B.68. max-width, min-width

Instead of setting a fixed width, it is sometimes useful to set limits on the width of an element. These two properties let you set a maximum and/or minimum width. The width of the element is calculated normally, and then these limits are applied.

Remember to set the overflow property to hidden (or another appropriate value) if you set a max-width; otherwise, the content will overflow the specified width, even if the element does not.

Inherited: No

See also: Section B.126width, Section B.67max-height, Section B.67min-height

B.68.1. Value

A CSS length (px, pt, em, etc.), a percentage of the parent element's content area height, or (in the case of max-height only) none.

Initial value:

• max-height: none

• min-height: 0

B.68.2. Compatibility

CSS Version: 2

This property is fully supported on Netscape 6 and Mozilla browsers and Opera 7 or later only.

B.68.3. Example

This style rule specifies that the element with ID topmenu should have a width between 200 and 1000 pixels, and should display a scrollbar if the content's width is greater than the maximum.

#topmenu {
  min-width: 200px;
  max-width: 1000px;
  overflow: auto;
}