diff --git a/examples/lib/solid_color_box.dart b/examples/lib/solid_color_box.dart
index ae008e39316..9c650ce3967 100644
--- a/examples/lib/solid_color_box.dart
+++ b/examples/lib/solid_color_box.dart
@@ -13,8 +13,20 @@ class RenderSolidColorBox extends RenderDecoratedBox {
       : backgroundColor = backgroundColor,
         super(decoration: new BoxDecoration(backgroundColor: backgroundColor));
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    return constraints.constrain(desiredSize);
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(desiredSize.width);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(desiredSize.width);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(desiredSize.height);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(desiredSize.height);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
diff --git a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/block.dart b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/block.dart
index b56856073ff..cb9a5396ecd 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/block.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/block.dart
@@ -25,25 +25,51 @@ class RenderBlock extends RenderBox with ContainerRenderObjectMixin<RenderBox, B
       child.parentData = new BlockParentData();
   }
 
-  // override this to report what dimensions you would have if you
-  // were laid out with the given constraints this can walk the tree
-  // if it must, but it should be as cheap as possible; just get the
-  // dimensions and nothing else (e.g. don't calculate hypothetical
-  // child positions if they're not needed to determine dimensions)
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    double height = 0.0;
-    double width = constraints.constrainWidth(constraints.maxWidth);
-    assert(width < double.INFINITY);
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    double width = 0.0;
+    BoxConstraints innerConstraints = new BoxConstraints(
+        minWidth: constraints.minWidth, maxWidth: constraints.maxWidth);
     RenderBox child = firstChild;
-    BoxConstraints innerConstraints = new BoxConstraints(minWidth: width,
-                                                         maxWidth: width);
     while (child != null) {
-      height += child.getIntrinsicDimensions(innerConstraints).height;
-      assert(child.parentData is BlockParentData);
+      width = math.max(width, child.getMinIntrinsicWidth(innerConstraints));
       child = child.parentData.nextSibling;
     }
+    return width;
+  }
 
-    return new Size(width, constraints.constrainHeight(height));
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    double width = 0.0;
+    BoxConstraints innerConstraints = new BoxConstraints(
+        minWidth: constraints.minWidth, maxWidth: constraints.maxWidth);
+    RenderBox child = firstChild;
+    while (child != null) {
+      width = math.max(width, child.getMaxIntrinsicWidth(innerConstraints));
+      child = child.parentData.nextSibling;
+    }
+    return width;
+  }
+
+  double _getIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    double height = 0.0;
+    double width = constraints.constrainWidth(constraints.maxWidth);
+    BoxConstraints innerConstraints = new BoxConstraints(minWidth: width,
+                                                         maxWidth: width);
+    RenderBox child = firstChild;
+    while (child != null) {
+      double childHeight = child.getMinIntrinsicHeight(innerConstraints);
+      assert(childHeight == child.getMaxIntrinsicHeight(innerConstraints));
+      height += childHeight;
+      child = child.parentData.nextSibling;
+    }
+    return height;
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return _getIntrinsicHeight(constraints);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return _getIntrinsicHeight(constraints);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
diff --git a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/box.dart b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/box.dart
index f40d2bc6e0b..42d0c3f18a6 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/box.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/box.dart
@@ -127,13 +127,31 @@ abstract class RenderBox extends RenderObject {
       child.parentData = new BoxParentData();
   }
 
-  // override this to report what dimensions you would have if you
-  // were laid out with the given constraints this can walk the tree
-  // if it must, but it should be as cheap as possible; just get the
-  // dimensions and nothing else (e.g. don't calculate hypothetical
-  // child positions if they're not needed to determine dimensions)
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    return constraints.constrain(Size.zero);
+  // getMinIntrinsicWidth() should return the minimum width that this box could 
+  // be without failing to render its contents within itself.
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // getMaxIntrinsicWidth() should return the smallest width beyond which 
+  // increasing the width never decreases the height.
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // getMinIntrinsicHeight() should return the minimum height that this box could 
+  // be without failing to render its contents within itself.
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // getMaxIntrinsicHeight should return the smallest height beyond which
+  // increasing the height never decreases the width.
+  // If the layout algorithm used is width-in-height-out, i.e. the height
+  // depends on the width and not vice versa, then this will return the same
+  // as getMinIntrinsicHeight().
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
   }
 
   BoxConstraints get constraints => super.constraints as BoxConstraints;
@@ -167,10 +185,28 @@ abstract class RenderProxyBox extends RenderBox with RenderObjectWithChildMixin<
     this.child = child;
   }
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
     if (child != null)
-      return child.getIntrinsicDimensions(constraints);
-    return super.getIntrinsicDimensions(constraints);
+      return child.getMinIntrinsicWidth(constraints);
+    return super.getMinIntrinsicWidth(constraints);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMaxIntrinsicWidth(constraints);
+    return super.getMaxIntrinsicWidth(constraints);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMinIntrinsicHeight(constraints);
+    return super.getMinIntrinsicHeight(constraints);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMaxIntrinsicHeight(constraints);
+    return super.getMaxIntrinsicHeight(constraints);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
@@ -214,8 +250,20 @@ class RenderSizedBox extends RenderProxyBox {
     markNeedsLayout();
   }
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    return constraints.constrain(_desiredSize);
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(_desiredSize.width);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(_desiredSize.width);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(_desiredSize.height);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(_desiredSize.height);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
@@ -245,10 +293,28 @@ class RenderConstrainedBox extends RenderProxyBox {
     markNeedsLayout();
   }
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    if (child == null)
-      return constraints.constrain(Size.zero);
-    return child.getIntrinsicDimensions(constraints.apply(_additionalConstraints));
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMinIntrinsicWidth(constraints.apply(_additionalConstraints));
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMaxIntrinsicWidth(constraints.apply(_additionalConstraints));
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMinIntrinsicHeight(constraints.apply(_additionalConstraints));
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMaxIntrinsicHeight(constraints.apply(_additionalConstraints));
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
@@ -294,12 +360,28 @@ class RenderPadding extends RenderBox with RenderObjectWithChildMixin<RenderBox>
     markNeedsLayout();
   }
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    assert(padding != null);
-    constraints = constraints.deflate(padding);
-    if (child == null)
-      return super.getIntrinsicDimensions(constraints);
-    return child.getIntrinsicDimensions(constraints);
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMinIntrinsicWidth(constraints.deflate(padding));
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(padding.left + padding.right);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMaxIntrinsicWidth(constraints.deflate(padding));
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(padding.left + padding.right);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMinIntrinsicHeight(constraints.deflate(padding));
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(padding.top + padding.bottom);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    if (child != null)
+      return child.getMaxIntrinsicHeight(constraints.deflate(padding));
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(padding.top + padding.bottom);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
diff --git a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/flex.dart b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/flex.dart
index 0f5dc51072f..ae695ca6261 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/flex.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/flex.dart
@@ -57,6 +57,30 @@ class RenderFlex extends RenderBox with ContainerRenderObjectMixin<RenderBox, Fl
       child.parentData = new FlexBoxParentData();
   }
 
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderFlex
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderFlex
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderFlex
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderFlex
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
+  }
+
   bool get sizedByParent => true;
   void performResize() {
     size = constraints.constrain(new Size(constraints.maxWidth, constraints.maxHeight));
diff --git a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/paragraph.dart b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/paragraph.dart
index 911ad15ed0b..58ad8915d45 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/paragraph.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/paragraph.dart
@@ -40,10 +40,28 @@ class RenderParagraph extends RenderBox {
     }
   }
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderParagraph
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
     assert(false);
-    return null;
-    // we don't currently support this for RenderParagraph
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderParagraph
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderParagraph
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
+  }
+
+  // We don't currently support this for RenderParagraph
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    assert(false);
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(0.0);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
diff --git a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/stack.dart b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/stack.dart
index 7656ea1c702..466968b3298 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/stack.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/framework/rendering/stack.dart
@@ -21,8 +21,20 @@ class RenderStack extends RenderBox with ContainerRenderObjectMixin<RenderBox, S
       child.parentData = new StackParentData();
   }
 
-  Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    return constraints.constrain(Size.infinite);
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(double.INFINITY);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(double.INFINITY);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(double.INFINITY);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(double.INFINITY);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {
diff --git a/tests/raw/render_flex.dart b/tests/raw/render_flex.dart
index 85be7951323..29adc86583c 100644
--- a/tests/raw/render_flex.dart
+++ b/tests/raw/render_flex.dart
@@ -20,8 +20,20 @@ class RenderSolidColor extends RenderDecoratedBox {
         super(decoration: new BoxDecoration(backgroundColor: backgroundColor)) {
   }
 
-  sky.Size getIntrinsicDimensions(BoxConstraints constraints) {
-    return constraints.constrain(desiredSize);
+  double getMinIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(desiredSize.width);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicWidth(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainWidth(desiredSize.width);
+  }
+
+  double getMinIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(desiredSize.height);
+  }
+
+  double getMaxIntrinsicHeight(BoxConstraints constraints) {
+    return constraints.constrainHeight(desiredSize.height);
   }
 
   void performLayout() {