Bootstrap/site/content/docs/4.3/forms/layout.md

layout	title	description	group	toc
docs	Layout	Give your forms some structure—from inline to horizontal to custom grid implementations—with our form layout options.	forms	true

Forms

Every group of form fields should reside in a <form> element. Bootstrap provides no default styling for the <form> element, but there are some powerful browser features that are provided by default.

• New to browser forms? Consider reviewing the MDN form docs for an overview and complete list of available attributes.
• <button>s within a <form> default to type="submit", so strive to be specific and always include a type.
• You can disable every form element within a form with the disabled attribute on the <form>.

Since Bootstrap applies display: block and width: 100% to almost all our form controls, forms will by default stack vertically. Additional classes can be used to vary this layout on a per-form basis.

Utilities

[Margin utilities]({{< docsref "/utilities/spacing" >}}) are the easiest way to add some structure to forms. They provide basic grouping of labels, controls, optional help text, and form validation messaging. We recommend sticking to margin-bottom utilities, and using a single direction throughout the form for consistency.

Feel free to build your forms however you like, with <fieldset>s, <div>s, or nearly any other element.

{{< example >}}

Example label

Another label

{{< /example >}}

Form grid

More complex forms can be built using our grid classes. Use these for form layouts that require multiple columns, varied widths, and additional alignment options. Requires the $enable-grid-classes Sass variable to be enabled (on by default).

{{< example >}}

{{< /example >}}

Gutters

By adding [gutter modifier classes]({{< docsref "/layout/grid#gutters" >}}), you can have control over the gutter width in as well the inline as block direction. Also requires the $enable-grid-classes Sass variable to be enabled (on by default).

{{< example >}}

{{< /example >}}

More complex layouts can also be created with the grid system.

{{< example >}}

Email

Password

Address

Address 2

City

State Choose... ...

Zip

Check me out

Sign in

{{< /example >}}

Horizontal form

Create horizontal forms with the grid by adding the .row class to form groups and using the .col-*-* classes to specify the width of your labels and controls. Be sure to add .col-form-label to your <label>s as well so they're vertically centered with their associated form controls.

At times, you maybe need to use margin or padding utilities to create that perfect alignment you need. For example, we've removed the padding-top on our stacked radio inputs label to better align the text baseline.

{{< example >}}

Email

Password

Radios

First radio

Second radio

Third disabled radio

Checkbox

Example checkbox

Sign in {{< /example >}}

Horizontal form label sizing

Be sure to use .col-form-label-sm or .col-form-label-lg to your <label>s or <legend>s to correctly follow the size of .form-control-lg and .form-control-sm.

{{< example >}}

Email

Email

Email

{{< /example >}}

Column sizing

As shown in the previous examples, our grid system allows you to place any number of .cols within a .row. They'll split the available width equally between them. You may also pick a subset of your columns to take up more or less space, while the remaining .cols equally split the rest, with specific column classes like .col-sm-7.

{{< example >}}

{{< /example >}}

Auto-sizing

The example below uses a flexbox utility to vertically center the contents and changes .col to .col-auto so that your columns only take up as much space as needed. Put another way, the column sizes itself based on the contents.

{{< example >}}

Name

Username

@

Preference Choose... One Two Three

Remember me

Submit

{{< /example >}}

You can then remix that once again with size-specific column classes.

{{< example >}}

Name

Username

@

Preference Choose... One Two Three

Remember me

Submit

{{< /example >}}

Inline forms

Use the .col-auto class to create horizontal layouts. By adding [gutter modifier classes]({{< docsref "/layout/grid#gutters" >}}), we'll have gutters in horizontal and vertical directions. The .align-items-center aligns the form elements to the middle, making the .form-checkbox align properly.

Be sure to always include a <label> with each form control, even if you need to hide it from non-screenreader visitors with .sr-only.

{{< example >}}

Name

Username

@

Preference Choose... One Two Three

Remember me

Submit

{{< /example >}}

{{< callout warning >}}

Alternatives to hidden labels

Assistive technologies such as screen readers will have trouble with your forms if you don't include a label for every input. For these inline forms, you can hide the labels using the .sr-only class. There are further alternative methods of providing a label for assistive technologies, such as the aria-label, aria-labelledby or title attribute. If none of these are present, assistive technologies may resort to using the placeholder attribute, if present, but note that use of placeholder as a replacement for other labeling methods is not advised. {{< /callout >}}