definition

Initial valueauto
Applies toall elements but non-replaced inline elements, table columns, and column groups
Inheritedno
PercentagesThe 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 0.
Computed valuethe percentage as specified or the absolute length
Animation typea length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

auto | <length> | <percentage> | min-content | max-content | fit-content(<length-percentage>)

where
<length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage>

Examples

Setting min-height

table { min-height: 75%; }

form { min-height: 0; }

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Box Sizing Module Level 4
The definition of 'min-height' in that specification.
Editor's Draft
CSS Box Sizing Module Level 3
The definition of 'min-height' in that specification.
Working Draft Adds the max-content, min-content, fit-content keywords.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'min-height' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
min-heightChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3
Notes
Full support 3
Notes
Notes CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of min-height with table undefined. Firefox supports applying min-height to table elements.
IE Full support 7
Notes
Full support 7
Notes
Notes In Internet Explorer 10 and 11, a min-height declaration on a column-direction flex container doesn't apply to the container's flex items. See Flexbug #3 for more info.
Opera Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of min-height with table undefined. Opera supports applying min-height to table elements.
Safari Full support 1.3WebView Android Full support 4.4Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of min-height with table undefined. Firefox supports applying min-height to table elements.
Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
autoChrome Full support 21Edge Full support 79Firefox No support 16 — 22
Notes
No support 16 — 22
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 and later used auto as the initial value for min-height.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 12.1Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 37Chrome Android Full support 25Firefox Android No support 16 — 22
Notes
No support 16 — 22
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 and later used auto as the initial value for min-height.
Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.5
fit-content
Experimental
Chrome Full support 46
Full support 46
Full support 25
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 79
Full support 79
Full support 79
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Full support 3
Prefixed Notes
Full support 3
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes 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.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 44Safari Full support 6.1
Prefixed
Full support 6.1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 2
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: intrinsic
WebView Android Full support 46
Full support 46
Full support ≤37
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 46Firefox Android Full support 4
Prefixed Notes
Full support 4
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes 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.
Opera Android Full support 43Safari iOS Full support 6.1
Prefixed
Full support 6.1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 1
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: intrinsic
Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
max-contentChrome Full support 46Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 66
Full support 66
Full support 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
IE No support NoOpera Full support 44Safari Full support 11
Full support 11
Full support 9
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android Full support 46Chrome Android Full support 46Firefox Android Full support 66
Full support 66
Full support 4
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Opera Android Full support 43Safari iOS Full support 11
Full support 11
Full support 9
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
min-contentChrome Full support 46Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 66
Full support 66
Full support 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
IE No support NoOpera Full support 44Safari Full support 11
Full support 11
Full support 9
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android Full support 46Chrome Android Full support 46Firefox Android Full support 66
Full support 66
Full support 4
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Opera Android Full support 43Safari iOS Full support 11
Full support 11
Full support 9
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
stretch
Experimental
Chrome Full support 28
Alternate Name
Full support 28
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Edge Full support 79
Alternate Name
Full support 79
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Firefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera Full support 15
Alternate Name
Full support 15
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Safari Full support 9
Alternate Name
Full support 9
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
WebView Android Full support 4.4
Alternate Name
Full support 4.4
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Chrome Android Full support 28
Alternate Name
Full support 28
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Firefox Android No support NoOpera Android Full support 15
Alternate Name
Full support 15
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Safari iOS Full support 9
Alternate Name
Full support 9
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available
Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5
Alternate Name
Full support 1.5
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: -webkit-fill-available

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
Uses a non-standard name.
Uses a non-standard name.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also