---
title: Floating labels
description: Create beautifully simple form labels that float over your input fields.
toc: true
---

## Example

Wrap a pair of `<input class="form-control">` and `<label>` elements in `.form-floating` to enable floating labels with Bootstrap’s textual form fields.

A non-empty `placeholder` attribute is required on each `<input>` as our CSS-only floating label implementation relies on the `:placeholder-shown` pseudo-element to detect when the input is empty. The placeholder text itself is not visible; only the `<label>` is shown to users.

Also note that the `<input>` must come first so we can utilize a sibling selector (i.e., `~`).

<Example code={`<div class="form-floating mb-3">
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="floatingInput" placeholder="name@example.com">
    <label for="floatingInput">Email address</label>
  </div>
  <div class="form-floating">
    <input type="password" class="form-control" id="floatingPassword" placeholder="Password">
    <label for="floatingPassword">Password</label>
  </div>`} />

When there’s a `value` already defined, `<label>`s will automatically adjust to their floated position.

<Example code={`<form class="form-floating">
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="floatingInputValue" placeholder="name@example.com" value="test@example.com">
    <label for="floatingInputValue">Input with value</label>
  </form>`} />

Form validation styles also work as expected.

<Example code={`<form class="form-floating">
    <input type="email" class="form-control is-invalid" id="floatingInputInvalid" placeholder="name@example.com" value="test@example.com">
    <label for="floatingInputInvalid">Invalid input</label>
  </form>`} />

## Textareas

By default, `<textarea>`s with `.form-control` will be the same height as `<input>`s.

<Example code={`<div class="form-floating">
    <textarea class="form-control" placeholder="Leave a comment here" id="floatingTextarea"></textarea>
    <label for="floatingTextarea">Comments</label>
  </div>`} />

To set a custom height on your `<textarea>`, do not use the `rows` attribute. Instead, set an explicit `height` (either inline or via custom CSS).

<Example code={`<div class="form-floating">
    <textarea class="form-control" placeholder="Leave a comment here" id="floatingTextarea2" style="height: 100px"></textarea>
    <label for="floatingTextarea2">Comments</label>
  </div>`} />

## Selects

Other than `.form-control`, floating labels are only available on `.form-select`s. They work in the same way, but unlike `<input>`s, they’ll always show the `<label>` in its floated state. **Selects with `size` and `multiple` are not supported.**

<Example code={`<div class="form-floating">
    <select class="form-select" id="floatingSelect" aria-label="Floating label select example">
      <option selected>Open this select menu</option>
      <option value="1">One</option>
      <option value="2">Two</option>
      <option value="3">Three</option>
    </select>
    <label for="floatingSelect">Works with selects</label>
  </div>`} />

## Disabled

Add the `disabled` boolean attribute on an input, a textarea or a select to give it a grayed out appearance, remove pointer events, and prevent focusing.

<Example code={`<div class="form-floating mb-3">
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="floatingInputDisabled" placeholder="name@example.com" disabled>
    <label for="floatingInputDisabled">Email address</label>
  </div>
  <div class="form-floating mb-3">
    <textarea class="form-control" placeholder="Leave a comment here" id="floatingTextareaDisabled" disabled></textarea>
    <label for="floatingTextareaDisabled">Comments</label>
  </div>
  <div class="form-floating mb-3">
    <textarea class="form-control" placeholder="Leave a comment here" id="floatingTextarea2Disabled" style="height: 100px" disabled>Disabled textarea with some text inside</textarea>
    <label for="floatingTextarea2Disabled">Comments</label>
  </div>
  <div class="form-floating">
    <select class="form-select" id="floatingSelectDisabled" aria-label="Floating label disabled select example" disabled>
      <option selected>Open this select menu</option>
      <option value="1">One</option>
      <option value="2">Two</option>
      <option value="3">Three</option>
    </select>
    <label for="floatingSelectDisabled">Works with selects</label>
  </div>`} />

## Readonly plaintext

Floating labels also support `.form-control-plaintext`, which can be helpful for toggling from an editable `<input>` to a plaintext value without affecting the page layout.

<Example code={`<div class="form-floating mb-3">
    <input type="email" readonly class="form-control-plaintext" id="floatingEmptyPlaintextInput" placeholder="name@example.com">
    <label for="floatingEmptyPlaintextInput">Empty input</label>
  </div>
  <div class="form-floating mb-3">
    <input type="email" readonly class="form-control-plaintext" id="floatingPlaintextInput" placeholder="name@example.com" value="name@example.com">
    <label for="floatingPlaintextInput">Input with value</label>
  </div>`} />

## Input groups

Floating labels also support `.input-group`.

<Example code={`<div class="input-group mb-3">
    <span class="input-group-text">@</span>
    <div class="form-floating">
      <input type="text" class="form-control" id="floatingInputGroup1" placeholder="Username">
      <label for="floatingInputGroup1">Username</label>
    </div>
  </div>`} />

When using `.input-group` and `.form-floating` along with form validation, the `-feedback` should be placed outside of the `.form-floating`, but inside of the `.input-group`. This means that the feedback will need to be shown using javascript.

<Example code={`<div class="input-group has-validation">
    <span class="input-group-text">@</span>
    <div class="form-floating is-invalid">
      <input type="text" class="form-control is-invalid" id="floatingInputGroup2" placeholder="Username" required>
      <label for="floatingInputGroup2">Username</label>
    </div>
    <div class="invalid-feedback">
      Please choose a username.
    </div>
  </div>`} />

## Layout

When working with the Bootstrap grid system, be sure to place form elements within column classes.

<Example code={`<div class="row g-2">
    <div class="col-md">
      <div class="form-floating">
        <input type="email" class="form-control" id="floatingInputGrid" placeholder="name@example.com" value="mdo@example.com">
        <label for="floatingInputGrid">Email address</label>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md">
      <div class="form-floating">
        <select class="form-select" id="floatingSelectGrid">
          <option selected>Open this select menu</option>
          <option value="1">One</option>
          <option value="2">Two</option>
          <option value="3">Three</option>
        </select>
        <label for="floatingSelectGrid">Works with selects</label>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>`} />

## CSS

### Sass variables

<ScssDocs name="form-floating-variables" file="scss/_variables.scss" />