Font size and line height in Figma - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is font size in design?

Font size is the height of the text characters, usually measured in pixels or points. It controls how big or small the text appears on the screen.

beginner

What does line height control in text layout?

Line height controls the vertical space between lines of text. It helps make text easier to read by adding space above and below each line.

intermediate

Why is it important to balance font size and line height?

Balancing font size and line height ensures text is readable and visually comfortable. Too small line height makes text cramped; too large makes it disconnected.

beginner

In Figma, how can you adjust line height for a text layer?

Select the text layer, then in the right panel under 'Text', find the 'Line height' setting. You can enter a number or use the dropdown to choose 'Auto' or fixed values.

intermediate

What is a good practice for setting line height relative to font size?

A common practice is to set line height to about 120% to 150% of the font size. For example, if font size is 16px, line height can be 19px to 24px for good readability.

What does increasing line height do to text?

A Increases space between lines

B Makes text bold

C Changes font color

D Decreases font size

Increasing line height adds more vertical space between lines, improving readability.

If font size is 20px, which line height is best for readability?

A 10px

B 20px

C 30px

D 50px

Line height around 120%-150% of font size (24-30px) is ideal. 30px fits this range.

In Figma, where do you find the line height setting?

A In the Layers panel

B In the right panel under Text

C In the Assets panel

D In the Plugins menu

Line height is adjusted in the right panel under the Text section when a text layer is selected.

What happens if line height is too small compared to font size?

A Text becomes italic

B Text becomes bold

C Text color changes

D Text looks cramped and hard to read

Too small line height makes lines overlap or look crowded, reducing readability.

Which unit is commonly used for font size in Figma?

A Pixels (px)

B Meters (m)

C Seconds (s)

D Degrees (°)

Pixels (px) are the standard unit for font size in digital design tools like Figma.

Explain why line height is important when designing text for reports or dashboards.

Think about how you feel when reading long paragraphs with tight or loose spacing.

Describe how you would set font size and line height in Figma for a dashboard title and body text.

Consider hierarchy and readability for different text elements.

Practice

1. What does font size control in Figma?

easy

A. The color of the text

B. The space between lines of text

C. How big the text appears on the screen

D. The font style like bold or italic

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand font size meaning

   Font size determines how large or small the text looks visually.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from line height

   Line height controls spacing between lines, not size of text.

3. Final Answer:

   How big the text appears on the screen -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Font size = Text size [OK]

Hint: Font size = text height, line height = space between lines [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing font size with line height
• Thinking font size changes text color
• Mixing font size with font style

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set font size and line height in Figma's text properties panel?

easy

A. Font size as a percentage, line height in pixels only

B. Font size in pixels, line height as a number or percentage

C. Both font size and line height only accept percentages

D. Font size and line height cannot be changed in Figma

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Figma text property inputs

   Font size is set in pixels (px) for exact text height.

2. Step 2: Understand line height input

   Line height can be set as a number (like 24) or percentage (like 150%).

3. Final Answer:

   Font size in pixels, line height as a number or percentage -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Font size = px, line height = number or % [OK]

Hint: Font size uses px, line height can be px or % [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to set font size as a percentage
• Assuming line height only accepts pixels
• Believing font size and line height cannot be changed

3. If a text block has a font size of 16px and a line height of 24px in Figma, what is the space between the lines of text?

medium

A. 8px

B. 24px

C. 16px

D. 40px

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand line height vs font size

   Line height is total height of each line including text and space.

2. Step 2: Calculate space between lines

   Space = line height - font size = 24px - 16px = 8px.

3. Final Answer:

   8px -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Line height - font size = space [OK]

Hint: Subtract font size from line height for spacing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing line height as only the space
• Using font size instead of difference
• Adding font size and line height

4. You set a font size of 18px and line height of 14px in Figma. What issue will this cause?

medium

A. Font size will automatically adjust to 14px

B. Text will be too spaced out

C. No issue, this is a valid setting

D. Lines will overlap because line height is less than font size

Solution

1. Step 1: Compare font size and line height values

   Font size is 18px, line height is smaller at 14px.

2. Step 2: Understand effect of smaller line height

   Line height less than font size causes lines to overlap visually.

3. Final Answer:

   Lines will overlap because line height is less than font size -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Line height < font size = overlap [OK]

Hint: Line height must be ≥ font size to avoid overlap [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking font size adjusts automatically
• Assuming no problem if line height is smaller
• Confusing line height with letter spacing

5. You want to design a dashboard with text that is easy to read on all screen sizes. Which combination of font size and line height is best practice in Figma?

hard

A. Font size 14px with line height 20px for good spacing

B. Font size 10px with line height 10px for compact text

C. Font size 18px with line height 14px to save space

D. Font size 12px with line height 12px for uniformity

Solution

1. Step 1: Consider readability on screens

   Font size 14px is readable; line height 20px gives enough space between lines.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Options with line height equal or less than font size cause cramped or overlapping text.

3. Final Answer:

   Font size 14px with line height 20px for good spacing -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Readable font + enough line height = best practice [OK]

Hint: Choose line height about 1.4x font size for readability [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Picking line height equal to or less than font size
• Choosing too small font size for screens
• Ignoring line height impact on readability