Over the past decade, all web browsers have been able to render the box model accurately, as long as they are not operating in compatibility or quirks mode. This requires having a valid doctype declaration at the beginning of the document, with anything preceding it causing Internet Explorer to enter quirks mode. Additionally, avoiding any illegal practices that trigger quirks mode is essential.
By ensuring your content is valid and includes a proper doctype declaration, you can expect consistent rendering across different browsers. However, there may still be discrepancies in default styles between browsers, making it beneficial to use an HTML reset file to standardize these styles. This helps ensure a level playing field where all browsers display content with the same default settings.