max-width

The max-width property sets an upper bound on an element's width, overriding width when smaller.

Since CSS2 Spec ↗

Syntax

max-width: <length|%|none|max-content>;

Examples

.prose { max-width: 65ch; }
img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; }
Output
Caps reading text at a comfortable line length and makes images shrink to fit their container.

Notes

max-width:100% with height:auto is the classic responsive image rule. It always wins over width. The ch unit is ideal for readable measure (around 45 to 75 characters).

Browser & runtime support

EnvironmentSince version
chrome 1.0
firefox 1.0
safari 1.0
edge 12

See also