min-height

The min-height CSS property sets the minimum height of an element. It prevents the used value of the height property from becoming smaller than the value specified for min-height.

The element's height is set to the value of min-height whenever min-height is larger than max-height or height.

Syntax

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

/* <percentage> value */
min-height: 10%;

/* Keyword values */
min-height: max-content;
min-height: min-content;
min-height: fit-content(20em);

/* Global values */
min-height: inherit;
min-height: initial;
min-height: revert;
min-height: unset;

Values

<length>: Defines the min-height as an absolute value.
<percentage>: Defines the min-height as a percentage of the containing block's height.
auto: The browser will calculate and select a min-height for the specified element.
max-content: The intrinsic preferred min-height.
min-content: The intrinsic minimum min-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)).

Formal definition

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 percentage value is treated as `0`.
Computed value	the percentage as specified or the absolute length
Animation type	a length, percentage or calc();

Formal syntax

auto | <length> | <percentage> | min-content | max-content | fit-content | fit-content(<length-percentage>)where 
<length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage>

Examples

Setting min-height

table { min-height: 75%; }

form { min-height: 0; }

Specifications

Specification
CSS Box Sizing Module Level 3 (CSS Sizing 3) # width-height-keywords

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
`min-height`	1	12	3 CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of `min-height` with `table` undefined. Firefox supports applying `min-height` to `table` elements.	7 In Internet Explorer 10 and 11, a `min-height` declaration on a column-direction flex container doesn't apply to the container's flex items. See Flexbug #3 for more info.	4 CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of `min-height` with `table` undefined. Opera supports applying `min-height` to `table` elements.	1.3	4.4	18	4 CSS 2.1 leaves the behavior of `min-height` with `table` undefined. Firefox supports applying `min-height` to `table` elements.	14	1	1.0
`auto`	21	79	16-22 Firefox 18 and later used `auto` as the initial value for `min-height`.	No	12.1	No	37	25	16-22 Firefox 18 and later used `auto` as the initial value for `min-height`.	14	No	1.5
`fit-content`	46 25	79 79	3 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.	No	44	11 6.1 2	46 ≤37	46	4 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.	43	11 6.1 1	5.0
`fit-content_function`	No	No	91	No	No	No	No	No	91	No	No	No
`max-content`	46	79	66 3	No	44	11 9	46	46	66 4	43	11 9	5.0
`min-content`	46	79	66 3	No	44	11 9	46	46	66 4	43	11 9	5.0
`stretch`	28	79	No	No	15	9	4.4	28	No	15	9	1.5