Masonry layout
==============

Limited availability
--------------------

This feature is not Baseline because it does not work in some of the most widely-used browsers.

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**Experimental:** **This is an experimental technology**  
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

Level 3 of the CSS grid layout specification includes a `masonry` value for `grid-template-columns` and `grid-template-rows`. 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 masonry layout. On the masonry axis, rather than sticking to a strict grid with gaps being left after shorter items, the items in the following row rise up to completely fill the gaps.

Creating a masonry layout
-------------------------

To create the most common masonry layout, your columns will be the grid axis and the rows the masonry axis. Define this layout with `grid-template-columns` and `grid-template-rows`:


```css
.container {
  display: grid;
  gap: 10px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(120px, 1fr));
  grid-template-rows: masonry;
}
```


The child elements of this container will now lay out item by item along the rows, as they would with regular grid layout automatic placement. However, as they move onto a new row the items will display according to the masonry algorithm. Items will load into the column with the most room causing a tightly packed layout without strict row tracks.

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

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.

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

Controlling the masonry axis
----------------------------

The masonry axis operates under different rules as it is following the masonry layout rules rather than normal grid auto-placement rules. To control this axis we have three additional properties defined in the Grid Level 3 specification `align-tracks`, `justify-tracks`, and `masonry-auto-flow`.

### masonry-auto-flow

The `masonry-auto-flow` property gives you a way to change how the masonry algorithm behaves. Give it a value of `next` and items will display in order on the grid axis, rather than going into whichever track has the most free space. The value `positioned` will ignore items with definite placement and place items in order-modified document order.

### align-tracks

The `align-tracks` property allows for the alignment of items in grid containers with masonry in their block axis. The property aligns the items within their track, much in the way flex layout works. The property takes the same values as `align-content`, however you can specify multiple values to have different alignment values per track on the grid axis.

If you specify more values than tracks the additional values are ignored. If there are more tracks than values any additional tracks will use the last specified value.

### justify-tracks

The `justify-tracks` property works in the same way as align-tracks, however it is used when the masonry axis is the inline axis.

Fallback
--------

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

Browser compatibility
---------------------

### css.properties.grid-template-columns.masonry

BCD tables only load in the browser with JavaScript enabled. Enable JavaScript to view data.

### css.properties.grid-template-rows.masonry

BCD tables only load in the browser with JavaScript enabled. Enable JavaScript to view data.

See also
--------

* Native CSS Masonry Layout In CSS Grid