Bootstrap: add margin/padding space between columns

Solution 1:

Simply add a div within col-md-6 that has the extra padding that you need. The col-md-6 is the 'backbone' to keep the column integrity, but you can add additional padding within it.

<div class="row">
    <div class="text-center col-md-6">
        <div class="classWithPad">Widget 1</div>
    </div>
    <div class="text-center col-md-6">
        <div class="classWithPad">Widget 2</div>
    </div>
</div>

CSS

.classWithPad { margin:10px; padding:10px; }

Solution 2:

Bootstrap 5 (Update 2021)

Bootstrap 5 has still includes spacing utilities for padding. However, because of new RTL support "left" and "right" have been changed to "start" and "end". For example pl-2 is now ps-2.

pl-* => ps-* (padding-left)
pr-* => pe-* (padding-right)
ml-* => ms-* (margin-left)
mr-* => me-* (margin-right)

Additionally, Bootstrap 5 introduces new grid gutter classes that can be used to adjust the spacing between columns. The guttter is set on the row instead of each col-* inside the row. For example, use g-0 for no spacing between columns.

Bootstrap 5 column spacing demo

Bootstrap 4 (Update 2018)

Bootstrap 4 has spacing utilities that make adding (or substracting) the space (gutter) between columns easier. Extra CSS isn't necessary.

<div class="row">
    <div class="text-center col-md-6">
        <div class="mr-2">Widget 1</div>
    </div>
    <div class="text-center col-md-6">
        <div class="ml-2">Widget 2</div>
    </div>
</div>

You can adjust margins on the column contents using the margin utils such as ml-0 (margin-left:0), mr-0 (margin-right:0), mx-1 (.25rem left & right margins), etc...

Or, you can adjust padding on the columns (col-*) using the padding utils such as pl-0 (padding-left:0), pr-0 (padding-right:0), px-2 (.50rem left & right padding), etc...

Bootstrap 4 Column Spacing Demo

Notes

Changing the left/right margin(s) on col-* will break the grid.
Change the left/right margin(s) on the content of col-* works.
Change the left/right padding on the col-* also works.

Solution 3:

I was facing the same issue; and the following worked well for me. Hope this helps someone landing here:

<div class="row">
  <div class="col-md-6">
    <div class="col-md-12">
     Set room heater temperature
   </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
   <div class="col-md-12">
     Set room heater temperature
   </div>
 </div>
</div>

enter image description here

This will automatically render some space between the 2 divs.

Solution 4:

Just add 'justify-content-around' class. that would automatically add gap between 2 divs.

Documentation: https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.1/layout/grid/#horizontal-alignment

Sample:

<div class="row justify-content-around">
    <div class="col-4">
      One of two columns
    </div>
    <div class="col-4">
      One of two columns
    </div>
</div>

Solution 5:

You may use the padding and margin shorthand Bootstrap 4 classes as follows:

For extra small devices i.e. xs

{property}{sides}-{size}

For other devices/viewports (small, medium, large and extra large)

{property}{sides}-{breakpoint}-{size}

Where:

property = m for margin and p for padding

Following are sides shorthand meanings:

l = defines the left-margin or left-padding
r = defines the right-margin or right-padding
t = defines the top-margin or top-padding
b = defines the bottom-margin or right-padding
x = For setting left and right padding and margins by the single call
y = For setting top and bottom margins
blank = margin and padding for all sides

The breakpoint = sm, md, lg, and xl.

Combining all the above, the left padding complete code can be (for example):

For left padding in extra small devices

pl-2

or for medium to extra large

pl-md-2