Creating and resizing frames in Figma - Complete Walkthrough

Introduction

Frames in Figma are like containers that hold your design elements. Creating and resizing frames helps you organize your work and control layout space easily.

When you want to group related design elements together for a dashboard section

When you need to create a specific area for a chart or table in your report design

When you want to control the size of a container to fit your content precisely

When you want to create a responsive layout by adjusting frame sizes

When you want to prepare separate pages or screens for different report views

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Frame tool icon in the top toolbar (or press 'F' key)

The cursor changes to a crosshair indicating frame creation mode

Step 2: Drag

- Anywhere on the canvas

A new frame appears with the size you dragged out

Step 3: Select

- The frame you just created

The frame shows resize handles on its edges and corners

Step 4: Drag

- Any resize handle on the frame edges or corners

The frame resizes dynamically as you drag

Step 5: Look

- Right sidebar under 'Design' panel

You see the frame's width and height values update as you resize

Step 6: Type

- Width and height input boxes in the right sidebar

The frame resizes exactly to the values you entered

Before vs After

Before

Canvas has no frames; design elements are scattered without containers

After

Canvas shows a frame sized 400x300 pixels containing design elements grouped neatly

Settings Reference

Frame tool

📍 Top toolbar or press 'F' key

To create new frames as containers for design elements

Default: Cursor changes to crosshair for frame creation

Resize handles

📍 Edges and corners of selected frame

To adjust frame size interactively

Default: Visible when frame is selected

Width and Height inputs

📍 Right sidebar under Design panel

To set exact frame dimensions

Default: Current frame size

Common Mistakes

Trying to resize a frame by dragging inside the frame area

Dragging inside moves the frame or its contents, not resize it

Drag the frame edges or corners where resize handles appear

Not selecting the Frame tool before trying to create a frame

Without Frame tool active, dragging creates shapes or moves canvas

Click the Frame tool icon or press 'F' key before dragging

Summary

Frames are containers to organize and control layout in Figma designs

Create frames by selecting the Frame tool and dragging on the canvas

Resize frames by dragging edges or typing exact dimensions in the sidebar