How to Set min-height and max-height of an element in CSS

As a web developer, setting the size of elements on a page is a crucial aspect of creating a visually pleasing and user-friendly website.

In this CSS tutorial, we will explore the properties of min-height and max-height in CSS and how they can be used to control the size of elements on a webpage.


Understanding min-height and max-height

The min-height and max-height properties in CSS are used to set the minimum and maximum size of an element, respectively.

The min-height property ensures that an element will never be smaller than the specified value, while the max-height property ensures that an element will never be larger than the specified value.

Using min-height and max-height

To use the min-height and max-height properties, simply add the property and the desired value to the element’s CSS.

For example, if we wanted to set a minimum height of 200px and a maximum height of 400px for a div element, our CSS would look like this:

div {
  min-height: 200px;
  max-height: 400px;
}

It’s important to note that the value of the min-height property should always be less than or equal to the value of the max-height property, otherwise it will have no effect.

In addition, the min-height and max-height properties can also be set using the vh (viewport height) and vw (viewport width) units.

These units allow you to set the size of an element relative to the size of the viewport.

For example, if we wanted to set a minimum height of 20% and a maximum height of 40% of the viewport, our CSS would look like this:

div {
  min-height: 20vh;
  max-height: 40vh;
}

This will ensure that the element will always take up at least 20% of the viewport height and at most 40% of the viewport height.

Benefits of using min-height and max-height

One of the main benefits of using min-height and max-height is that it allows you to control the size of elements on a webpage, which can help to improve the overall layout and design of a website.

Additionally, using these properties can also help to prevent elements from becoming too small or too large, which can lead to a poor user experience.


Conclusion

In conclusion, min-height and max-height properties in CSS are powerful tools that allow you to control the size of elements on a webpage.

By setting minimum and maximum sizes, you can ensure that elements are always displayed at the appropriate size, which can help to improve the overall layout and design of a website.

Remember to keep in mind when setting the value of min-height to be less than or equal to the max-height.