CSS Introduction

How to Apply an Ellipsis to Multiline Text in CSS ?

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

In web design, showing only part of a long paragraph is a common need — especially when space is limited. While many developers know how to add an ellipsis (...) to a single line, about 80% are unsure how to do it for multiple lines. This article will show you how to apply an ellipsis to multiline text in CSS in a simple and clear way.

Here are three methods to apply an ellipsis to multiline text using CSS:

1. Using -webkit-line-clamp

The -webkit-line-clamp property is a convenient way to limit text to a specific number of lines and add an ellipsis.

HTML

<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
    <style>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

        .clamp {
            display: -webkit-box;
            -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
            -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
            overflow: hidden;
        }
    </style>

<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
    <div class="clamp">
        Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
    </div>
</body>
</html>

<!--Driver Code Ends-->

The -webkit-line-clamp: 3 limits the text to three lines and truncates the rest.
overflow: hidden ensures that overflowing text is not displayed.

2. Using max-height and overflow

You can use max-height combined with line-height to limit the visible lines.

HTML

<html>
<head>
    <style>
        .truncate {
            overflow: hidden;
            text-overflow: ellipsis;
            display: block;
            line-height: 1.5em;
            max-height: 4.5em; /* 3 lines * line-height */
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="truncate">
        Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Vivamus lacinia odio vitae vestibulum. Fusce volutpat odio nec luctus dapibus. 
      Praesent a vehicula sapien, ac feugiat nisl. Integer accumsan turpis at ligula fermentum.
    </div>
</body>
</html>

line-height defines the height of a single line.
max-height ensures only a specific number of lines are displayed.

3. Using JavaScript for Browser Compatibility

For broader compatibility, JavaScript can dynamically limit the text and add an ellipsis.

HTML

<html>
<head>
    <style>
        .js-truncate {
            overflow: hidden;
            text-overflow: ellipsis;
            display: block;
        }
    </style>
    <script>
        function truncateText(selector, lines) {
            const element = document.querySelector(selector);
            const lineHeight = parseFloat(getComputedStyle(element).lineHeight);
            element.style.maxHeight = `${lineHeight * lines}px`;
        }
        window.onload = () => truncateText('.js-truncate', 3);
    </script>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="js-truncate">
        Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. 
      Vivamus lacinia odio vitae vestibulum. Fusce volutpat odio nec luctus dapibus. 
      Praesent a vehicula sapien, ac feugiat nisl. Integer accumsan turpis at ligula fermentum.
    </div>
</body>
</html>

JavaScript calculates the height dynamically based on the line count and applies it as a max-height.
This approach works in browsers without support for -webkit-line-clamp.

Note: It is ideal for browsers like firefox and IE that don't support -webkit-line-clamp, this method takes more effort but offers the best compatiblity and flexiblity.

Additional Notes:

Always test on multiple browsers to ensure proper behavior.
Keep responsive design in mind—multiline ellipsis may look different on mobile vs. desktop.
If content is hidden with ellipsis, consider adding a “Read more” or expand option for accessibility.
Avoid using ellipsis to hide critical information (like prices, errors, or links).
Use CSS gracefully—not every situation needs text to be trimmed.

How to Apply an Ellipsis to Multiline Text in CSS ?

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