height

Summary

The height CSS property specifies the height of the content area of an element. The content area is inside the padding, border, and margin of the element.

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
Animatable	yes, as a length, percentage or calc(); when both values are lengths, they are interpolated as lengths; when both values are percentages, they are interpolated as percentages; otherwise, both values are converted into a `calc()` function that is the sum of a length and a percentage (each possibly zero), and these `calc()` functions have each half interpolated as real numbers.
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
height: auto;

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

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

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

Values

<length>

See <length> for possible units.

<percentage>

Specified 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.

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

CSS

div {
  width: 250px;
  margin-bottom: 5px;
  border: 3px solid #999999;
}

#red {
  height: 50px;
}

#green {
  height: 25px;
}

#parent {
  height: 100px;
}

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

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

Feature	Chrome	Firefox (Gecko)	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
Basic support	1.0	1.0 (1.7 or earlier)	4.0	7.0	1.0

Feature	Android	Firefox Mobile (Gecko)	IE Phone	Opera Mobile	Safari Mobile
Basic support	1.0	1.0 (1)	6.0	6.0	1.0