Column Layout with variable height DIVs - 3-column example

Example of a multi-column DIV layout that will float left to right but also allow variable-height DIVs.

HTML

MUCH BETTER!
<div id="tbl1" class="wrapping-divs">
    <div>1</div>
    <div></div> 
    <div>2</div>   
</div>

<div id="tbl2" class="wrapping-divs">
    <div>1</div>
    <div>2</div>   
    <div>3</div>  
</div>

CSS

div > div {
    background-color: lightgray;
    width: 33%;
    float: left;
    border: 1px solid white;
    box-sizing: border-box;
    height: auto;
    text-align: center;
}
/* Add some variable height items */
div > div:nth-child(1n+2) {
    background-color: red;
    height: a;
}
div.wrapping-divs > div:nth-child(3n+1) {
    clear: left;
}