---
layout: docs
title: Flex
description: Quickly manage the layout, alignment, and sizing of grid columns, navigation, components, and more with a full suite of responsive flexbox utilities. For more complex implementations, custom CSS may be necessary.
group: utilities
toc: true
---
## Enable flex behaviors
Apply `display` utilities to create a flexbox container and transform **direct children elements** into flex items. Flex containers and items are able to be modified further with additional flex properties.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
I'm a flexbox container!
{{< /example >}}
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
I'm an inline flexbox container!
{{< /example >}}
Responsive variations also exist for `.d-flex` and `.d-inline-flex`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.d{{ .abbr }}-flex`
- `.d{{ .abbr }}-inline-flex`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Direction
Set the direction of flex items in a flex container with direction utilities. In most cases you can omit the horizontal class here as the browser default is `row`. However, you may encounter situations where you needed to explicitly set this value (like responsive layouts).
Use `.flex-row` to set a horizontal direction (the browser default), or `.flex-row-reverse` to start the horizontal direction from the opposite side.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
Flex item 1
Flex item 2
Flex item 3
Flex item 1
Flex item 2
Flex item 3
{{< /example >}}
Use `.flex-column` to set a vertical direction, or `.flex-column-reverse` to start the vertical direction from the opposite side.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
Flex item 1
Flex item 2
Flex item 3
Flex item 1
Flex item 2
Flex item 3
{{< /example >}}
Responsive variations also exist for `flex-direction`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-row`
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-row-reverse`
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-column`
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-column-reverse`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Justify content
Use `justify-content` utilities on flexbox containers to change the alignment of flex items on the main axis (the x-axis to start, y-axis if `flex-direction: column`). Choose from `start` (browser default), `end`, `center`, `between`, `around`, or `evenly`.
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
...
...
...
...
...
```
Responsive variations also exist for `justify-content`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.justify-content{{ .abbr }}-start`
- `.justify-content{{ .abbr }}-end`
- `.justify-content{{ .abbr }}-center`
- `.justify-content{{ .abbr }}-between`
- `.justify-content{{ .abbr }}-around`
- `.justify-content{{ .abbr }}-evenly`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Align items
Use `align-items` utilities on flexbox containers to change the alignment of flex items on the cross axis (the y-axis to start, x-axis if `flex-direction: column`). Choose from `start`, `end`, `center`, `baseline`, or `stretch` (browser default).
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
...
...
...
...
```
Responsive variations also exist for `align-items`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.align-items{{ .abbr }}-start`
- `.align-items{{ .abbr }}-end`
- `.align-items{{ .abbr }}-center`
- `.align-items{{ .abbr }}-baseline`
- `.align-items{{ .abbr }}-stretch`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Align self
Use `align-self` utilities on flexbox items to individually change their alignment on the cross axis (the y-axis to start, x-axis if `flex-direction: column`). Choose from the same options as `align-items`: `start`, `end`, `center`, `baseline`, or `stretch` (browser default).
Flex item
Aligned flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Aligned flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Aligned flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Aligned flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Aligned flex item
Flex item
```html
Aligned flex item
Aligned flex item
Aligned flex item
Aligned flex item
Aligned flex item
```
Responsive variations also exist for `align-self`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.align-self{{ .abbr }}-start`
- `.align-self{{ .abbr }}-end`
- `.align-self{{ .abbr }}-center`
- `.align-self{{ .abbr }}-baseline`
- `.align-self{{ .abbr }}-stretch`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Fill
Use the `.flex-fill` class on a series of sibling elements to force them into widths equal to their content (or equal widths if their content does not surpass their border-boxes) while taking up all available horizontal space.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
Flex item with a lot of content
Flex item
Flex item
{{< /example >}}
Responsive variations also exist for `flex-fill`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-fill`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Grow and shrink
Use `.flex-grow-*` utilities to toggle a flex item's ability to grow to fill available space. In the example below, the `.flex-grow-1` elements uses all available space it can, while allowing the remaining two flex items their necessary space.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
Flex item
Flex item
Third flex item
{{< /example >}}
Use `.flex-shrink-*` utilities to toggle a flex item's ability to shrink if necessary. In the example below, the second flex item with `.flex-shrink-1` is forced to wrap its contents to a new line, "shrinking" to allow more space for the previous flex item with `.w-100`.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
{{< /example >}}
Responsive variations also exist for `flex-grow` and `flex-shrink`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-{grow|shrink}-0`
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-{grow|shrink}-1`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Auto margins
Flexbox can do some pretty awesome things when you mix flex alignments with auto margins. Shown below are three examples of controlling flex items via auto margins: default (no auto margin), pushing two items to the right (`.me-auto`), and pushing two items to the left (`.ms-auto`).
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
{{< /example >}}
### With align-items
Vertically move one flex item to the top or bottom of a container by mixing `align-items`, `flex-direction: column`, and `margin-top: auto` or `margin-bottom: auto`.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
{{< /example >}}
## Wrap
Change how flex items wrap in a flex container. Choose from no wrapping at all (the browser default) with `.flex-nowrap`, wrapping with `.flex-wrap`, or reverse wrapping with `.flex-wrap-reverse`.
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Responsive variations also exist for `flex-wrap`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-nowrap`
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-wrap`
- `.flex{{ .abbr }}-wrap-reverse`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Order
Change the _visual_ order of specific flex items with a handful of `order` utilities. We only provide options for making an item first or last, as well as a reset to use the DOM order. As `order` takes any integer value from 0 to 5, add custom CSS for any additional values needed.
{{< example class="bd-example-flex" >}}
First flex item
Second flex item
Third flex item
{{< /example >}}
Responsive variations also exist for `order`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $bp := $.Site.Data.breakpoints -}}
{{- range (seq 0 5) }}
- `.order{{ $bp.abbr }}-{{ . }}`
{{- end -}}
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
Additionally there are also responsive `.order-first` and `.order-last` classes that change the `order` of an element by applying `order: -1` and `order: 6`, respectively.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $bp := $.Site.Data.breakpoints -}}
{{- range (slice "first" "last") }}
- `.order{{ $bp.abbr }}-{{ . }}`
{{- end -}}
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Align content
Use `align-content` utilities on flexbox containers to align flex items *together* on the cross axis. Choose from `start` (browser default), `end`, `center`, `between`, `around`, or `stretch`. To demonstrate these utilities, we've enforced `flex-wrap: wrap` and increased the number of flex items.
**Heads up!** This property has no effect on single rows of flex items.
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
Flex item
```html
...
```
Responsive variations also exist for `align-content`.
{{< markdown >}}
{{< flex.inline >}}
{{- range $.Site.Data.breakpoints }}
- `.align-content{{ .abbr }}-start`
- `.align-content{{ .abbr }}-end`
- `.align-content{{ .abbr }}-center`
- `.align-content{{ .abbr }}-between`
- `.align-content{{ .abbr }}-around`
- `.align-content{{ .abbr }}-stretch`
{{- end -}}
{{< /flex.inline >}}
{{< /markdown >}}
## Media object
Looking to replicate the [media object component](https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.6/components/media-object/) from Bootstrap 4? Recreate it in no time with a few flex utilities that allow even more flexibility and customization than before.
{{< example >}}
{{< placeholder width="100" height="100" color="#999" background="#e5e5e5" text="Image" >}}
This is some content from a media component. You can replace this with any content and adjust it as needed.
{{< /example >}}
And say you want to vertically center the content next to the image:
{{< example >}}
{{< placeholder width="100" height="100" color="#999" background="#e5e5e5" text="Image" >}}
This is some content from a media component. You can replace this with any content and adjust it as needed.
{{< /example >}}
## Sass
### Utilities API
Flexbox utilities are declared in our utilities API in `scss/_utilities.scss`. [Learn how to use the utilities API.]({{< docsref "/utilities/api#using-the-api" >}})
{{< scss-docs name="utils-flex" file="scss/_utilities.scss" >}}