Get outer height
<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("div").width(300); alert($("div").outerHeight()); }); </script> <style> div{ width:200px; height:100px; overflow:auto; } h1 { width:1000px;height:1000px; } </style> </head> <body> <body> <div><h1>header 1</h1></div> </body> </html>