Web/CSS/max-height

The max-height CSS property sets the maximum height of an element. It prevents the used value of the height property from becoming larger than the value specified for max-height.

max-height overrides height, but min-height overrides max-height.

Syntax

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

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

/* Keyword values */
max-height: none;
max-height: max-content;
max-height: min-content;
max-height: fit-content(20em);

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

Values

<length>: Defines the max-height as an absolute value.
<percentage>: Defines the max-height as a percentage of the containing block's height.
none: No limit on the size of the box.
max-content: The intrinsic preferred max-height.
min-content: The intrinsic minimum max-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)).

Accessibility concerns

Ensure that elements set with a max-height are not truncated and/or do not obscure other content when the page is zoomed to increase text size.

Formal definition

Initial value	`none`
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 percentage value is treated as `none`.
Computed value	the percentage as specified or the absolute length or `none`
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

none | <length-percentage> | min-content | max-content | fit-content(<length-percentage>)where <length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage>

Examples

Setting max-height using percentage and keyword values

table { max-height: 75%; }

form { max-height: none; }

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`max-height`	Chrome Full support 18	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1 Notes' Full support 1 Notes' Notes' CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of `max-height` with `table` undefined. Firefox supports applying `max-height` to `table` elements.	IE Full support 7	Opera Full support 7 Notes' Full support 7 Notes' Notes' CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of `max-height` with `table` undefined. Opera supports applying `max-height` to `table` elements.	Safari Full support 1.3	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`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 Partial support 3 Prefixed' Notes' Partial 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 No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 11 Full support 11 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 46 Full support 46 Full support 25 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Firefox Android Partial support 4 Prefixed' Notes' Partial 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 43	Safari iOS Full support 11 Full support 11 Full support 7 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 Full support 5.0 Full support 1.5 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
`max-content`	Chrome Full support 46	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 66 Full support 66 Full support 3 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 11 Full support 11 Full support 9 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	WebView Android Full support 46	Chrome Android Full support 46	Firefox Android Full support 66 Full support 66 Full support 4 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari 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-content`	Chrome Full support 46	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 66 Full support 66 Full support 3 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-	IE No support No	Opera Full support 44	Safari Full support 11 Full support 11 Full support 9 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	WebView Android Full support 46	Chrome Android Full support 46	Firefox Android Full support 66 Full support 66 Full support 4 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari 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 No	IE No support No	Opera Full support 15 Alternate Name' Full support 15 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `-webkit-fill-available`	Safari No support No	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 No	Opera Android Full support 15 Alternate Name' Full support 15 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `-webkit-fill-available`	Safari iOS No support No	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
Partial support: Partial 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.