Line and arrow tools in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Lines and arrows help you connect ideas or show flow in your dashboard designs. They make your reports easier to understand by visually linking related parts.

When you want to show a process flow between different charts on your dashboard

When you need to highlight relationships between data points or sections

When you want to add directional cues to guide viewers through your report

When you want to separate sections visually without using boxes or colors

When you want to annotate or point out specific data insights clearly

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Toolbar on the top, select the 'Line' tool icon

Cursor changes to a crosshair indicating line drawing mode

Step 2: Click and drag

- Canvas area where you want the line

A straight line appears following your drag direction

Step 3: Select

- The line you just drew

Line properties appear in the right sidebar

Step 4: Click

- Stroke section in the right sidebar, then click the 'Arrowheads' dropdown

Options for line endings appear, including arrow styles

Step 5: Select

- An arrowhead style (start, end, or both)

The line updates to show the selected arrowhead(s)

Step 6: Adjust

- Stroke weight and color in the right sidebar

Line thickness and color change accordingly

Step 7: Drag

- Line endpoints on the canvas

Line length and direction update interactively

Before vs After

Before

Canvas has disconnected shapes and text boxes with no visual links

After

Lines and arrows connect shapes and text boxes, showing flow and relationships clearly

Settings Reference

Stroke weight

📍 Right sidebar under Stroke

Controls the thickness of the line or arrow

Default: 1 px

Arrowheads

📍 Right sidebar under Stroke > Arrowheads dropdown

Adds directional arrows to the line ends

Default: None

Stroke color

📍 Right sidebar under Stroke color picker

Sets the color of the line or arrow

Default: Black

Line style

📍 Right sidebar under Stroke > Dash pattern

Changes the pattern of the line stroke

Default: Solid

Common Mistakes

Drawing lines without arrowheads when direction is important

Viewers may not understand the flow or relationship direction

Add arrowheads to the line ends to indicate direction clearly

Using very thin or very light-colored lines

Lines become hard to see and lose their purpose

Use a visible stroke weight and contrasting color for clarity

Overlapping lines making the design cluttered

It confuses viewers and reduces readability

Arrange lines neatly with some spacing or use curved lines if needed

Summary

Lines and arrows visually connect parts of your dashboard to show relationships and flow.

You can customize line thickness, color, style, and add arrowheads for direction.

Use clear, visible lines with arrowheads to guide viewers without cluttering the design.