What is Auto Layout in Figma?
Learn how Auto Layout makes your designs flexible, responsive, and easier to manage.
Intro (short definition)
Auto Layout in Figma is a feature that automatically adjusts how elements resize and reposition as content changes. Instead of manually aligning every element, Auto Layout keeps spacing consistent and makes your designs adapt across different screen sizes.
Deep Dive (how it works + why it matters)
Many beginners struggle when trying to design a grid of cards or a responsive section for a landing page, email, or paid social graphic. Auto Layout solves this by letting you define rules for spacing, alignment, and padding so everything behaves predictably.
For example, if you add a new card to a grid, Auto Layout ensures the spacing remains consistent without you dragging elements into place. If you update text in a button, the button automatically resizes to fit. When combined with Constraints and Grids, Auto Layout becomes the backbone of responsive design.
Clients often ask for step-by-step tutorials on Auto Layout because it’s the first hurdle in designing professional layouts. Once mastered, it not only speeds up your workflow but also prepares your files for Developer Handoff, since engineers can mirror the spacing logic directly in code.
Use Cases (practical examples)
Designing a responsive grid of cards for a SaaS dashboard
Building a landing page section that adapts across desktop and mobile
Creating consistent email layouts that scale correctly in different clients
Making social ads where text changes but spacing stays clean
