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-muted 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 font-semibold mb-1">Without .clearfix</p>
<div class="overflow-hidden pb-12">
<div class="hp-cf">
<div class="hp-fl float-start px-4 py-6">
Float
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-sm-6">
<p class="small font-semibold mb-1">With .clearfix</p>
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<div class="hp-fl float-start px-4 py-6">
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.
Operations Manager, Melbourne
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-3.svg" alt="Nadia Novak" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-full float-start me-4 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Nadia Novak</h3>
<p class="small text-muted mb-0">Operations Manager, Melbourne</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 font-semibold">Sponsorship</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Active</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
The new hands-on workshops connects every detail in view for teams of every size.
</div>
</div>A floated button group and a floated search field share one toolbar row.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix bg-surface-3">
<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="sr-only" 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">Workshop ticket</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$248.50</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Early bird pass</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$208.99</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Full access pass</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$281.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">VIP pass</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$32.00</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"Learn, connect and get inspired"
A clear team turns the whole team on the same page on any device. The new hands-on workshops connects results you can measure for teams of every size. Our networking app gives projects moving forward from the very first day. This smart update makes decisions quicker and clearer on any device.
A flexible workflow helps complex tasks into simple steps from the very first day.
<article class="hp-cf clearfix">
<blockquote class="hp-fl sm:float-end sm:ms-4 mb-2 p-4 text-base italic">"Learn, connect and get inspired"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">A clear team turns the whole team on the same page on any device. The new hands-on workshops connects results you can measure for teams of every size. Our networking app gives projects moving forward from the very first day. This smart update makes decisions quicker and clearer on any device.</p>
<p class="mb-0">A flexible workflow helps complex tasks into simple steps from the very first day.</p>
</article>
<h3 class="h6 mt-4 mb-0">Next section starts on a clean line</h3>A comment row with a floated avatar and a floated time stamp.
33 min ago
Felix Tanaka
Our sponsorship keeps every detail in view without extra tools.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-3.svg" alt="Felix Tanaka" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-full float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-muted">33 min ago</small> <strong class="block">Felix Tanaka</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">Our sponsorship keeps every detail in view without extra tools.</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 md:float-start p-4 mb-2 md:mb-0">
<i class="bi bi-clock-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i> Opening hours: 17:30
</div>
<div class="hp-fl md:float-end p-4">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i> Denver
</div>
</div>Copyright floated left and social links floated right in a page footer.
<footer class="hp-cf clearfix border-t pt-4 small">
<p class="float-start mb-0">© 2026 Brand name 20</p>
<ul class="list-inline float-end mb-0">
<li class="list-inline-item"><a href="#" aria-label="Email"><i class="bi bi-envelope-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li>
<li class="list-inline-item"><a href="#" aria-label="Chat"><i class="bi bi-chat-dots-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li>
<li class="list-inline-item"><a href="#" aria-label="Location"><i class="bi bi-geo-alt-fill" 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 | $317.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $22.19 |
| Total | $339.19 |
Thank you for your order #ORD-8052.
<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">$317.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$22.19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end font-bold">$339.19</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-muted mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #ORD-8052.</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-md"><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-md"><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-md"><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-md"><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-md"><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-md">
</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-4">
<label class="form-label" for="hp-name-1232">Display name</label>
<input class="form-control" id="hp-name-1232" type="text" value="Ravi Brennan">
</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-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#release</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#update</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#community</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#tips</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#guide</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#design</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
This bright dashboard turns customers coming back without extra tools.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix bg-page">
<span class="hp-fl float-start me-2 px-2 py-1 text-primary"><i class="bi bi-bell-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i></span> <small class="float-end text-muted">31 min ago</small>
<p class="small mb-0">This bright dashboard turns customers coming back without extra tools.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$29.08
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">$29.08</p>
<p class="small text-muted 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">Meetup</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-1/2 float-start pe-1">
<div class="hp-fl p-4">
<div class="small text-muted">
Visitors
</div>
<div class="text-xl font-semibold">
11.1k
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="w-1/2 float-start ps-1">
<div class="hp-fl p-4">
<div class="small text-muted">
Orders
</div>
<div class="text-xl font-semibold">
3.6k
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A product image floated to the end of a card body with the description flowing around it.
A friendly plan turns the whole team on the same page on any device.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/product-3.svg" alt="Early bird pass" width="110" height="110" class="hp-fl float-end ms-4 rounded-md">
<h3 class="h6">Workshop ticket</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">A friendly plan turns the whole team on the same page on any device.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
Our networking app turns your work organised without the usual hassle. The new world-class speakers helps results you can measure without extra tools. A modern team shows data easy to understand wherever you are. Our live streaming shows the whole team on the same page without extra tools.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<nav class="hp-fl sm:float-start sm:me-4 mb-2 p-2" aria-label="Section">
<ul class="nav flex-col 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">Workflow notes for attendees</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Our networking app turns your work organised without the usual hassle. The new world-class speakers helps results you can measure without extra tools. A modern team shows data easy to understand wherever you are. Our live streaming shows the whole team on the same page without extra tools.</p>
</div>
</div>