How to make an element width: 100% minus padding ?

Last Updated : 26 Jul, 2024

In this article, we will see different examples to make an element's width: of 100% minus padding. We have a few methods to make an element width: 100% minus padding which are described in detail below.

Table of Content

Using 'calc()' and 'box-sizing'
Using Flexbox Container Method

Approach 1: Using 'calc()' and 'box-sizing'

Here, we are using CSS properties like 'calc()' and 'box-sizing' for creating responsive and adjusting proper element width '100% minus padding'. These properties also assure consistent and visually appealing layouts across various devices and screen sizes.

Example: In this example, we are using the 'calc()' and 'box-sizing' to make an element width: 100% minus padding.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" 
          content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
    <title>Element Width Examples</title>
</head>

<body>
    <div class="container">
        <h1 class="geeks-title">
              GeeksforGeeks
          </h1>

        <div class="example">
            <h2>Without 100% Minus Padding</h2>
            <p>
                  This input element has its width set 
                  to 100%, including padding.
              </p>
            <div class="input-container">
                <label for="input-with-padding">
                      Input without 100% - padding:
                  </label>
                <input type="text" id="input-with-padding" 
                       class="input-with-padding" 
                       placeholder="Enter text">
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class="example">
            <h2>With 100% Minus Padding</h2>
            <p>
                  This input element uses 
                  <code>width: 100% - padding</code> 
                  to maintain full width after padding.
              </p>
            <div class="input-container">
                <label for="input-minus-padding">
                      Input with 100% - padding:
                  </label>
                <input type="text" 
                       id="input-minus-padding" 
                       class="input-minus-padding" 
                       placeholder="Enter text">
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>

</html>

CSS

/* style.css */
body {
    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
    background-color: #f0f0f0;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

.container {
    max-width: 800px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding: 20px;
}

.geeks-title {
    color: green;
    text-align: center;
}

.example {
    margin: 20px 0;
    padding: 20px;
    background-color: #fff;
    border: 1px solid #ccc;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

.input-container {
    margin-top: 15px;
}

.input-with-padding,
.input-minus-padding {
    padding: 10px;
    border: 2px solid #ccc;
    width: 100%;
    transition: border-color 0.3s;
}

.input-minus-padding {
    width: calc(100% - 20px);
    /* Subtracting 20px from the width 
         to account for padding */
    box-sizing: border-box;
    /* Including padding and border 
         in the calculated width */
    border-color: dodgerblue;
    background-color: #f5faff;
}

.input-with-padding:focus,
.input-minus-padding:focus {
    border-color: dodgerblue;
}

Output:

Approach 2: Using Flexbox Container Method

Here, we are achieving the "width: 100% - padding" for an element by involving the flex container ('display: flex') with the centered content alignment of ('justify-content: center'). This assures that the element's width is the full width of its parent while taking the specified padding.

Example: In this example, we are using Flexbox Container Method to make an element width: 100% minus padding.

HTML

<!--Example 2-->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" 
          content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
    <title>Element Width Examples</title>
</head>

<body>
    <div class="container">
        <h1 class="geeks-title">
              GeeksforGeeks
          </h1>

        <div class="example">
            <h2>Without 100% Minus Padding</h2>
            <p>
                  This <code><div></code> 
                  element has its width set to 100%, 
                  including padding.
              </p>
            <div class="box-with-padding">
                  Content without 100% minus padding
              </div>
        </div>

        <div class="example">
            <h2>With 100% Minus Padding</h2>
            <p>
                  This <code><div></code> 
                  element uses a flex container to achieve
                <code>width: 100% - padding</code>.
              </p>
            <div class="box-minus-padding-container">
                <div class="box-minus-padding">
                      Content with padding
                  </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>

</html>

CSS

/* style.css*/
body {
    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
    background-color: #f0f0f0;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

.container {
    max-width: 800px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding: 20px;
}

.geeks-title {
    color: green;
    text-align: center;
}

.example {
    margin: 20px 0;
    padding: 20px;
    background-color: #fff;
    border: 1px solid #ccc;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

.box-with-padding,
.box-minus-padding {
    padding: 10px;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    color: white;
    text-align: center;
}

.box-with-padding {
    background-color: #007bff;
    /* Blue color for the box with padding */
}

.box-minus-padding-container {
    width: 100%;
    padding: 10px;
    /* Padding for the container */
    box-sizing: border-box;
    background-color: #ffffff;
    /* Light blue background color */
}

.box-minus-padding {
    background-color: #dc3545;
    /* Red color for the box with minus padding */
}

.box-minus-padding-container {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
}

Output:

CSS Introduction

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How to make an element width: 100% minus padding ?

Table of Content

Approach 1: Using 'calc()' and 'box-sizing'

Approach 2: Using Flexbox Container Method

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