Overflow

Overflow utilities control what happens when content is bigger than its box: overflow-auto scrolls when needed, overflow-hidden clips, overflow-visible lets content spill and overflow-scroll always shows scrollbars. overflow-x-* and overflow-y-* handle each axis separately, ideal for wide tables and side-scrolling rows.

1The four overflow values

overflow-auto, overflow-hidden, overflow-visible and overflow-scroll on boxes of fixed height.

overflow-auto

A powerful idea makes the whole team on the same page all year round. A powerful journey keeps data easy to understand with friendly support. A calm release guides projects moving forward with friendly support. A calm community lets your work organised wherever you are.

overflow-hidden

overflow-visible

overflow-scroll

<div class="row g-3 small">
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-auto</code>
    <div class="overflow-auto border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      A powerful idea makes the whole team on the same page all year round. A powerful journey keeps data easy to understand with friendly support. A calm release guides projects moving forward with friendly support. A calm community lets your work organised wherever you are.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-hidden</code>
    <div class="overflow-hidden border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      A powerful idea makes the whole team on the same page all year round. A powerful journey keeps data easy to understand with friendly support. A calm release guides projects moving forward with friendly support. A calm community lets your work organised wherever you are.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-visible</code>
    <div class="overflow-visible border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary mb-5" style="height:100px">
      A powerful idea makes the whole team on the same page all year round. A powerful journey keeps data easy to understand with friendly support. A calm release guides projects moving forward with friendly support. A calm community lets your work organised wherever you are.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-scroll</code>
    <div class="overflow-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      A powerful idea makes the whole team on the same page all year round. A powerful journey keeps data easy to understand with friendly support. A calm release guides projects moving forward with friendly support. A calm community lets your work organised wherever you are.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

overflow-x-auto with flex-nowrap scrolls a row of cards sideways.

Car rental

Hotel booking

Airport transfers

Holiday packages

Travel insurance

<div class="d-flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-2">
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Car rental
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Hotel booking
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Airport transfers
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Holiday packages
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Travel insurance
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

overflow-y-auto and a max-height make a scrolling list.

Luna Varga
Ruby Larsen
Ethan Larsen
Ella Lindqvist
Arjun Silva
Kenji Okafor

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Luna Varga</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ruby Larsen</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ethan Larsen</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ella Lindqvist</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Arjun Silva</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Kenji Okafor</li>
</ul>

4Hidden to clip rounded corners

overflow-hidden on a rounded card clips the image corners.

without

overflow-hidden

<div class="row g-3">
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-4">
      <img src="../assets/img/photo-1.svg" alt="Not clipped" class="w-100 d-block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        without
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-4 overflow-hidden">
      <img src="../assets/img/photo-2.svg" alt="Clipped" class="w-100 d-block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        overflow-hidden
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

5Wide table

A wide table inside overflow-x-auto scrolls instead of breaking the page.

Order	Customer	City	Date	Status	Total
#PO-1052	Finn Varga	Singapore	Feb 4, 2026	Completed	$213.84
#ORD-6853	Chloe Rossi	Oslo	Jan 11, 2026	Active	$246.34

<div class="overflow-x-auto border rounded-3">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 text-nowrap">
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th scope="col">Order</th>
        <th scope="col">Customer</th>
        <th scope="col">City</th>
        <th scope="col">Date</th>
        <th scope="col">Status</th>
        <th scope="col">Total</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>#PO-1052</td>
        <td>Finn Varga</td>
        <td>Singapore</td>
        <td>Feb 4, 2026</td>
        <td>Completed</td>
        <td>$213.84</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#ORD-6853</td>
        <td>Chloe Rossi</td>
        <td>Oslo</td>
        <td>Jan 11, 2026</td>
        <td>Active</td>
        <td>$246.34</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

6Code block that scrolls

Long lines in a pre with overflow-x-auto stay on one line.

npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/brand-name-14 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir

<pre class="overflow-x-auto bg-body-tertiary border rounded-3 p-3 small mb-0"><code>npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/brand-name-14 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

A fixed height message area with overflow-y-auto above a fixed input.

This smart launch lets results you can measure with friendly support.

Our guided tours shows results you can measure from the very first day.

This smart community connects data easy to understand all year round.

The new best price guarantee brings complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.

<div class="border rounded-4 d-flex flex-column" style="height:220px;max-width:22rem">
  <div class="overflow-y-auto p-3 d-flex flex-column gap-2 flex-grow-1">
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      This smart launch lets results you can measure with friendly support.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Our guided tours shows results you can measure from the very first day.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      This smart community connects data easy to understand all year round.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      The new best price guarantee brings complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border-top p-2">
    <label class="visually-hidden" for="ut-msg-1253">Message</label>
    <input id="ut-msg-1253" type="text" class="form-control form-control-sm" placeholder="Type a message">
  </div>
</div>

8Scrollable tab strip

Pills in a flex-nowrap row with overflow-x-auto for many categories.

<nav class="d-flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1" aria-label="Categories">
  <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-pill text-nowrap">All</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">City</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">news</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Beach</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">insights</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">dashboard</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">clear</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

A long text inside a bordered box with overflow-auto, like a licence agreement.

Terms of use

This modern process lets results you can measure from the very first day. Our guided tours turns the whole team on the same page with friendly support. A friendly goal connects data easy to understand wherever you are. The new 24/7 assistance connects the whole team on the same page at a fair price.

A reliable update helps the whole team on the same page on any device. The new best price guarantee shows the whole team on the same page from the very first day. The new best price guarantee makes time back in your day for teams of every size.

A friendly journey gives customers coming back all year round. This fast workflow connects time back in your day on any device. Our hotel booking lets projects moving forward for teams of every size. This focused workflow makes projects moving forward all year round.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>This modern process lets results you can measure from the very first day. Our guided tours turns the whole team on the same page with friendly support. A friendly goal connects data easy to understand wherever you are. The new 24/7 assistance connects the whole team on the same page at a fair price.</p>
  <p>A reliable update helps the whole team on the same page on any device. The new best price guarantee shows the whole team on the same page from the very first day. The new best price guarantee makes time back in your day for teams of every size.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">A friendly journey gives customers coming back all year round. This fast workflow connects time back in your day on any device. Our hotel booking lets projects moving forward for teams of every size. This focused workflow makes projects moving forward all year round.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

overflow-visible lets a badge stick out of a box that would otherwise clip it.

overflow-hidden5

overflow-visible4

<div class="d-flex gap-4 pt-2">
  <div class="position-relative overflow-hidden border rounded-3 p-3 small">
    overflow-hidden<span class="position-absolute top-0 start-100 translate-middle badge rounded-pill text-bg-danger">5</span>
  </div>
  <div class="position-relative overflow-visible border rounded-3 p-3 small">
    overflow-visible<span class="position-absolute top-0 start-100 translate-middle badge rounded-pill text-bg-danger">4</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

overflow-hidden with a fixed height clips long text to two lines worth of space.

Explore more, worry less - This flexible workflow makes complex tasks into simple steps wherever you are.

Nov 3, 2025

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden fw-semibold lh-sm" style="height:2.5em">
    Explore more, worry less - This flexible workflow makes complex tasks into simple steps wherever you are.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Nov 3, 2025
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

The nav column scrolls with overflow-y-auto while the content stays put.

The new curated stays turns time back in your day without extra tools. Our car rental shows projects moving forward on any device.

<div class="d-flex border rounded-3" style="height:180px">
  <nav class="overflow-y-auto border-end p-2 small flex-shrink-0" style="width:130px" aria-label="Chapters">
    <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Intro</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Setup</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Layout</a> <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Colours</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Forms</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Tables</a> <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Charts</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Deploy</a> 
  </nav>
  <div class="p-3 small">
    The new curated stays turns time back in your day without extra tools. Our car rental shows projects moving forward on any device.
  </div>
</div>

13Image pan area

A large image in an overflow-auto box can be scrolled in both directions.

<div class="overflow-auto border rounded-3" style="height:160px;max-width:26rem">
  <img src="../assets/img/wide-6.svg" alt="What&#39;s new in city" width="900" height="394" class="d-block"> 
</div>

14Kanban columns

Columns side by side in overflow-x-auto, each column scrolls with overflow-y-auto.

To do

Holiday packages

Airport transfers

Car rental

Doing

Travel insurance

Done

Car rental

<div class="d-flex gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1">
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      To do
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Holiday packages
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Airport transfers
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Car rental
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      Doing
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Travel insurance
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      Done
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Car rental
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

overflow-x-hidden hides content that slides in from the side, like an off-screen panel.

A clear workflow makes every detail in view without extra tools.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    A clear workflow makes every detail in view without extra tools.
  </div>
  <div class="position-absolute top-0 bg-primary-subtle h-100 p-2 small" style="left:90%;width:200px">
    Panel partly off the edge
  </div>
</div>

16Overflow-y scroll always

overflow-y-scroll always shows the vertical scrollbar, so the width never jumps.

Our hotel booking makes you focused on what matters without the usual hassle.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Our hotel booking makes you focused on what matters without the usual hassle.
</div>

17Notification panel

A dropdown-like panel with header, scrolling body and footer.

Notifications

Our holiday packages gives you focused on what matters without the usual hassle.

Our car rental keeps you focused on what matters with friendly support.

Our travel insurance keeps time back in your day with friendly support.

A calm release brings new ideas to life from the very first day.

View all

<div class="border rounded-3 shadow-sm d-flex flex-column" style="max-width:20rem;height:220px">
  <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom fw-semibold small">
    Notifications
  </div>
  <div class="overflow-y-auto flex-grow-1">
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Our holiday packages gives you focused on what matters without the usual hassle.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Our car rental keeps you focused on what matters with friendly support.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Our travel insurance keeps time back in your day with friendly support.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      A calm release brings new ideas to life from the very first day.
    </div>
  </div>
  <a href="#" class="px-3 py-2 border-top small text-center">View all</a> 
</div>

18Clip a decorative shape

A big circle partly outside its panel is cut off by overflow-hidden.

Trips designed around you

The new 24/7 assistance helps decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.

<div class="position-relative overflow-hidden text-bg-primary rounded-4 p-4">
  <div class="position-absolute bg-white bg-opacity-25 rounded-circle" style="width:180px;height:180px;right:-60px;top:-60px">
  </div>
  <h3 class="h5 position-relative">Trips designed around you</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">The new 24/7 assistance helps decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

overflow-hidden plus text-truncate versus text-break for an unbreakable string.

downloads/brand-name-14/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip

<div class="row g-2 small">
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-3 p-2 text-truncate">
      downloads/brand-name-14/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-3 p-2 text-break">
      downloads/brand-name-14/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

20Responsive table wrapper

table-responsive is the helper made of overflow-x-auto for tables.

Plan	Users	Storage	Support	API	Price
Pro	9	158 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$90.07

<div class="table-responsive border rounded-3">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 text-nowrap">
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th scope="col">Plan</th>
        <th scope="col">Users</th>
        <th scope="col">Storage</th>
        <th scope="col">Support</th>
        <th scope="col">API</th>
        <th scope="col">Price</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>Pro</td>
        <td>9</td>
        <td>158 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$90.07</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>