table-layout

The table-layout CSS property specifies the algorithm used to lay out <table> cells, rows, and columns.

/* Keyword values */
table-layout: auto;
table-layout: fixed;
/* Global values */
table-layout: inherit;
table-layout: initial;
table-layout: unset;

Initial valueauto
Applies totable and inline-table elements
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

auto
By default, most browsers use an automatic table layout algorithm. The widths of the table and its cells are adjusted to fit the content.
fixed
Table and column widths are set by the widths of table and col elements or by the width of the first row of cells. Cells in subsequent rows do not affect column widths.
Under the "fixed" layout method, the entire table can be rendered once the first table row has been downloaded and analyzed. This can speed up rendering time over the "automatic" layout method, but subsequent cell content might not fit in the column widths provided. Cells use the overflow property to determine whether to clip any overflowing content, but only if the table has a known width; otherwise, they won't overflow the cells.

Formal syntax

auto | fixed

Example

HTML

<table>
  <tr><td>Ed</td><td>Wood</td></tr>
  <tr><td>Albert</td><td>Schweitzer</td></tr>
  <tr><td>Jane</td><td>Fonda</td></tr>
  <tr><td>William</td><td>Shakespeare</td></tr>
</table>

CSS

table {
  table-layout: fixed;
  width: 100px;
  border: 1px solid red;
}
td {
  border: 1px solid blue;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'table-layout' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Edge Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support ?  - 14.0 +  (Yes) 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) 5.0 7.0 1.0
Feature Android Chrome for Android Edge Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support ? 1.5 ? (Yes) ? ? ? 9.8.0 ? 3.0

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: mfluehr,