Auto Layout Basics in Figma: Save Time with Responsive Spacing

Auto Layout saves time when spacing multiple elements.

1. Why Auto Layout Matters

Auto Layout in Figma allows you to:

• Automatically manage spacing between elements
• Ensure consistent alignment across components
• Build responsive designs that scale without manual adjustments
• Reduce repetitive work for buttons, cards, menus, and forms

Tip: Think of Auto Layout as “dynamic grouping” - the layout adapts when you resize, add, or remove elements.

2. Adding Auto Layout

Steps:

1. Select a frame or a group of elements.
2. Press Shift + A or click + Auto Layout in the right-hand panel.
3. Elements are now stacked vertically by default (you can switch to horizontal).
4. Adjust padding, spacing between items, and alignment in the right-hand panel.

You can nest Auto Layout frames for complex components (e.g., buttons inside cards inside a list).

3. Controlling Spacing & Alignment

• Spacing Between Items: Adjust consistent gaps between elements.
• Padding: Control space inside the container (top, bottom, left, right).
• Alignment: Left, center, right, top, middle, and bottom works for all nested elements.
• Resizing Behavior:
  • Hug contents: frame resizes to fit child elements
  • Fill container: child elements stretch to fill available space
  • Fixed size: keeps elements at a specific size

Example: A row of buttons that automatically adjusts spacing when adding a new button.

4. Practical Use Cases

• Buttons & Menus: Keep uniform spacing without manual adjustments.
• Cards & Lists: Stack cards vertically with equal gaps; resizing the frame updates spacing automatically.
• Forms & Inputs: Auto Layout ensures consistent padding between labels, fields, and buttons.
• Responsive Layouts: Combine Auto Layout with Layout Grids to create flexible UI across screen sizes.