---
title: CSS Box Model
slug: Web/CSS/CSS_Box_Model
tags:
  - CSS
  - CSS Box Model
  - NeedsTranslation
  - Overview
  - Reference
  - TopicStub
translation_of: Web/CSS/CSS_Box_Model
---
<div>{{CSSRef}}</div>

<p><strong>CSS Box Model</strong> is a module of CSS that defines the rectangular boxes—including their padding and margin—that are generated for elements and laid out according to the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Visual_formatting_model">visual formatting model</a>.</p>

<h2 id="Reference">Reference</h2>

<h3 id="Properties">Properties</h3>

<h4 id="Properties_controlling_the_flow_of_content_in_a_box">Properties controlling the flow of content in a box</h4>

<div class="index">
<ul>
 <li>{{cssxref("box-sizing")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("overflow")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("overflow-x")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("overflow-y")}}</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h4 id="Properties_controlling_the_size_of_a_box">Properties controlling the size of a box</h4>

<div class="index">
<ul>
 <li>{{cssxref("height")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("width")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("max-height")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("max-width")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("min-height")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("min-width")}}</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h4 id="Properties_controlling_the_margins_of_a_box">Properties controlling the margins of a box</h4>

<div class="index">
<ul>
 <li>{{cssxref("margin")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("margin-bottom")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("margin-left")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("margin-right")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("margin-top")}}</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h4 id="Properties_controlling_the_paddings_of_a_box">Properties controlling the paddings of a box</h4>

<div class="index">
<ul>
 <li>{{cssxref("padding")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("padding-bottom")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("padding-left")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("padding-right")}}</li>
 <li>{{cssxref("padding-top")}}</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h4 id="Other_properties">Other properties</h4>

<div class="index">
<ul>
 <li>{{cssxref("visibility")}}</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2 id="Guides">Guides</h2>

<dl>
 <dt><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_Box_Model/Introduction_to_the_CSS_box_model">Introduction to the CSS box model</a></dt>
 <dd>Explains one of the fundamental concept of CSS: the box model. This model defines how CSS lays out elements, including their content, padding, border, and margin areas.</dd>
 <dt><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_Box_Model/Mastering_margin_collapsing">Mastering margin collapsing</a></dt>
 <dd>Sometimes, two adjacent margins are collapsed into one. This article describes the rules that govern when and why this happens, and how to control it.</dd>
 <dt><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Visual_formatting_model">Visual formatting model</a></dt>
 <dd>Explains the visual formatting model.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Specifications">Specifications</h2>

<table class="standard-table">
 <thead>
  <tr>
   <th scope="col">Specification</th>
   <th scope="col">Status</th>
   <th scope="col">Comment</th>
  </tr>
 </thead>
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName("CSS3 Box")}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2("CSS3 Box")}}</td>
   <td> </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName("CSS2.1", "box.html")}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2("CSS2.1")}}</td>
   <td> </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName("CSS1")}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2("CSS1")}}</td>
   <td>Initial definition</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

<h2 id="Browser_compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2>

<p>{{CompatibilityTable}}</p>

<div id="compat-desktop">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Chrome</th>
   <th>Firefox (Gecko)</th>
   <th>Internet Explorer</th>
   <th>Opera</th>
   <th>Safari (WebKit)</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>1.0</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop("1")}}</td>
   <td>3.0</td>
   <td>3.5</td>
   <td>1.0 (85)</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<div id="compat-mobile">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Android</th>
   <th>Firefox Mobile (Gecko)</th>
   <th>IE Mobile</th>
   <th>Opera Mobile</th>
   <th>Safari Mobile</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>1.0</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoMobile("1")}}</td>
   <td>6.0</td>
   <td>6.0</td>
   <td>1.0</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>