Summary

The resize CSS property lets you control the resizability of an element.

Initial valuenone
Applies toelements with overflow other than visible, and optionally replaced elements representing images or videos, and iframes
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueas specified
Animatableno
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
resize: none;
resize: both;
resize: horizontal;
resize: vertical;
resize: block;
resize: inline;

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

Values

none
The element offers no user-controllable method for resizing the element.
both
The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element, which may be resized both horizontally and vertically.
horizontal
The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element, which may only be resized horizontally.
vertical
The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element, which may only be resized vertically.
block
Depending on the writing-mode and direction value, the element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element either horizontally or vertically in block direction.
inline
Depending on the writing-mode and direction value, the element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element either horizontally or vertically in inline direction.
Note: resize does not apply to blocks for which the overflow property is set to visible.

Formal syntax

none | both | horizontal | vertical

Examples

Disabling resizability of textareas

CSS

By default, <textarea> elements are resizable in Gecko 2.0 (Firefox 4). You may override this behavior with the CSS shown below:

textarea.example {
  resize: none; /* disables resizability */
}

HTML

<textarea class="example">Type some text here.</textarea>

Result

Using resize with arbitrary elements

You can use the resize property to make any element resizable. In the example below, a resizable <div> box contains a resizable paragraph (<p> element):

CSS

.resizable {
  resize: both;
  overflow: scroll;
  border: 1px solid black;
}

div {
  height: 300px;
  width: 300px;
}

p {
  height: 200px;
  width: 200px;
}

HTML

<div class="resizable">
  <p class="resizable">
    This paragraph is resizable, because the CSS resize property is set to 'both' on this
    element.
  </p>
</div>

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Logical Properties Level 1
The definition of 'resize' in that specification.
Editor's Draft Adds the values block and inline.
CSS Basic User Interface Module Level 3
The definition of 'resize' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (on <textarea>) 1.0 4.0 (2.0)-moz Not supported 12.1 3.0 (522)
On any block-level and replaced element, table cell, and inline block element (unless overflow is visible) 4.0 5.0 (5.0) Not supported 15 4.0
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (on <textarea>) ? ? ? ? ?
On any block-level and replaced element, table cell, and inline block element (unless overflow is visible) ? ? ? ? ?

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: SphinxKnight,