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.
QA Engineer, Porto
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-3.svg" alt="Ella Duarte" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-full float-start me-4 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Ella Duarte</h3>
<p class="small text-muted mb-0">QA Engineer, Porto</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">Brand identity</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Pending</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
A bright team helps the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks.
</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">Social kit</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$417.99</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Video edit</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$352.99</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Launch campaign</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$385.50</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Website package</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$391.50</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"We design brands people remember"
A modern dashboard brings complex tasks into simple steps in just a few clicks. Our campaign production brings decisions quicker and clearer from the very first day. This smart project gives you focused on what matters all year round. Our motion graphics gives new ideas to life without the usual hassle.
The new fixed-price projects makes decisions quicker and clearer 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">"We design brands people remember"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">A modern dashboard brings complex tasks into simple steps in just a few clicks. Our campaign production brings decisions quicker and clearer from the very first day. This smart project gives you focused on what matters all year round. Our motion graphics gives new ideas to life without the usual hassle.</p>
<p class="mb-0">The new fixed-price projects makes decisions quicker and clearer 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.
just now
Nadia Moreau
The new award-winning team keeps decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-1.svg" alt="Nadia Moreau" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-full float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-muted">just now</small> <strong class="block">Nadia Moreau</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">The new award-winning team keeps decisions quicker and clearer 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: 09:45
</div>
<div class="hp-fl md:float-end p-4">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i> Cape Town
</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 4</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 | $854.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $59.78 |
| Total | $913.78 |
Thank you for your order #TX-6683.
<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">$854.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$59.78</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end font-bold">$913.78</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-muted mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #TX-6683.</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="Felix Okafor">
</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">#update</span><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">#tips</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#tutorial</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">#community</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
The new senior designers only lets results you can measure without the usual hassle.
<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">5 days ago</small>
<p class="small mb-0">The new senior designers only lets results you can measure without the usual hassle.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$70.47
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">$70.47</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">Social</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">
74.5k
</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">
1.7k
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A product image floated to the end of a card body with the description flowing around it.
The new fast turnaround brings decisions quicker and clearer without the usual hassle.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/product-3.svg" alt="Website package" width="110" height="110" class="hp-fl float-end ms-4 rounded-md">
<h3 class="h6">Website package</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">The new fast turnaround brings decisions quicker and clearer without the usual hassle.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
Our content strategy gives data easy to understand on any device. Our web design shows data easy to understand with friendly support. This flexible goal turns your work organised with friendly support.
<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">A guide to brand identity</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Our content strategy gives data easy to understand on any device. Our web design shows data easy to understand with friendly support. This flexible goal turns your work organised with friendly support.</p>
</div>
</div>