andrewbranch

(function($) {

    function getTextWidth($element) {
        var tester = $("<div/>").text($element.text())
			.css({ "position": "absolute", "float": "left", "white-space": "nowrap", "visibility": "hidden", "font": $element.css("font"), "text-transform": $element.css("text-transform"), "letter-spacing": $element.css("letter-spacing") })
			.appendTo($element.parent()),
			width = tester.innerWidth();
        tester.remove();
        return width;
    }