How to get height of entire document with JavaScript?

Question

Some documents I can't get the height of the document (to position something absolutely at the very bottom). Additionally, a padding-bottom on seems to do nothing on these pages, but do on the pages where height will return. Case(s) in point:

http://fandango.com
http://paperbackswap.com

On Fandango
jQuery's $(document).height(); returns correct value
document.height returns 0
document.body.scrollHeight returns 0

On Paperback Swap:
jQuery's $(document).height(); TypeError: $(document) is null
document.height returns an incorrect value
document.body.scrollHeight returns an incorrect value

Note: I have browser level permissions, if there is some trick there.

Answer 1

Document sizes are a browser compatibility nightmare because, although all browsers expose clientHeight and scrollHeight properties, they don't all agree how the values are calculated.

There used to be a complex best-practice formula around for how you tested for correct height/width. This involved using document.documentElement properties if available or falling back on document properties and so on.

The simplest way to get correct height is to get all height values found on document, or documentElement, and use the highest one. This is basically what jQuery does:

var body = document.body,
    html = document.documentElement;

var height = Math.max( body.scrollHeight, body.offsetHeight, 
                       html.clientHeight, html.scrollHeight, html.offsetHeight );

A quick test with Firebug + jQuery bookmarklet returns the correct height for both cited pages, and so does the code example.

Note that testing the height of the document before the document is ready will always result in a 0. Also, if you load more stuff in, or the user resizes the window, you may need to re-test. Use onload or a document ready event if you need this at load time, otherwise just test whenever you need the number.