How to Implement a Bootstrap Datepicker for Bootstrap 5: Complete Integration Guide

Bootstrap 5 does not ship with a built-in datepicker component, so you must integrate a third-party library that aligns with Bootstrap's form-control styling and CSS variable system.

The twbs/bootstrap repository provides extensive form normalization but deliberately excludes complex datepicker widgets from its JavaScript bundle. To add a bootstrap datepicker for Bootstrap 5, you need to select a compatible plugin and wire it into the framework's existing form infrastructure. This approach leverages Bootstrap's _form-control.scss partial and utility classes to ensure the third-party calendar matches your design system.

Why Bootstrap 5 Excludes a Native Datepicker

According to the twbs/bootstrap source code, the framework only normalizes native <input type="date"> elements through the scss/forms/_form-control.scss partial. This file contains WebKit-specific height adjustments and border treatments that make native date inputs visually consistent with other form controls, but it stops short of providing popup calendar logic. The scss/_reboot.scss file further sanitizes browser defaults, yet the js/dist/ directory contains no datepicker component, confirming that the core library intentionally limits itself to structural styling rather than behavioral widgets.

Choosing a Compatible Datepicker Library

Three battle-tested options integrate cleanly with Bootstrap 5's markup patterns and variable system:

• Tempus Dominus: The official successor to the original Bootstrap DateTimePicker, rewritten for Bootstrap 5 and vanilla JavaScript without jQuery dependencies.
• Bootstrap-Datepicker: A maintained fork that preserves the original plugin's API while updating its CSS for Bootstrap 5's utility classes.
• Flatpickr: A lightweight, framework-agnostic picker that you can style using Bootstrap's CSS variables defined in scss/_variables.scss.

Step-by-Step Implementation with Tempus Dominus

The following workflow uses Tempus Dominus, though the pattern applies to any picker that respects Bootstrap's form conventions.

Include Required Assets

Load the third-party CSS and JavaScript after Bootstrap's core files to ensure proper cascade and variable inheritance. Bootstrap defines spacing and color tokens in scss/_variables.scss that third-party themes reference.

<!-- Bootstrap CSS -->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
<!-- Tempus Dominus CSS -->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@eonasdan/tempus-dominus@6/dist/css/tempus-dominus.min.css" rel="stylesheet">

<!-- Bootstrap Bundle (includes Popper) -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
<!-- Tempus Dominus JS -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@eonasdan/tempus-dominus@6/dist/js/tempus-dominus.min.js"></script>

For module bundlers, install via npm:

npm install bootstrap @eonasdan/tempus-dominus

Then import the dependencies:

import 'bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css';
import '@eonasdan/tempus-dominus/dist/css/tempus-dominus.min.css';
import { TempusDominus } from '@eonasdan/tempus-dominus';

Add the HTML Markup

Structure your input using Bootstrap's standard form classes. The documentation in site/docs/5.3/forms/form-control.md demonstrates that Bootstrap expects inputs wrapped in container divs with classes like mb-3, form-label on the label, and form-control on the input itself.

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="datepicker" class="form-label">Select a date</label>
  <input type="text" class="form-control" id="datepicker" placeholder="MM/DD/YYYY">
</div>

Initialize the Datepicker

Instantiate the picker via JavaScript after the DOM loads. Tempus Dominus exposes a constructor that attaches to DOM elements identified by standard selectors.

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
  const element = document.getElementById('datepicker');
  const picker = new tempusDominus.TempusDominus(element, {
    display: {
      components: {
        clock: false,
        date: true,
        month: true,
        year: true,
        decades: true
      }
    }
  });
});

Integrate with Bootstrap Validation

Because the datepicker writes its value back to the underlying <input>, Bootstrap's validation system works automatically. The js/dist/util/ directory contains helper functions for toggling .is-invalid and .is-valid classes, which you can trigger based on the picker's state. Add sibling divs with invalid-feedback classes as shown in the form-control documentation.

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="datepicker" class="form-label">Date</label>
  <input type="text" class="form-control" id="datepicker" required>
  <div class="invalid-feedback">Please select a valid date.</div>
</div>

Key Bootstrap Source Files for Datepicker Integration

Understanding these core files helps you customize picker appearance without breaking Bootstrap's design system:

• scss/forms/_form-control.scss: Contains the base styling for all inputs. Third-party datepickers should mimic the .form-control border-radius, padding, and focus box-shadow defined here.
• scss/_variables.scss: Houses the $input-* and $form-feedback-* variables. Reference these when overriding picker themes to ensure color consistency.
• scss/_reboot.scss: Normalizes browser defaults including box-sizing rules. Picker popovers should respect these resets to avoid layout shifts.
• js/dist/util/: Provides selector utilities like getSelectorFromElement used by Bootstrap's modal and dropdown components, useful for programmatically showing or hiding picker containers.

Summary

• Bootstrap 5 core does not include a datepicker; it only styles native date inputs in scss/forms/_form-control.scss.
• Tempus Dominus, Bootstrap-Datepicker, and Flatpickr are the three most compatible third-party options.
• Load third-party assets after Bootstrap CSS to ensure proper cascade and variable inheritance from scss/_variables.scss.
• Use standard .form-control and .form-label classes on your markup to match Bootstrap's documentation patterns in site/docs/5.3/forms/form-control.md.
• Leverage Bootstrap's validation classes (.is-invalid, .is-valid) since datepickers write to standard input elements that follow the js/dist/util/ validation logic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bootstrap 5 have a built-in datepicker?

No. According to the twbs/bootstrap source code, the framework intentionally excludes complex JavaScript components like datepickers from its core bundle. Bootstrap 5 only provides CSS styling for native HTML5 date inputs in scss/forms/_form-control.scss, leaving interactive calendar functionality to third-party plugins.

Which datepicker library works best with Bootstrap 5 form validation?

Tempus Dominus offers the tightest integration because it automatically respects Bootstrap's form validation states. Since it updates the underlying <input> element, classes like .is-invalid and .is-valid apply immediately, and you can use standard invalid-feedback divs for error messages as documented in site/docs/5.3/forms/form-control.md.

How do I style a third-party datepicker to match Bootstrap 5?

Reference the variables in scss/_variables.scss such as $input-border-color and $input-focus-box-shadow when configuring your picker's theme. Most modern libraries allow you to override Sass variables or CSS custom properties to align with Bootstrap's $form-feedback-* tokens, ensuring the popup calendar matches the .form-control aesthetic.

Can I use native HTML5 date inputs instead of a JavaScript datepicker?

Yes, but with limited styling control. Bootstrap 5 normalizes native <input type="date"> elements in scss/forms/_form-control.scss, but browser implementations vary significantly across Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. For consistent cross-browser behavior and advanced features like date ranges or disabled dates, a JavaScript solution integrated with Bootstrap's utility classes remains the more robust choice.

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