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

Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes. Our annual report is independently audited and published in full. Leave a gift in your will and help future generations. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to the projects you support.

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-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes. Our annual report is independently audited and published in full. Leave a gift in your will and help future generations. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to the projects you support.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-hidden</code>
    <div class="overflow-hidden border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes. Our annual report is independently audited and published in full. Leave a gift in your will and help future generations. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to the projects you support.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-visible</code>
    <div class="overflow-visible border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary mb-5" style="height:100px">
      Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes. Our annual report is independently audited and published in full. Leave a gift in your will and help future generations. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to the projects you support.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-scroll</code>
    <div class="overflow-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes. Our annual report is independently audited and published in full. Leave a gift in your will and help future generations. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to the projects you support.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

Education fund

Disaster response

Education fund

Clean water

<div class="d-flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-2">
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Education fund
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Education fund
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Disaster response
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Education fund
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Clean water
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Priya Haddad
Freya Brennan
Kenji Whitaker
Ravi Okafor
Samir Harlow
Tariq Hughes

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Priya Haddad</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Freya Brennan</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Kenji Whitaker</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ravi Okafor</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Samir Harlow</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Tariq Hughes</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-4">
      <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1557660559-42497f78035b?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&h=800&q=70" alt="Not clipped" class="w-100 d-block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        without
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-4 overflow-hidden">
      <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1560220604-1985ebfe28b1?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&h=800&q=70" alt="Clipped" class="w-100 d-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-5046	Lucas Mensah	Barcelona	Jul 15, 2026	Approved	$447.67
#PO-2280	Nora Ibrahim	Auckland	Apr 6, 2026	Approved	$405.67

<div class="overflow-x-auto border rounded-3">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 text-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-5046</td>
        <td>Lucas Mensah</td>
        <td>Barcelona</td>
        <td>Jul 15, 2026</td>
        <td>Approved</td>
        <td>$447.67</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#PO-2280</td>
        <td>Nora Ibrahim</td>
        <td>Auckland</td>
        <td>Apr 6, 2026</td>
        <td>Approved</td>
        <td>$405.67</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/pixel-deck --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir

<pre class="overflow-x-auto bg-body-tertiary border rounded-3 p-3 small mb-0"><code>npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/pixel-deck --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

Every donation is tax-deductible, and receipts arrive by email instantly.

Companies can match employee donations and double their impact.

You receive photos and updates showing exactly what your donation achieved.

A school kit costs less than a cinema ticket and lasts a whole year.

<div class="border rounded-4 d-flex flex-column" style="height:220px;max-width:22rem">
  <div class="overflow-y-auto p-3 d-flex flex-column gap-2 flex-grow-1">
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Every donation is tax-deductible, and receipts arrive by email instantly.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Companies can match employee donations and double their impact.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      You receive photos and updates showing exactly what your donation achieved.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      A school kit costs less than a cinema ticket and lasts a whole year.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border-top p-2">
    <label class="visually-hidden" 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="d-flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1" aria-label="Categories">
  <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-pill text-nowrap">All</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Environment</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">guide</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Education</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">how-to</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">story</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">powerful</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

A long text inside a bordered box with overflow-auto, like a licence agreement.

Terms of use

Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. We measure success by how many donors come back and tell their friends. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. Thousands of donors already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.

Volunteers give their time in schools, shelters and food banks every week. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.

Local partners know their communities and make sure help arrives where it matters. We have helped more than two hundred thousand people since we started. Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. We measure success by how many donors come back and tell their friends. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. Thousands of donors already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.</p>
  <p>Volunteers give their time in schools, shelters and food banks every week. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">Local partners know their communities and make sure help arrives where it matters. We have helped more than two hundred thousand people since we started. Monthly gifts let us plan ahead and respond quickly when disaster strikes.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden5

overflow-visible4

<div class="d-flex gap-4 pt-2">
  <div class="position-relative overflow-hidden border rounded-3 p-3 small">
    overflow-hidden<span class="position-absolute top-0 start-100 translate-middle badge rounded-pill text-bg-danger">5</span>
  </div>
  <div class="position-relative overflow-visible border rounded-3 p-3 small">
    overflow-visible<span class="position-absolute top-0 start-100 translate-middle badge rounded-pill text-bg-danger">4</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

Be part of the change - We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.

Dec 10, 2025

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden fw-semibold lh-sm" style="height:2.5em">
    Be part of the change - We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Dec 10, 2025
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Thousands of donors already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Clean water wells are built with and maintained by local communities.

<div class="d-flex border rounded-3" style="height:180px">
  <nav class="overflow-y-auto border-end p-2 small flex-shrink-0" style="width:130px" aria-label="Chapters">
    <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Intro</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Setup</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Layout</a> <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Colours</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Forms</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Tables</a> <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Charts</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Deploy</a> 
  </nav>
  <div class="p-3 small">
    Thousands of donors already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Clean water wells are built with and maintained by local communities.
  </div>
</div>

13Image pan area

A large image in an overflow-auto box can be scrolled in both directions.

Why monthly giving makes such a difference

<div class="overflow-auto border rounded-3" style="height:160px;max-width:26rem">
  <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758599668338-4c55a3bd0ce0?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="Why monthly giving makes such a difference" width="900" height="394" class="d-block"> 
</div>

14Kanban columns

Columns side by side in overflow-x-auto, each column scrolls with overflow-y-auto.

To do

Clean water

Disaster response

Doing

Clean water

Done

Clean water

<div class="d-flex gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1">
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      To do
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Clean water
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Clean water
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Disaster response
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      Doing
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Clean water
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      Done
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Clean water
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.
  </div>
  <div class="position-absolute top-0 bg-primary-subtle h-100 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.

Our annual report is independently audited and published in full.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Our annual report is independently audited and published in full.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

Volunteers give their time in schools, shelters and food banks every week.

We measure success by how many donors come back and tell their friends.

Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.

Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.

View all

<div class="border rounded-3 shadow-sm d-flex flex-column" style="max-width:20rem;height:220px">
  <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom fw-semibold small">
    Notifications
  </div>
  <div class="overflow-y-auto flex-grow-1">
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Volunteers give their time in schools, shelters and food banks every week.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      We measure success by how many donors come back and tell their friends.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.
    </div>
  </div>
  <a href="#" class="px-3 py-2 border-top small text-center">View all</a> 
</div>

18Clip a decorative shape

A big circle partly outside its panel is cut off by overflow-hidden.

Your kindness travels further than you think

Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.

<div class="position-relative overflow-hidden text-bg-primary rounded-4 p-4">
  <div class="position-absolute bg-white bg-opacity-25 rounded-circle" style="width:180px;height:180px;right:-60px;top:-60px">
  </div>
  <h3 class="h5 position-relative">Your kindness travels further than you think</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/pixel-deck/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-3 p-2 text-truncate">
      downloads/pixel-deck/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-3 p-2 text-break">
      downloads/pixel-deck/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	32	352 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$95.68

<div class="table-responsive border rounded-3">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 text-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>32</td>
        <td>352 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$95.68</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>