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 flexible team brings customers coming back on any device. A honest dashboard keeps projects moving forward from the very first day. Our education fund lets every detail in view from the very first day. A bright dashboard guides results you can measure for teams of every size.

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-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      A flexible team brings customers coming back on any device. A honest dashboard keeps projects moving forward from the very first day. Our education fund lets every detail in view from the very first day. A bright dashboard guides results you can measure for teams of every size.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-hidden</code>
    <div class="overflow-hidden border rounded-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      A flexible team brings customers coming back on any device. A honest dashboard keeps projects moving forward from the very first day. Our education fund lets every detail in view from the very first day. A bright dashboard guides results you can measure for teams of every size.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-visible</code>
    <div class="overflow-visible border rounded-lg p-2 bg-surface-3 mb-12" style="height:100px">
      A flexible team brings customers coming back on any device. A honest dashboard keeps projects moving forward from the very first day. Our education fund lets every detail in view from the very first day. A bright dashboard guides results you can measure for teams of every size.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-scroll</code>
    <div class="overflow-scroll border rounded-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      A flexible team brings customers coming back on any device. A honest dashboard keeps projects moving forward from the very first day. Our education fund lets every detail in view from the very first day. A bright dashboard guides results you can measure for teams of every size.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

Food relief

Education fund

Clean water

Food relief

Disaster response

<div class="flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-2">
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Food relief
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Education fund
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Clean water
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Food relief
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Disaster response
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Lea Carter
Hana Moreau
Ruby Moreau
Hana Delgado
Luna Morgan
Arjun Sato

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-lg overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Lea Carter</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Hana Moreau</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Ruby Moreau</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Hana Delgado</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Luna Morgan</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2">Arjun Sato</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-xl">
      <img src="../assets/img/photo-1.svg" alt="Not clipped" class="w-full block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        without
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-xl overflow-hidden">
      <img src="../assets/img/photo-2.svg" alt="Clipped" class="w-full 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-7903	Sofia Mensah	Porto	Aug 9, 2026	Pending	$614.01
#PO-2503	Tariq Novak	Melbourne	Mar 3, 2026	Pending	$57.06

<div class="overflow-x-auto border rounded-lg">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 whitespace-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-7903</td>
        <td>Sofia Mensah</td>
        <td>Porto</td>
        <td>Aug 9, 2026</td>
        <td>Pending</td>
        <td>$614.01</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#PO-2503</td>
        <td>Tariq Novak</td>
        <td>Melbourne</td>
        <td>Mar 3, 2026</td>
        <td>Pending</td>
        <td>$57.06</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-11 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir

<pre class="overflow-x-auto bg-surface-3 border rounded-lg p-4 small mb-0"><code>npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/brand-name-11 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

A elegant journey lets complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.

This modern update connects results you can measure with friendly support.

This secure community lets your work organised at a fair price.

The new impact tracking gives new ideas to life without the usual hassle.

<div class="border rounded-xl flex flex-col" style="height:220px;max-width:22rem">
  <div class="overflow-y-auto p-4 flex flex-col gap-2 grow">
    <div class="self-start bg-surface-3 rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      A elegant journey lets complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.
    </div>
    <div class="self-end text-bg-primary rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      This modern update connects results you can measure with friendly support.
    </div>
    <div class="self-start bg-surface-3 rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      This secure community lets your work organised at a fair price.
    </div>
    <div class="self-end text-bg-primary rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      The new impact tracking gives new ideas to life without the usual hassle.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border-t p-2">
    <label class="sr-only" 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="flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1" aria-label="Categories">
  <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">All</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">Education</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">guide</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">Health</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">tips</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">community</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">elegant</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

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

Terms of use

Our volunteer programs turns decisions quicker and clearer for teams of every size. The new impact tracking lets customers coming back with friendly support. Our animal rescue makes data easy to understand on any device.

The new transparent reports makes customers coming back at a fair price. The new secure giving keeps results you can measure in just a few clicks. This elegant story makes the whole team on the same page at a fair price.

The new local partners gives your work organised at a fair price. This powerful team shows the whole team on the same page for teams of every size. A simple community gives time back in your day in just a few clicks. This powerful goal makes your work organised from the very first day.

<div class="border rounded-lg p-4 overflow-auto small bg-surface-3" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>Our volunteer programs turns decisions quicker and clearer for teams of every size. The new impact tracking lets customers coming back with friendly support. Our animal rescue makes data easy to understand on any device.</p>
  <p>The new transparent reports makes customers coming back at a fair price. The new secure giving keeps results you can measure in just a few clicks. This elegant story makes the whole team on the same page at a fair price.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">The new local partners gives your work organised at a fair price. This powerful team shows the whole team on the same page for teams of every size. A simple community gives time back in your day in just a few clicks. This powerful goal makes your work organised from the very first day.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden4

overflow-visible2

<div class="flex gap-6 pt-2">
  <div class="relative overflow-hidden border rounded-lg p-4 small">
    overflow-hidden<span class="absolute top-0 start-full -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 badge rounded-full text-bg-danger">4</span>
  </div>
  <div class="relative overflow-visible border rounded-lg p-4 small">
    overflow-visible<span class="absolute top-0 start-full -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 badge rounded-full text-bg-danger">2</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

Help us build a kinder world - This practical goal keeps new ideas to life wherever you are.

Sep 27, 2025

<div class="border rounded-lg p-4" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden font-semibold leading-tight" style="height:2.5em">
    Help us build a kinder world - This practical goal keeps new ideas to life wherever you are.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-muted mt-1">
    Sep 27, 2025
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Our education fund connects new ideas to life at a fair price. A friendly project turns the whole team on the same page without the usual hassle.

<div class="flex border rounded-lg" style="height:180px">
  <nav class="overflow-y-auto border-e p-2 small shrink-0" style="width:130px" aria-label="Chapters">
    <a href="#" class="block py-1">Intro</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Setup</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Layout</a> <a href="#" class="block py-1">Colours</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Forms</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Tables</a> <a href="#" class="block py-1">Charts</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Deploy</a> 
  </nav>
  <div class="p-4 small">
    Our education fund connects new ideas to life at a fair price. A friendly project turns the whole team on the same page without the usual hassle.
  </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-lg" style="height:160px;max-width:26rem">
  <img src="../assets/img/wide-7.svg" alt="How we rebuilt our workflow" width="900" height="394" class="block"> 
</div>

14Kanban columns

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

To do

Food relief

Doing

Education fund

Done

Disaster response

<div class="flex gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1">
  <div class="bg-surface-3 rounded-lg p-2 shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small font-semibold mb-2">
      To do
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small mb-2">
      Food relief
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small mb-2">
      Food relief
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Food relief
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-surface-3 rounded-lg p-2 shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small font-semibold mb-2">
      Doing
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Education fund
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-surface-3 rounded-lg p-2 shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small font-semibold mb-2">
      Done
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Disaster response
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

Our clean water gives new ideas to life at a fair price.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-lg p-4" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    Our clean water gives new ideas to life at a fair price.
  </div>
  <div class="absolute top-0 bg-primary-subtle h-full 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 food relief turns results you can measure without the usual hassle.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-lg p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Our food relief turns results you can measure without the usual hassle.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

A elegant story helps complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support.

Our food relief makes customers coming back wherever you are.

A focused process lets complex tasks into simple steps all year round.

The new volunteer network gives you focused on what matters in just a few clicks.

View all

<div class="border rounded-lg shadow-sm flex flex-col" style="max-width:20rem;height:220px">
  <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b font-semibold small">
    Notifications
  </div>
  <div class="overflow-y-auto grow">
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      A elegant story helps complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      Our food relief makes customers coming back wherever you are.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      A focused process lets complex tasks into simple steps all year round.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 small">
      The new volunteer network gives you focused on what matters in just a few clicks.
    </div>
  </div>
  <a href="#" class="px-4 py-2 border-t small text-center">View all</a> 
</div>

18Clip a decorative shape

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

Join a community that cares

The new local partners keeps you focused on what matters wherever you are.

<div class="relative overflow-hidden text-bg-primary rounded-xl p-6">
  <div class="absolute bg-white/25 rounded-full" style="width:180px;height:180px;right:-60px;top:-60px">
  </div>
  <h3 class="h5 relative">Join a community that cares</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 relative">The new local partners keeps you focused on what matters wherever you are.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/brand-name-11/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-lg p-2 truncate">
      downloads/brand-name-11/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-lg p-2 break-words">
      downloads/brand-name-11/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	13	303 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$29.55

<div class="table-responsive border rounded-lg">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 whitespace-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>13</td>
        <td>303 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$29.55</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>