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Masonry layout

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Level 3 of the CSS grid layout specification defines masonry layout (also known as grid-lanes layout), which is accessed via the display values grid-lanes and inline-grid-lanes. This guide details what masonry layout is and how to use it.

Masonry layout is a layout method where one axis uses a typical strict grid layout, most often columns, and the other a stacking (masonry) layout. On the stacking axis, rather than sticking to a strict grid with gaps being left after shorter items, the items in the following row rise up to fill the gaps.

Creating a masonry layout

To create the most common masonry layout where the columns are laid out in a grid, and the rows stack like masonry, use display: grid-lanes along with grid-template-columns.

The child elements of this container will lay out item by item along the stacking axis according to the masonry algorithm: each row of items loads into the column with the most room, causing a tightly packed layout without strict row tracks.

* {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

body {
  font: 1.2em sans-serif;
}

.grid {
  padding: 10px;
  border: 2px solid #f76707;
  border-radius: 5px;
  background-color: #fff4e6;
}

.item {
  border: 2px solid #ffa94d;
  border-radius: 5px;
  background-color: #ffd8a8;
  color: #d9480f;
}

.grid {
  display: grid-lanes;
  gap: 10px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(120px, 1fr));
}

<div class="grid">
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
</div>

// prettier-ignore
const itemSizes = [
  "2em", "3em", "1.6em", "4em", "3.2em",
  "3em", "4.5em", "1em", "3.5em", "2.8em",
];
const items = document.querySelectorAll(".item");
for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
  items[i].style.blockSize = itemSizes[i];
}
Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

It is also possible to create a masonry layout with items loading into rows.

// prettier-ignore
const itemSizes = [
  "2em", "3em", "1.6em", "4em", "2.2em",
  "3em", "4.5em", "1em", "3.5em", "2.8em",
];
const items = document.querySelectorAll(".item");
for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
  items[i].style.inlineSize = itemSizes[i];
}

.grid {
  display: grid-lanes;
  gap: 10px;
  grid-template-rows: repeat(3, 100px);
}
Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Controlling the grid axis

On the grid axis, things will work just as you expect them to in grid layout. You can cause items to span multiple tracks while remaining in auto-placement, using the span keyword. Items may also be positioned using line-based positioning.

Masonry layout with spanning items

In this example two of the items span two tracks, and the masonry items work around them.

<div class="grid">
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item span-2"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item span-2"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
</div>

.grid {
  display: grid-lanes;
  gap: 10px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(120px, 1fr));
}

.span-2 {
  grid-column-end: span 2;
}
Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

This example includes an item which has positioning for columns. Items with definite placement are placed before the masonry layout happens.

<div class="grid">
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item positioned">positioned.</div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
  <div class="item"></div>
</div>

.grid {
  display: grid-lanes;
  gap: 10px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(120px, 1fr));
}

.positioned {
  padding: 1em;
  grid-column: 2 / 4;
}
Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Fallbacks for masonry layout

In browsers that do not support masonry, regular grid auto-placement will be used instead.

Specifications

SpecificationsStandards references are available on the canonical MDN page.

Browser compatibility

Browser compatibilityCompatibility data is available on the canonical MDN page.

See also