Summary

The column-count CSS property describes the number of columns of the element.

Initial valueauto
Applies tonon-replaced block elements (except table elements), table-cell or inline-block elements
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueas specified
Animatableyes, as an integer
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

column-count: 3;
column-count: auto;

column-count: inherit;
column-count: initial;
column-count: unset;

Values

auto
Is a keyword indicating that the number of columns should be determined by other CSS properties, like column-width.
<number>
Is a strictly positive <integer> describing the ideal number of columns into which the content of the element will be flowed. If the column-width is also set to a non-auto value, it merely indicates the maximum allowed number of columns.

Formal syntax

<number> | auto

Examples

.content-box {
  border: 10px solid #000000;
  column-count: 3;
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Multi-column Layout Module
The definition of 'column-count' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (Yes)-webkit 1.5 (1.8)-moz 10 11.10 3.0 (522)-webkit
on display: table-caption (Yes) 37 (37) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
Unprefixed 50.0        
Feature Android Android Webview Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile Chrome for Android
Basic support (Yes) ? 1.0 (1.8)-moz (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) ?
on display: table-caption (Yes) ? 37.0 (37) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) ?
Unprefixed No support 50.0         50.0

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: jpmedley,