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.
Product Designer, Oslo
This paragraph starts below the avatar, not beside it.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-6.svg" alt="Ivy Hughes" width="72" height="72" class="hp-fl rounded-full float-start me-4 mb-2">
<h3 class="h6 mb-1">Ivy Hughes</h3>
<p class="small text-muted mb-0">Product Designer, Oslo</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">Gift wrapping</span> <span class="badge text-bg-success float-end mt-1">Cancelled</span>
</div>
<div class="card-body small">
We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.
</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">Face oil</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$36.00</span></li>
<li class="list-group-item hp-cf clearfix"><span class="hp-fl float-start px-2">Cotton throw</span><span class="hp-fl float-end px-2 font-semibold">$73.00</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>
<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">$31.00</span></li>
</ul>A quote floated to the end of the paragraph; the article wrapper is cleared so the next section starts below.
"Shop the collection everyone talks about"
Not sure about the size? Our fit guide and live chat help you choose. Every piece is made in small batches from materials we test ourselves. Free shipping on orders over $50 and easy returns within 30 days.
New pieces arrive every month, and the best ones sell out fast.
<article class="hp-cf clearfix">
<blockquote class="hp-fl sm:float-end sm:ms-4 mb-2 p-4 text-base italic">"Shop the collection everyone talks about"</blockquote>
<p class="mb-2">Not sure about the size? Our fit guide and live chat help you choose. Every piece is made in small batches from materials we test ourselves. Free shipping on orders over $50 and easy returns within 30 days.</p>
<p class="mb-0">New pieces arrive every month, and the best ones sell out fast.</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.
1 hours ago
Mateo Nguyen
Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.
<div class="hp-cf clearfix">
<img src="../assets/img/avatar-1.svg" alt="Mateo Nguyen" width="40" height="40" class="rounded-full float-start me-2"> <small class="hp-fl float-end px-2 text-muted">1 hours ago</small> <strong class="block">Mateo Nguyen</strong>
<p class="small mb-0">Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.</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: 18:45
</div>
<div class="hp-fl md:float-end p-4">
<i class="bi bi-geo-alt-fill" aria-hidden="true"></i> Lisbon
</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 Xenoara Pro</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 | $268.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $18.76 |
| Total | $286.76 |
Thank you for your order #PO-7266.
<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">$268.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Tax</th>
<td class="text-end">$18.76</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Total</th>
<td class="text-end font-bold">$286.76</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="small text-muted mt-2 mb-0">Thank you for your order #PO-7266.</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="Nora 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">#news</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">#guide</span><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">#design</span><span class="badge rounded-full text-bg-light border float-start me-1 mb-1">#update</span>
</div>An icon floated left, a time stamp floated right and the message in between.
We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.
<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">just now</small>
<p class="small mb-0">We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.</p>
</div>A floated badge in the top corner of a pricing card body.
$19.45
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">$19.45</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">Accessories</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">
49.1k
</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.
Order before 2 pm and most items leave our warehouse the same day.
<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">Order before 2 pm and most items leave our warehouse the same day.</p>
</div>
</div>A classic two-column float layout: a floated nav box and a content box; clearfix closes the row.
Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
<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">Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.</p>
</div>
</div>