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

The new award-winning team makes complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support. This secure workflow gives customers coming back at a fair price. The new weekly demos makes you focused on what matters for teams of every size. The new fast turnaround guides projects moving forward 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-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      The new award-winning team makes complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support. This secure workflow gives customers coming back at a fair price. The new weekly demos makes you focused on what matters for teams of every size. The new fast turnaround guides projects moving forward wherever you are.
    </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">
      The new award-winning team makes complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support. This secure workflow gives customers coming back at a fair price. The new weekly demos makes you focused on what matters for teams of every size. The new fast turnaround guides projects moving forward wherever you are.
    </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">
      The new award-winning team makes complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support. This secure workflow gives customers coming back at a fair price. The new weekly demos makes you focused on what matters for teams of every size. The new fast turnaround guides projects moving forward wherever you are.
    </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">
      The new award-winning team makes complex tasks into simple steps with friendly support. This secure workflow gives customers coming back at a fair price. The new weekly demos makes you focused on what matters for teams of every size. The new fast turnaround guides projects moving forward wherever you are.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

UX research

Brand identity

Campaign production

Content strategy

<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">
      UX research
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Brand identity
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Campaign production
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Campaign production
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Content strategy
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Ruby Carter
Priya Okafor
Ravi Mensah
Owen Ibrahim
Felix Whitaker
Mason Tanaka

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-lg overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Ruby Carter</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Priya Okafor</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Ravi Mensah</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Owen Ibrahim</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Felix Whitaker</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2">Mason Tanaka</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
#TX-6552	Finn Ibrahim	Melbourne	Aug 26, 2026	Pending	$121.32
#TX-4239	Lea Nguyen	Porto	Sep 14, 2026	Overdue	$680.35

<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>#TX-6552</td>
        <td>Finn Ibrahim</td>
        <td>Melbourne</td>
        <td>Aug 26, 2026</td>
        <td>Pending</td>
        <td>$121.32</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#TX-4239</td>
        <td>Lea Nguyen</td>
        <td>Porto</td>
        <td>Sep 14, 2026</td>
        <td>Overdue</td>
        <td>$680.35</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-4 --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-4 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

A smart journey makes decisions quicker and clearer at a fair price.

Our content strategy brings decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.

Our ux research turns you focused on what matters on any device.

The new fast turnaround shows data easy to understand from the very first day.

<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 smart journey makes decisions quicker and clearer at a fair price.
    </div>
    <div class="self-end text-bg-primary rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      Our content strategy brings decisions quicker and clearer without extra tools.
    </div>
    <div class="self-start bg-surface-3 rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      Our ux research turns you focused on what matters on any device.
    </div>
    <div class="self-end text-bg-primary rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      The new fast turnaround shows data easy to understand from the very first day.
    </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">Web</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">tutorial</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">Motion</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">product</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">goal</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

The new fast turnaround turns projects moving forward from the very first day. This powerful experience makes customers coming back at a fair price. The new fast turnaround connects time back in your day for teams of every size. The new global clients connects the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks.

The new senior designers only keeps the whole team on the same page without the usual hassle. A calm idea guides time back in your day for teams of every size. This modern routine makes complex tasks into simple steps wherever you are.

A elegant release lets projects moving forward wherever you are. The new fast turnaround turns projects moving forward with friendly support. A focused dashboard turns projects moving forward on any device.

<div class="border rounded-lg p-4 overflow-auto small bg-surface-3" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>The new fast turnaround turns projects moving forward from the very first day. This powerful experience makes customers coming back at a fair price. The new fast turnaround connects time back in your day for teams of every size. The new global clients connects the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks.</p>
  <p>The new senior designers only keeps the whole team on the same page without the usual hassle. A calm idea guides time back in your day for teams of every size. This modern routine makes complex tasks into simple steps wherever you are.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">A elegant release lets projects moving forward wherever you are. The new fast turnaround turns projects moving forward with friendly support. A focused dashboard turns projects moving forward on any device.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden9

overflow-visible9

<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">9</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">9</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

We design brands people remember - The new award-winning team lets new ideas to life wherever you are.

Oct 8, 2025

<div class="border rounded-lg p-4" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden font-semibold leading-tight" style="height:2.5em">
    We design brands people remember - The new award-winning team lets new ideas to life wherever you are.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-muted mt-1">
    Oct 8, 2025
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

The new fast turnaround helps you focused on what matters wherever you are. A smart plan lets your work organised wherever you are.

<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">
    The new fast turnaround helps you focused on what matters wherever you are. A smart plan lets your work organised wherever you are.
  </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-11.svg" alt="What&#39;s new in motion" 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

Web design

Campaign production

Doing

UX research

Done

UX research

<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">
      Web design
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small mb-2">
      Campaign production
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Campaign production
    </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">
      UX research
    </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">
      UX research
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

The new award-winning team gives complex tasks into simple steps from the very first day.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-lg p-4" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    The new award-winning team gives complex tasks into simple steps from the very first day.
  </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.

This flexible release lets time back in your day wherever you are.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-lg p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  This flexible release lets time back in your day wherever you are.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

A fast release turns complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.

A secure experience turns decisions quicker and clearer on any device.

This flexible plan brings decisions quicker and clearer wherever you are.

The new global clients makes new ideas to life without extra tools.

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 fast release turns complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      A secure experience turns decisions quicker and clearer on any device.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      This flexible plan brings decisions quicker and clearer wherever you are.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 small">
      The new global clients makes new ideas to life without extra tools.
    </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.

We design brands people remember

Our web design gives complex tasks into simple steps for teams of every size.

<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">We design brands people remember</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 relative">Our web design gives complex tasks into simple steps for teams of every size.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/brand-name-4/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-4/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-4/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	22	441 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$74.30

<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>22</td>
        <td>441 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$74.30</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>