CSS Reference Guide: calc()

The CSS calc() function is used to evaluate simple arithmetic expressions in CSS.

Jump ahead:

• Value types
• Rules
• CSS variables and calc
• Examples of calc usage

The arithmetic expressions are addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. These expressions follow a precedence order:

• P – Parentheses
• D – Division
• M – Multiplication
• A – Addition
• S – Subtraction

Any parentheses in the expression are evaluated first, from left to right. Then the division operations are performed, then multiplication, addition, and, lastly, subtraction.

For example, we have this expression argument in calc:

calc(4px - (9px + 1px) / 5px * 9px)

See the Pen
css calc example by Chidume David (@philipsz-davido)
on CodePen.

The parentheses (9px + 1px) are evaluated first, so we now have this:

4px - 10px / 5px * 9px

Next is the division op. 10px / 5px is evaluated to this:

4px - 2px * 9px

Then, the multiplication op is evaluated, 2px * 9px:

4px - 18px

Finally, the subtraction op is evaluated, 4px - 18px:

-14px

Value types

Not all value types in CSS are permissible in the calc function. Permitted values include:

• <length>
• <frequency>
• <angle>
• <time>
• <percentage>
• <number>
• <integer>

Rules

There are certain rules that must be strictly followed when using the calc function.

1.) The RHS and LHS values of the addition and subtraction operators must be of the same unit type, or they can be a number and an integer.

• 5px + 2 is invalid because the values are of different unit types. The first is a <length> type, while the second is a <number>.
• 2px + 5vh is valid because both are of <length> unit types; operands in an expression may be of any <length> syntax value.
• 3.4 - 4 is valid.

2.) The addition and the subtraction operator values must be whitespaced; failure would lead to incorrect parsing and evaluation of the expression.

• 4px-5vh is invalid because there are no whitespaces before and after the - sign; the expression would be interpreted as 4px and a negative 5vh. To correct this, simply add spaces between them: 4px - 5vh.

3.) One of the values in a multiplication operation must be a <number> (or <integer>).

• 4px * 5em is invalid because all of the values are of length unit types.
• 4px * 5 is valid because the RHS value is a <number>.

N.B., the multiplication and division operators do not need whitespaces, unlike the addition and subtraction operators, e.g., 4*5px is valid. However, they are recommended for consistency.

4.) In the division operation, the RHS value must be a <number>.

• 4px / 5em is invalid because the RHS value (5em) is a length unit. 4px / 5 is valid because the RHS value (5) is a <number>.
• The unit type of its return value after an evaluation is determined by the LHS unit type. If the LHS unit type is and <integer>, then the return unit type is <number>.

5.) Any division that yields 0 is considered invalid.

• 4rem/0 yields 0, so it is invalid.

6.) The calc function supports a maximum of 20 terms.

• A term is <length>, <frequency>, <angle>, <time>, <percentage>, <number>, or <integer>. If this term number is exceeded, then the expression argument in the calc is invalid.

CSS variables and calc

CSS variables can be used in the calc expression arg. Note that CSS variables are used to store variables in selectors and use them anywhere in the styling with the var function.

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::root {
    --width: 500px;
    --height: 900px;
}

div.burger {
    width: calc(10% - var(--width));
    height:  calc(12% + var(--height));
}

We have CSS vars --width and --height declared in the root scope, which are then retrieved using the var(...) function inside the calc function.

div.burger width length will be calc(10% - 500px). The var(--width) in the calc(10% - var(--width)) statement will be replaced with 500px. The height of div.burger will be calc(12% + 900px).

Examples of calc usage

calc comes in handy quite often during development. Let’s see where we can use calc instead of margin to set a gap on a button’s left and right sides.

.btn {
    padding: 6px 12px;
    margin-bottom: 0;
    font-weight: 400;
    cursor: pointer;
    text-align: center;
    white-space: nowrap;
    display: inline-block;
    background-image: none;

    border-radius: 3px;
    box-shadow: none;
    border: 1px solid transparent;
}

.btn-block {
    width: calc(100% - 20px);
}

The .btn.block selector stretches the button across its parent container with a 20px gap between the left and right sides.

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