column-gap (grid-column-gap)

The column-gap CSS property sets the size of the gap (gutter) between an element's columns.

Initially a part of Multi-column Layout, the definition of column-gap has been broadened to include multiple layout methods. Now specified in Box Alignment, it may be used in Multi-column, Flexible Box, and Grid layouts.

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
column-gap: normal;

/* <length> values */
column-gap: 3px;
column-gap: 2.5em;

/* <percentage> value */
column-gap: 3%;

/* Global values */
column-gap: inherit;
column-gap: initial;
column-gap: revert;
column-gap: unset;

The column-gap property is specified as one of the values listed below.

Values

normal

The browser's default spacing is used between columns. For multi-column layout this is specified as 1em. For all other layout types it is 0.

<length>

The size of the gap between columns, defined as a <length>. The <length> property's value must be non-negative.

<percentage>

The size of the gap between columns, defined as a <percentage>. The <percentage> property's value must be non-negative.

Formal definition

Initial value normal
Applies to multi-column elements, flex containers, grid containers
Inherited no
Percentages refer to corresponding dimension of the content area
Computed value as specified, with <length>s made absolute, and normal computing to zero except on multi-column elements
Animation type a length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

normal | <length-percentage>
where 
<length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage>

Examples

Flex layout

HTML

<div id="flexbox">
  <div></div>
  <div></div>
  <div></div>
</div>

CSS

#flexbox {
  display: flex;
  height: 100px;
  column-gap: 20px;
}

#flexbox > div {
  border: 1px solid green;
  background-color: lime;
  flex: auto;
}

Result

Grid layout

HTML

<div id="grid">
  <div></div>
  <div></div>
  <div></div>
</div>

CSS

#grid {
  display: grid;
  height: 100px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: 100px;
  column-gap: 20px;
}

#grid > div {
  border: 1px solid green;
  background-color: lime;
}

Result

Multi-column layout

HTML

<p class="content-box">
  This is some multi-column text with a 40px column
  gap created with the CSS `column-gap` property.
  Don't you think that's fun and exciting? I sure do!
</p>

CSS

.content-box {
  column-count: 3;
  column-gap: 40px;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Box Alignment Module Level 3 (CSS Box Alignment 3)
# column-row-gap
CSS Grid Layout Module Level 3 (CSS Grid Layout 3)
# gutters
CSS Multi-column Layout Module Level 2 (CSS Multicol 2)
# column-gap

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
flex_context
84
84
63
No
70
14.1
84
84
63
No
14.5
14.0
grid_context
66
57
16
16
61
52
No
53
44
12
10.1
66
57
66
57
61
52
47
43
12
10.3
9.0
6.0
multicol_context
50
1
12
12
52
1.5-74
Before Firefox 3, the default value for the normal keyword was 0 and not 1em.
10
37
15
11.1-15
10
3
50
≤37
50
18
52
4
37
14
11.1-14
10
3
5.0
1.0

See also

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Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/column-gap