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.

/* <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: revert; max-height: unset; 

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: revert; 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.

MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 1.4 explanations Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.4 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0

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 | 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
CSS Box Sizing Module Level 4 # width-height-keywords

See also

The box model, box-sizing height, min-height The mapped logical properties: max-inline-size, max-block-size

Last modified: Aug 12, 2021, by MDN contributors

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