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

/* 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; 

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 # column-row-gap
CSS Grid Layout Module Level 3 # gutters
CSS Multi-column Layout Module Level 2 # column-gap

See also

Related CSS properties: row-gap, gap Grid Layout Guide: Basic concepts of grid layout - Gutters Multi-column Layout Guide: Styling Columns

Last modified: Sep 15, 2021, by MDN contributors

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