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.
Marketing Lead, Edinburgh
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-2.svg" alt="Mateo Mensah" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-circle float-start me-3 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Mateo Mensah</h3>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mb-0">Marketing Lead, Edinburgh</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">Dine-in</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Approved</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
Cooking classes on Saturday mornings teach you our favourite recipes.
</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" 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="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">Truffle pasta</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$22.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Chef's tasting plate</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$43.99</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Burrata with tomatoes</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$14.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Garden salad</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 fw-semibold">$11.00</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"Simple dishes, honest ingredients"
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are marked clearly on every menu. Bread is baked every morning and pasta is rolled by hand in our kitchen. Thousands of guests already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Our terrace is open from spring to autumn, with heaters for cooler evenings.
Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.
<article class="hp-cf clearfix">
<blockquote class="hp-fl float-sm-end ms-sm-3 mb-2 p-3 fs-6 fst-italic">"Simple dishes, honest ingredients"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are marked clearly on every menu. Bread is baked every morning and pasta is rolled by hand in our kitchen. Thousands of guests already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Our terrace is open from spring to autumn, with heaters for cooler evenings.</p>
<p class="mb-0">Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.</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.
yesterday
Finn Haddad
We measure success by how many guests come back and tell their friends.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-8.svg" alt="Finn Haddad" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-circle float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-body-secondary">yesterday</small> <strong class="d-block">Finn Haddad</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">We measure success by how many guests come back and tell their friends.</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: 17:30
</div>
<div class="hp-fl float-md-end p-3">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt" 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-top pt-3 small">
<p class="float-start mb-0">© 2026 Wrenora</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 | $316.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $22.12 |
| Total | $338.12 |
Thank you for your order #ORD-6712.
<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">$316.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$22.12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end fw-bold">$338.12</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-body-secondary mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #ORD-6712.</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-1538333581680-29dd4752ddf2?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"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1541963020-4f9732b3ee29?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"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1570560258879-af7f8e1447ac?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"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1712746784068-703c0c915611?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"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517248135467-4c7edcad34c4?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"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1565895405140-6b9830a88c19?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">
</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="Elena Kim">
</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">#community</span><span class="badge rounded-pill text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#tutorial</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">#design</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are marked clearly on every menu.
<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">yesterday</small>
<p class="small mb-0">Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are marked clearly on every menu.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$76.23
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">$76.23</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">Specials</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">
31.1k
</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">
1.1k
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>A product image floated to the end of a card body with the description flowing around it.
Order for pickup or delivery and enjoy the same dishes at home.
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/product-3.svg" alt="Garden salad" width="110" height="110" class="hp-fl float-end ms-3 rounded">
<h3 class="h6">Garden salad</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Order for pickup or delivery and enjoy the same dishes at home.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
Book a table online in seconds, or call us for groups of eight or more. Our sommelier has paired each dish with wines from small family vineyards. Our menu changes with the seasons and the best produce from nearby farms.
<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">Our chocolate tart, step by step</h3>
<p class="small mb-0">Book a table online in seconds, or call us for groups of eight or more. Our sommelier has paired each dish with wines from small family vineyards. Our menu changes with the seasons and the best produce from nearby farms.</p>
</div>
</div>