Rulers and guides in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Rulers and guides help you align and position objects precisely on your design canvas. They make it easier to create neat, organized layouts by showing measurement lines and allowing you to place visual markers.

When you want to align charts or tables evenly on a dashboard.

When you need consistent spacing between visual elements like icons and text.

When designing a report layout that requires exact margins and padding.

When you want to check the size of a visual element quickly.

When you want to snap objects to specific positions for a clean look.

Steps

Step 1: Show rulers

- View menu

Rulers appear along the top and left edges of the canvas showing pixel measurements

💡 You can toggle rulers on and off anytime from the View menu

Step 2: Create a guide

- Click and drag from the ruler area onto the canvas

A guide line appears where you release the mouse, either horizontal or vertical depending on the ruler dragged

💡 Drag from the top ruler for horizontal guides and from the left ruler for vertical guides

Step 3: Move a guide

- Select the guide line on the canvas and drag it to a new position

The guide line moves to the new location, updating its position on the ruler

💡 Hold Shift while dragging to move the guide in larger increments

Step 4: Remove a guide

- Drag the guide line back onto the ruler area

The guide disappears from the canvas

💡 You can also right-click a guide and select Delete

Step 5: Snap objects to guides

- Move objects near a guide on the canvas

Objects snap to the guide line for precise alignment

💡 Ensure Snap to Geometry is enabled in the View menu for snapping to work

Before vs After

Before

Canvas shows objects placed roughly with no measurement lines or alignment aids

After

Canvas shows rulers on top and left edges, with guides placed to align objects precisely

Settings Reference

Show Rulers

📍 View menu > Show Rulers

Toggle the visibility of rulers on the canvas edges

Default: Off

Snap to Geometry

📍 View menu > Snap to Geometry

Enable or disable snapping objects to guides and other geometry

Default: On

Guide Color

📍 Preferences > Guides and Grids

Change the color of guides for better visibility

Default: Blue

Common Mistakes

Not enabling rulers before trying to create guides

Guides can only be created by dragging from visible rulers

First enable rulers from the View menu, then drag guides onto the canvas

Trying to snap objects without Snap to Geometry enabled

Objects will not snap to guides if snapping is off

Turn on Snap to Geometry in the View menu to enable snapping

Dragging guides off the canvas instead of back onto the ruler to delete

Guides remain on canvas if not dragged back to ruler area

Drag guides back onto the ruler area or right-click and delete them

Summary

Rulers and guides help you measure and align objects precisely on your canvas.

You create guides by dragging from visible rulers on the top or left edges.

Remember to enable Snap to Geometry to make objects snap to guides for neat layouts.