flex-basis

The flex-basis CSS property sets the initial main size of a flex item. It sets the size of the content box unless otherwise set with box-sizing.

The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.

Syntax

/* Specify <'width'> */
flex-basis: 10em;      
flex-basis: 3px;
flex-basis: auto;

/* Intrinsic sizing keywords */
flex-basis: fill;
flex-basis: max-content;
flex-basis: min-content;
flex-basis: fit-content;

/* Automatically size based on the flex item’s content */
flex-basis: content;

/* Global values */
flex-basis: inherit;
flex-basis: initial;
flex-basis: unset;

The flex-basis property is specified as either the keyword content or a <'width'>.

Values

<'width'>

An absolute <length>, a <percentage> of the parent flex container's main size property, or the keyword auto. Negative values are invalid.

content

Indicates automatic sizing, based on the flex item’s content.

Note: This value was not present in the initial release of Flexible Box Layout, and thus some older implementations will not support it. The equivalent effect can be had by using auto together with a main size (width or height) of auto.

History:

• Originally, flex-basis:auto meant "look at my width or height property".
• Then, flex-basis:auto was changed to mean automatic sizing, and "main-size" was introduced as the "look at my width or height property" keyword. It was implemented in bug 1032922.
• Then, that change was reverted in bug 1093316, so auto once again means "look at my width or height property"; and a new content keyword is being introduced to trigger automatic sizing. (bug 1105111 covers adding that keyword).

Formal syntax

content | <'width'>

Example

HTML

<ul class="container">
  <li class="flex flex1">1: flex-basis test</li>
  <li class="flex flex2">2: flex-basis test</li>
  <li class="flex flex3">3: flex-basis test</li>
  <li class="flex flex4">4: flex-basis test</li>
  <li class="flex flex5">5: flex-basis test</li>
</ul>

<ul class="container">
  <li class="flex flex6">6: flex-basis test</li>
</ul>

CSS

.container {
  font-family: arial, sans-serif;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  list-style-type: none;
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

.flex {
  background: #6AB6D8;
  padding: 10px;
  margin-bottom: 50px;
  border: 3px solid #2E86BB;
  color: white;
  font-size: 20px;
  text-align: center;
  position: relative;
}

.flex:after {
  position: absolute;
  z-index: 1;
  left: 0;
  top: 100%;
  margin-top: 10px;
  width: 100%;
  color: #333;
  font-size: 18px;
}

.flex1 {
  flex-basis: auto;
}

.flex1:after {
  content: 'auto';
}

.flex2 {
  flex-basis: max-content;
}

.flex2:after {
  content: 'max-content';
}

.flex3 {
  flex-basis: min-content;
}

.flex3:after {
  content: 'min-content';
}

.flex4 {
  flex-basis: fit-content;
}

.flex4:after {
  content: 'fit-content';
}

.flex5 {
   flex-basis: content;
}

.flex5:after {
  content: 'content';
}

.flex6 {
  flex-basis: fill;
}

.flex6:after {
  content: 'fill';
}

Results

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• CSS Flexbox Guide: Basic Concepts of Flexbox
• CSS Flexbox Guide: Controlling Ratios of flex items along the main axis
• width