A clearfix makes a parent element wrap around its floated children again, so borders, backgrounds and the content that follows stay where you expect. The examples outline every parent with a dashed border and every floated box with a solid one, so you can see the helper at work.
The parent wraps a float-start and a float-end button, so its dashed border surrounds both.
Dashed border: the .clearfix parent. It keeps its height even though both children float.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary float-start">Back</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary float-end">Continue</button>
</div>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mt-2 mb-0">Dashed border: the .clearfix parent. It keeps its height even though both children float.</p>Side by side comparison: without the helper the parent collapses to its padding and the float hangs out.
Without .clearfix
With .clearfix
<div class="row g-3">
<div class="col-sm-6">
<p class="small fw-semibold mb-1">Without .clearfix</p>
<div class="overflow-hidden pb-5">
<div class="hp-cf">
<div class="hp-fl float-start px-3 py-4">
Float
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-sm-6">
<p class="small fw-semibold mb-1">With .clearfix</p>
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<div class="hp-fl float-start px-3 py-4">
Float
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A floated avatar beside a short bio; the clearfix stops the next block from sliding up next to the image.
Art Director, Valencia
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-2.svg" alt="Mia Ibrahim" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-circle float-start me-3 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Mia Ibrahim</h3>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mb-0">Art Director, Valencia</p>
</div>
<p class="small mt-2 mb-0">This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.</p>A title floated left and a status badge floated right inside a card header.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-header hp-cf clearfix">
<span class="hp-fl float-start px-2 fw-semibold">Workflow automation</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Approved</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
The new dark mode helps time back in your day from the very first day.
</div>
</div>A floated button group and a floated search field share one toolbar row.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix bg-body-tertiary">
<div class="btn-group btn-group-sm float-start" role="group" aria-label="Text style">
<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary"><i class="bi bi-type-bold" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary"><i class="bi bi-type-italic" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary"><i class="bi bi-type-underline" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
</div>
<form class="float-end" role="search">
<label class="visually-hidden" for="hp-search-1231">Search</label>
<input class="form-control form-control-sm" id="hp-search-1231" type="search" placeholder="Search">
</form>
</div>Each list item floats the name left and the price right; clearfix keeps every row its own height.
<ul class="list-group">
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Automation pack</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$277.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Analytics add-on</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$133.99</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Starter plan</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$193.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Team plan</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$54.50</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"Plan, build and launch in one place"
Our secure file sharing connects data easy to understand from the very first day. This smart routine gives decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools. The new dark mode guides decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.
This flexible dashboard lets your work organised wherever you are.
<article class="hp-cf clearfix">
<blockquote class="hp-fl float-sm-end ms-sm-3 mb-2 p-3 fs-6 fst-italic">"Plan, build and launch in one place"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">Our secure file sharing connects data easy to understand from the very first day. This smart routine gives decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools. The new dark mode guides decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.</p>
<p class="mb-0">This flexible dashboard lets your work organised wherever you are.</p>
</article>
<h3 class="h6 mt-3 mb-0">Next section starts on a clean line</h3>A comment row with a floated avatar and a floated time stamp.
3 days ago
Ella Sato
A bright routine makes every detail in view on any device.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-7.svg" alt="Ella Sato" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-circle float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-body-secondary">3 days ago</small> <strong class="d-block">Ella Sato</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">A bright routine makes every detail in view on any device.</p>
</div>float-md-start and float-md-end only float from the md breakpoint; below it the boxes stack.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<div class="hp-fl float-md-start p-3 mb-2 mb-md-0">
<i class="bi bi-clock" aria-hidden="true"></i> Opening hours: 20:00
</div>
<div class="hp-fl float-md-end p-3">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lisbon
</div>
</div>Copyright floated left and social links floated right in a page footer.
<footer class="hp-cf clearfix border-top pt-3 small">
<p class="float-start mb-0">© 2026 Brand name 8</p>
<ul class="list-inline float-end mb-0">
<li class="list-inline-item"><a href="#" aria-label="Email"><i class="bi bi-envelope" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li>
<li class="list-inline-item"><a href="#" aria-label="Chat"><i class="bi bi-chat-dots" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li>
<li class="list-inline-item"><a href="#" aria-label="Location"><i class="bi bi-geo-alt" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li>
</ul>
</footer>The totals table floats to the end of an invoice; clearfix keeps the signature line below it.
| Subtotal | $748.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $52.36 |
| Total | $800.36 |
Thank you for your order #TX-6731.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<table class="table table-sm hp-fl float-end w-auto mb-2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Subtotal</th>
<td class="text-end">$748.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$52.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end fw-bold">$800.36</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #TX-6731.</p>Several floated thumbnails wrap onto new lines; the gallery wrapper still has a real height.
Caption text sits under the gallery.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/square-3.svg" alt="Gallery photo 1" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded"><img src="../assets/img/square-4.svg" alt="Gallery photo 2" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded"><img src="../assets/img/square-5.svg" alt="Gallery photo 3" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded"><img src="../assets/img/square-6.svg" alt="Gallery photo 4" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded"><img src="../assets/img/square-7.svg" alt="Gallery photo 5" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded"><img src="../assets/img/square-8.svg" alt="Gallery photo 6" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded">
</div>
<p class="small mt-2 mb-0">Caption text sits under the gallery.</p>Buttons floated to the end of a settings form.
<form class="hp-cf clearfix">
<div class="mb-3">
<label class="form-label" for="hp-name-1232">Display name</label>
<input class="form-control" id="hp-name-1232" type="text" value="Ruby Kim">
</div>
<div class="float-end">
<button type="button" class="btn btn-light">Cancel</button>
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Save changes</button>
</div>
</form>Tags floated one after another; the clearfix parent grows with every wrapped line.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#update</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#news</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#guide</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#community</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#design</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#release</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
This friendly community gives time back in your day wherever you are.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix bg-body">
<span class="hp-fl float-start me-2 px-2 py-1 text-primary"><i class="bi bi-bell" aria-hidden="true"></i></span> <small class="float-end text-body-secondary">22 min ago</small>
<p class="small mb-0">This friendly community gives time back in your day wherever you are.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$21.49
per month
<div class="card" style="max-width:20rem">
<div class="card-body">
<div class="hp-cf clearfix mb-2">
<h3 class="h5 float-start mb-0">Pro plan</h3>
<span class="badge text-bg-warning float-end">Popular</span>
</div>
<p class="display-6 mb-0">$21.49</p>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mb-0">per month</p>
</div>
</div>A breadcrumb floated left and a button floated right above a page.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<nav class="float-start" aria-label="breadcrumb">
<ol class="breadcrumb mb-0 py-1">
<li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="#">Home</a></li>
<li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">Marketing</li>
</ol>
</nav>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-primary float-end"><i class="bi bi-plus-lg" aria-hidden="true"></i> New</button>
</div>Two floated tiles each half the width of the parent (w-50).
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<div class="w-50 float-start pe-1">
<div class="hp-fl p-3">
<div class="small text-body-secondary">
Visitors
</div>
<div class="fs-4 fw-semibold">
64.4k
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="w-50 float-start ps-1">
<div class="hp-fl p-3">
<div class="small text-body-secondary">
Orders
</div>
<div class="fs-4 fw-semibold">
578
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A product image floated to the end of a card body with the description flowing around it.
This bright team keeps projects moving forward wherever you are.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/product-3.svg" alt="Business plan" width="110" height="110" class="hp-fl float-end ms-3 rounded">
<h3 class="h6">Automation pack</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">This bright team keeps projects moving forward wherever you are.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
Our api integrations keeps complex tasks into simple steps for teams of every size. Our api integrations shows decisions quicker and clearer for teams of every size. Our api integrations keeps data easy to understand without extra tools. The new audit trail turns decisions quicker and clearer from the very first day.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<nav class="hp-fl float-sm-start me-sm-3 mb-2 p-2" aria-label="Section">
<ul class="nav flex-column small">
<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link active py-1" aria-current="page" href="#">Overview</a></li>
<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link py-1" href="#">Members</a></li>
<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link py-1" href="#">Billing</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
<div class="overflow-hidden">
<h3 class="h6">The powerful story checklist</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Our api integrations keeps complex tasks into simple steps for teams of every size. Our api integrations shows decisions quicker and clearer for teams of every size. Our api integrations keeps data easy to understand without extra tools. The new audit trail turns decisions quicker and clearer from the very first day.</p>
</div>
</div>