Grid styles in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Grid styles help you create consistent layouts by applying reusable grid patterns to your frames. This makes it easier to align and organize content across your designs without manually setting grids each time.

When you want all your report pages to have the same column layout for consistency

When designing dashboards that need aligned charts and tables

When multiple team members work on the same project and need a shared grid system

When you want to quickly apply a standard grid to new frames without setting it up again

When you want to maintain alignment and spacing rules across different screen sizes

Steps

Step 1: Select a frame

- Canvas

The frame is highlighted and its properties appear in the right sidebar

Step 2: Click the '+' button next to Layout grids

- Right sidebar under Layout grids section

A new grid is added to the frame and visible as blue lines overlaying the frame

Step 3: Click the grid icon next to the new grid in Layout grids

- Right sidebar under Layout grids

Grid settings panel opens allowing you to choose grid type and customize it

Step 4: Select 'Columns' as grid type and set number of columns, gutter width, and margin

- Grid settings panel

The frame updates to show the column grid with specified settings

Step 5: Click the four dots icon next to Layout grids and choose 'Create style'

- Right sidebar under Layout grids

A dialog opens to name and save the grid style for reuse

Step 6: Enter a name for the grid style and click 'Create style'

- Create style dialog

The grid style is saved and appears in the Assets panel under Grid styles

Step 7: To apply a saved grid style, select a frame and click the grid style name in the Assets panel

- Assets panel under Grid styles

The selected grid style is applied to the frame's layout grids

Before vs After

Before

A frame with no layout grid, content is not aligned consistently

After

The frame shows a column grid with 12 columns, 20px gutters, and 24px margins, content aligns neatly to the grid

Settings Reference

Grid type

📍 Right sidebar > Layout grids > Grid settings panel

Choose the type of grid pattern to apply for layout alignment

Default: Grid

Columns count

📍 Grid settings panel when Columns type is selected

Set how many vertical columns the grid has

Default: 12

Gutter width

📍 Grid settings panel when Columns type is selected

Set the space between columns

Default: 20

Margin

📍 Grid settings panel when Columns type is selected

Set the space between the grid and the frame edges

Default: 24

Grid style name

📍 Create style dialog after clicking 'Create style'

Name the grid style for easy reuse

Default: Untitled

Common Mistakes

Not saving the grid as a style after customizing

You have to recreate the grid settings every time for new frames

Always create and name a grid style to reuse it easily on other frames

Applying grid styles to frames with very different sizes without adjusting margins

Margins may not fit well, causing misalignment or overflow

Adjust margins in the grid style or create separate styles for different frame sizes

Summary

Grid styles let you save and reuse layout grids for consistent design alignment

They help keep dashboards and reports neat by aligning charts and tables

Remember to create and name grid styles after customizing grids for easy reuse

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using Grid styles in Figma when designing dashboards?

easy

A. To organize visuals into columns, rows, or grids for neat layouts

B. To add animations to dashboard elements

C. To change the color scheme of the dashboard

D. To create interactive buttons

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what grid styles do

   Grid styles help arrange elements in columns, rows, or grids to keep the design organized.

2. Step 2: Identify the main purpose in dashboard design

   They ensure visuals are balanced and easy to read by controlling spacing and alignment.

3. Final Answer:

   To organize visuals into columns, rows, or grids for neat layouts -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Grid styles = organize visuals neatly [OK]

Hint: Grid styles arrange elements neatly in rows and columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing grid styles with color or animation features
• Thinking grid styles add interactivity
• Assuming grid styles change fonts or colors

2. Which of the following is the correct way to apply a grid style in Figma?

easy

A. Select the frame, then click '+' next to Layout Grid and choose a grid style

B. Right-click the frame and select 'Add Color Style'

C. Drag and drop a grid from the assets panel onto the canvas

D. Use the text tool to type 'grid' inside the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall how to add grid styles in Figma

   You add grid styles by selecting a frame and clicking the '+' button next to Layout Grid in the properties panel.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct method from options

   Select the frame, then click '+' next to Layout Grid and choose a grid style correctly describes this process; others describe unrelated actions.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the frame, then click '+' next to Layout Grid and choose a grid style -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Adding grid = '+' next to Layout Grid [OK]

Hint: Add grid via '+' next to Layout Grid in frame properties [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing grid styles with color or text tools
• Trying to drag grids from assets panel (not possible)
• Using right-click menu for grid styles

3. Given a frame with a 12-column grid style applied with 20px gutters and 40px margins, what happens if you increase the gutter size to 40px?

medium

A. Margins increase but columns stay the same width

B. Columns become narrower, and spacing between columns increases

C. Columns become wider, and spacing between columns decreases

D. Grid disappears from the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand gutter effect on columns

   Increasing gutter size means more space between columns, so columns get narrower to fit the frame width.

2. Step 2: Analyze the impact on margins and grid visibility

   Margins stay the same unless changed; grid does not disappear when gutter changes.

3. Final Answer:

   Columns become narrower, and spacing between columns increases -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Increase gutter = wider gaps, narrower columns [OK]

Hint: Bigger gutters = wider gaps, narrower columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming columns get wider with bigger gutters
• Thinking margins change automatically
• Believing grid disappears when gutters change

4. You applied a grid style to a frame, but the grid lines are not visible. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The frame has no fill color

B. The grid style is applied to a different frame

C. The frame is locked

D. Grid opacity is set to 0%

Solution

1. Step 1: Check grid visibility settings

   If grid lines are invisible, opacity might be set to 0%, making them fully transparent.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   No fill color or locked frame does not hide grid lines; applying grid to another frame means no grid on current frame but less likely if user expects it here.

3. Final Answer:

   Grid opacity is set to 0% -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Invisible grid = opacity 0% [OK]

Hint: Check grid opacity if grid lines are invisible [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking frame fill affects grid visibility
• Assuming locked frame hides grids
• Not verifying grid applied to correct frame

5. You want to design a dashboard with a balanced layout using grid styles. Which combination of grid settings best helps achieve consistent spacing and alignment across different screen sizes?

hard

A. Use a grid with rows only and no columns

B. Use a 6-column grid with no gutters and fixed 100px margins

C. Use a 12-column grid with fixed 24px gutters and 48px margins, and enable 'Stretch' for columns

D. Use a 12-column grid with variable gutters and zero margins

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify grid settings for balanced layout

   A 12-column grid is standard for dashboards, allowing flexible content placement. Fixed gutters and margins keep spacing consistent.

2. Step 2: Understand 'Stretch' for responsiveness

   Enabling 'Stretch' lets columns adjust width on different screen sizes, maintaining alignment and balance.

3. Final Answer:

   Use a 12-column grid with fixed 24px gutters and 48px margins, and enable 'Stretch' for columns -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   12 columns + fixed gutters + stretch = balanced responsive layout [OK]

Hint: Use 12 columns, fixed gutters, margins, and stretch for balance [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using no gutters causes cramped layout
• Zero margins make content touch edges
• Ignoring responsiveness by not stretching columns