Set width with function
<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("div").css("width",function() { return $(this).width() + 20 + "px"; }); }); </script> <style> div { margin:3px; width:50px; position:absolute; height:50px; left:10px; top:30px; background-color:yellow; } div.red { background-color:red; } </style> </head> <body> <body> <div id="testSubject"> </div> <div id="display"></div> </body> </html>