Grid and column layout in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Grid and column layouts help you organize content evenly on your design canvas. They make your dashboard or report look neat and balanced by aligning charts, tables, and text in rows and columns.

When you want to align multiple charts evenly across a dashboard page

When you need consistent spacing between report sections for better readability

When designing a responsive layout that adapts to different screen sizes

When you want to create columns for side-by-side comparison of data visuals

When you want to maintain a clean structure for text and images in your report

Steps

Step 1: Select the frame or artboard you want to apply the grid to

- Layers panel or canvas

The frame is highlighted and ready for layout settings

Step 2: Click on the Layout grid icon in the right sidebar under the Design tab

- Right sidebar, Design tab, Layout grid section

A default grid overlay appears on your selected frame

Step 3: Click the plus (+) button next to Layout grid to add a new grid

- Right sidebar, Layout grid section

A new grid layer is added and visible on the frame

Step 4: Click on the grid type dropdown and select Columns

- Right sidebar, Layout grid section

The grid changes from square grid to vertical columns

Step 5: Adjust the number of columns, gutter width, and margin values

- Right sidebar, Layout grid section

The columns update visually on the frame to reflect your settings

💡 Use even numbers for columns to keep symmetry

Step 6: Toggle the grid visibility on or off by clicking the eye icon

- Right sidebar, Layout grid section

The grid overlay appears or disappears on the frame

Before vs After

Before

A blank frame with scattered charts and text boxes placed unevenly

After

The frame shows evenly spaced vertical columns with charts and text aligned neatly inside each column

Settings Reference

Grid type

📍 Right sidebar, Layout grid section

Choose the layout style to organize content in squares, vertical columns, or horizontal rows

Default: Grid

Count

📍 Right sidebar, Layout grid section when Columns or Rows selected

Set how many columns or rows appear in the layout

Default: 12

Gutter

📍 Right sidebar, Layout grid section when Columns or Rows selected

Set the space between columns or rows

Default: 20 px

Margin

📍 Right sidebar, Layout grid section when Columns or Rows selected

Set the space between the grid edges and the frame edges

Default: 0 px

Common Mistakes

Using too many columns making the layout crowded

Too many columns reduce space for each visual, making content hard to read

Use a reasonable number of columns like 6 or 12 depending on content width

Not adjusting gutter width causing visuals to touch or overlap

No spacing between columns makes the design look cluttered and confusing

Set gutter width to at least 16-20 pixels for clear separation

Forgetting to toggle grid visibility off before presenting

Grid lines can distract viewers from the actual data visuals

Turn off grid visibility using the eye icon before sharing or exporting

Summary

Grid and column layouts help organize dashboard content evenly and clearly.

You can customize the number of columns, gutter space, and margins for balance.

Remember to adjust settings to avoid clutter and toggle grid visibility when done.