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.
Support Specialist, Dublin
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-8.svg" alt="Kenji Ibrahim" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-full float-start me-4 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Kenji Ibrahim</h3>
<p class="small text-muted mb-0">Support Specialist, Dublin</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">Secure checkout</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Overdue</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
We measure success by how many shoppers come back and tell their friends.
</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" aria-label="Bold"><i class="bi bi-type-bold" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary" aria-label="Italic"><i class="bi bi-type-italic" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary" aria-label="Underline"><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">Running cap</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$28.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Desk lamp</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$81.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Wool scarf</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$45.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Hand cream</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$19.00</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"Style that works as hard as you do"
Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Pay securely with card, wallet or in three interest-free instalments. Free shipping on orders over $50 and easy returns within 30 days.
Every piece is made in small batches from materials we test ourselves.
<article class="hp-cf clearfix">
<blockquote class="hp-fl sm:float-end sm:ms-4 mb-2 p-4 text-base italic">"Style that works as hard as you do"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Pay securely with card, wallet or in three interest-free instalments. Free shipping on orders over $50 and easy returns within 30 days.</p>
<p class="mb-0">Every piece is made in small batches from materials we test ourselves.</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.
14 hours ago
Aria Ashford
New pieces arrive every month, and the best ones sell out fast.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-4.svg" alt="Aria Ashford" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-full float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-muted">14 hours ago</small> <strong class="block">Aria Ashford</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">New pieces arrive every month, and the best ones sell out fast.</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: 15:30
</div>
<div class="hp-fl md:float-end p-4">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i> Oslo
</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 Pixel Nest</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 | $415.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $29.05 |
| Total | $444.05 |
Thank you for your order #INV-5131.
<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">$415.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$29.05</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end font-bold">$444.05</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-muted mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #INV-5131.</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="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1443884590026-2e4d21aee71c?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&h=800&q=70" alt="Gallery photo 1" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded-md"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598305762558-328f599df683?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&h=800&q=70" alt="Gallery photo 2" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded-md"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1601647998829-ee316a565aea?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&h=800&q=70" alt="Gallery photo 3" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded-md"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1580418835996-7783da1c3c6c?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&h=800&q=70" alt="Gallery photo 4" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded-md"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1441986300917-64674bd600d8?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&h=800&q=70" alt="Gallery photo 5" width="80" height="80" class="hp-fl float-start me-2 mb-2 rounded-md"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1441984904996-e0b6ba687e04?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&h=800&q=70" 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="Amara Lindqvist">
</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">#community</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">#tutorial</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#design</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">#tips</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
Order before 2 pm and most items leave our warehouse the same day.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix bg-page">
<span class="hp-fl float-start me-2 px-2 py-1 text-primary-ink"><i class="bi bi-bell-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i></span> <small class="float-end text-muted">4 hours ago</small>
<p class="small mb-0">Order before 2 pm and most items leave our warehouse the same day.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$40.85
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">$40.85</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">Apparel</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">
21.4k
</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">
2.7k
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A product image floated to the end of a card body with the description flowing around it.
Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/product-3.svg" alt="Ceramic mug" width="110" height="110" class="hp-fl float-end ms-4 rounded-md">
<h3 class="h6">Ceramic mug</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
Thousands of shoppers already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need. Thousands of five-star reviews from customers who came back for more. Our packaging is plastic-free and every delivery is carbon-neutral.
<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">What our shoppers asked us most</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Thousands of shoppers already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need. Thousands of five-star reviews from customers who came back for more. Our packaging is plastic-free and every delivery is carbon-neutral.</p>
</div>
</div>