CSS min() Function

Last Updated : 11 Jun, 2026

The CSS min() function returns the smallest value from a list of comma-separated values. It is commonly used to create responsive layouts by allowing the browser to choose the minimum value among different units or expressions.

  • Returns the smallest value from the specified list of values.
  • Allows combining different units such as percentages, pixels, and viewport units.
  • Helps create flexible and responsive layouts without media queries.

Syntax:

min(value1, value2);
min(value1, min(value2, min(value3, value4)));

Parameter:

  • values: A comma-separated list of values from which the smallest value is selected.

Return Value:

  • Returns the smallest value from the specified set of comma-separated values.

Examples of CSS min() Function

Below given are a few examples of the above function.

Example 1: The min() function sets the height and width of the box to the smaller value between 200px and 500px, resulting in a size of 200px.

html
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,
                initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Document</title>
</head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

<style>
    /* CSS for the html */
    * {
        font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;
        font-size: 20px;
        font-stretch: narrower;
        font-weight: 600;
    }

    .box {
        display: flex;
        color: white;
        background-color: green;
        justify-content: center;
        height: min(200px, 500px);
        width: min(200px, 500px);
    }

    h2 {
        align-self: center;
    }
</style>

<!--Driver Code Starts-->

<body>
    When nested min function is not used
    <div class="box">
        <h2>Geeks for geeks</h2>
    </div>
</body>

</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

Example 2: The nested min() function selects the smallest value from multiple viewport-based dimensions to determine the box size.

html
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,
                initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Document</title>
</head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

<style>
    /* CSS for the html */
    * {
        font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;
        font-size: min(20px, 1000px);
        font-stretch: narrower;
        font-weight: 600;
    }

    .box {
        display: flex;
        color: white;
        background-color: green;
        justify-content: center;
        height: min(20vh, min(30vh, min(40vh, 50vh)));
        width: min(50vw, min(50vw, min(40vw, 50vw)));
    }

    h2 {
        align-self: center;
    }
</style>

<!--Driver Code Starts-->

<body>
    When nested min function is
    used with different units
    <div class="box">
        <h2>Geeks for geeks</h2>
    </div>
</body>

</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
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