min-width

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

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

Syntax

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

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

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

/* Global values */
min-width: inherit;
min-width: initial;
min-width: unset;

Values

<length>: Defines the min-width as an absolute value.
<percentage>: Defines the min-width as a percentage of the containing block's width.
auto: The browser will calculate and select a min-width for the specified element.
max-content: The intrinsic preferred min-width.
min-content: The intrinsic minimum min-width.
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 rows, and row groups
Inherited	no
Percentages	refer to the width of the containing block
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 minimum element width

table { min-width: 75%; }

form { min-width: 0; }

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Box Sizing Module Level 4 The definition of 'min-width' in that specification.	Editor's Draft
CSS Box Sizing Module Level 3 The definition of 'min-width' in that specification.	Working Draft	Adds the `max-content`, `min-content`, `fit-content` keywords.
CSS Flexible Box Layout Module The definition of 'min-width' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Adds the `auto` keyword and uses it as the initial value.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'min-width' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser