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The CSS scale property independently scales a transformable element: use one value for uniform scaling, two for separate X and Y scales, or three to include Z. For example, scale: 1.25; enlarges an element to 1.25 times its size.

CSS scale syntax

The property accepts none or one to three number or percentage values:

/* Uniformly grow the element to 1.25 times its scale */
.card:hover {
  scale: 1.25;
}

/* Set horizontal and vertical scales independently */
.card--wide {
  scale: 1.4 0.8;
}

/* Set X, Y, and Z scales */
.panel-3d {
  scale: 1.2 1 0.9;
}

/* Explicitly apply no scale */
.reset {
  scale: none;
}

As the CSS Transforms Module Level 2 specifies, values correspond to axes in X, Y, then Z order. A single value applies the same factor to X and Y; with two values, the first controls X and the second Y. If Y is omitted, it defaults to X. If Z is omitted, it defaults to 1. A third value other than 1 (or 100%) expresses 3D scaling.

Numbers, percentages, and scale factors

Percentages are equivalent to numbers: 100% equals 1. Values above 1 (or 100%) enlarge; values between 0 and 1 shrink; and 1 (or 100%) leaves the scale unchanged. The initial value is none.

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When to use scale, transform: scale(), or zoom

Mechanism Use it when Layout and ordering
scale You want scaling as its own transform property, separate from a transform-function list. It changes visual rendering, not layout dimensions. Individual transforms are applied in the order translate, rotate, scale, then transform.
transform: scale() Scaling belongs in the transform function list or your code path uses that syntax. It changes visual rendering without recalculating layout. The function’s position in the transform list matters.
zoom You need zoom behavior that can affect page layout. Unlike scaling with scale or transform: scale(), zoom can affect layout.

The separate scale property is convenient when scale should be controlled independently from translation or rotation, but its ordering is defined rather than freely reorderable. Choose transform: scale() when the scale needs to participate in a particular transform-function list. In either scaling approach, visual enlargement does not make surrounding layout recalculate; content can overlap or extend beyond its container. The default transform origin is the center and can be changed with transform-origin. See MDN’s scale() reference for the transform function and its layout behavior.

Using the property in layouts and animations

scale applies to transformable elements, not every possible element type. Scaling changes rendered appearance rather than layout dimensions. Check nearby content for overlap, and account for overflow and stacking: applying the property creates a stacking context.

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The property animates as a transform, which makes it useful for hover or state changes. For motion effects, provide a way to turn the animation off and honor the user’s reduced-motion preference. For example:

.card {
  transition: scale 180ms ease;
}

.card:hover {
  scale: 1.04;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .card {
    transition: none;
  }

  .card:hover {
    scale: none;
  }
}

The reduced-motion example removes the scaling effect for users who request less motion. See MDN’s scale() guidance for animation accessibility recommendations.

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Browser support

MDN labels the scale property Baseline Widely available and reports cross-browser availability since August 2022. That milestone is not a guarantee that every browser implements every part of the latest standard. Check the MDN browser-compatibility table for the specific browsers and syntax your project must support, especially if you rely on 3D values.

ScreenshotNeo: an unrelated tool for capturing a CSS example

If you need an image or PDF of a rendered CSS example for documentation, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. It is not needed to use the CSS scale property.

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Or skip the browser setup

Make one GET request with a URL to capture a screenshot. For example, after publishing a page that demonstrates scaling, replace the sample URL with that page’s URL:

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for API options. It accepts cookie or consent banners and removes 60+ known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks and CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, with response headers identifying the page verdict and whether the request was billed. AI agents can take screenshots through its MCP server. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does scale: none do?

It explicitly applies no scale; none is also the property’s initial value.

Does scale resize the element’s space in the document?

No. It changes the rendered appearance rather than recalculating layout, so scaled content can overlap other content or extend beyond its container.

Does one scale value apply to both dimensions?

Yes. One value scales X and Y uniformly; two values specify X and Y independently.

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