padding depends on the parent's width, not height.

Box1 : width:300px;height:150px;
Box2 : padding:10%;

parent box's width changes the padding(10%) of child box
Box1 : width:600px;height:150px;
Box2 : padding:10%;



parent box's height will not change the padding(10%) of child box
Box1 : width:300px;height:300px;
Box2 : padding:10%;