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.
Product Designer, Kyoto
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-9.svg" alt="Felix Hughes" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-circle float-start me-3 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Felix Hughes</h3>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mb-0">Product Designer, Kyoto</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">Invoicing</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Overdue</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
A smart routine helps the whole team on the same page without the usual hassle.
</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">FX transfer</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$283.50</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Payroll module</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$96.50</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Pro account</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$286.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Virtual card</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$313.99</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"Money management made simple"
The new spending limits lets time back in your day from the very first day. The new no hidden fees makes time back in your day without the usual hassle. Our invoicing guides results you can measure without extra tools. A focused dashboard keeps new ideas to life without extra tools.
This honest process brings the whole team on the same page from the very first day.
<article class="hp-cf clearfix">
<blockquote class="hp-fl float-sm-end ms-sm-3 mb-2 p-3 fs-6 fst-italic">"Money management made simple"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">The new spending limits lets time back in your day from the very first day. The new no hidden fees makes time back in your day without the usual hassle. Our invoicing guides results you can measure without extra tools. A focused dashboard keeps new ideas to life without extra tools.</p>
<p class="mb-0">This honest process brings the whole team on the same page from the very first day.</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.
4 hours ago
Ella Ibrahim
The new spending limits gives decisions quicker and clearer with friendly support.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-4.svg" alt="Ella Ibrahim" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-circle float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-body-secondary">4 hours ago</small> <strong class="d-block">Ella Ibrahim</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">The new spending limits gives decisions quicker and clearer with friendly support.</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: 11:45
</div>
<div class="hp-fl float-md-end p-3">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt" aria-hidden="true"></i> Edinburgh
</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 13</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 | $563.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $39.41 |
| Total | $602.41 |
Thank you for your order #ORD-5508.
<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">$563.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$39.41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end fw-bold">$602.41</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #ORD-5508.</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="Ava Mensah">
</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">#design</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">#release</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#tips</span><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">#tutorial</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
This smart launch shows results you can measure without the usual hassle.
<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">just now</small>
<p class="small mb-0">This smart launch shows results you can measure without the usual hassle.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$33.99
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">$33.99</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">Payments</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">
21.7k
</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">
2.1k
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A product image floated to the end of a card body with the description flowing around it.
A focused plan gives you focused on what matters without extra tools.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/product-3.svg" alt="Basic account" width="110" height="110" class="hp-fl float-end ms-3 rounded">
<h3 class="h6">Pro account</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">A focused plan gives you focused on what matters without extra tools.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
A practical dashboard keeps time back in your day in just a few clicks. The new bank-grade encryption brings time back in your day in just a few clicks. A flexible team turns results you can measure all year round.
<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">Project notes for members</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">A practical dashboard keeps time back in your day in just a few clicks. The new bank-grade encryption brings time back in your day in just a few clicks. A flexible team turns results you can measure all year round.</p>
</div>
</div>