columns

The columns CSS property is a shorthand property allowing to set both the column-width and the column-count properties at the same time.

/* Column width */
columns: 1em;
/* Column count */
columns: auto;
columns: 1;
/* Combination of column width and count */
columns: 1 auto;
columns: auto 12em;
columns: auto auto;
/* Global values */
columns: inherit;
columns: initial;
columns: unset;

Initial valueas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Applies toBlock containers except table wrapper boxes
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Animation typeas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Canonical orderper grammar

Syntax

Values

<'column-width'>
Is a <length> value giving a hint of the optimal width of the column. The actual column width may be wider (to fill the available space), or narrower (only if the available space is smaller than the specified column width). The length must be strictly positive or the declaration is invalid.
<'column-count'>
Is a strictly positive <integer> describing the ideal number of columns into which the content of the element will be flowed. If the column-width is also set to a non-auto value, it merely indicates the maximum allowed number of columns.

Formal syntax

<'column-width'> || <'column-count'>

Example

HTML

<p class="content-box">
  This is some text split into three columns
  using the CSS property columns. The text is
  equally distributed over the columns.
</p>

CSS

.content-box {
  margin: 0;
  height: 90px;
  border: 3px solid black;
  columns: 3;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Multi-column Layout Module
The definition of 'columns' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Edge Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (Yes) -webkit
50.0[1]
(Yes)-webkit
(Yes)
9 (9) -moz
52 (52)[2]
10 11.10
15 -webkit
3.0 (522)-webkit
on display: table-caption (Yes) (Yes) 37 (37) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
Feature Android Android Webview Edge Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile Chrome for Android
Basic support 2.1 -webkit 50.0 (Yes)-webkit
(Yes)
22.0 (22) -moz
52.0 (52)[2]
10 11.5
32 -webkit
3.2 -webkit 50.0
on display: table-caption (Yes) ? (Yes) 37.0 (37) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) ?

[1] Unprefixed as of Chrome 50.

[2] Unprefixed as of Gecko 52, with prefixed aliases still available.

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: stevenmg,