Spacing between items in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Spacing between items

Goal

Understand how to control and adjust spacing between items in a dashboard design using Figma to create clear, balanced layouts.

Sample Data

Item	Width (px)	Height (px)	Spacing to Next Item (px)
KPI Card 1	200	100	20
KPI Card 2	200	100	20
Bar Chart	400	300	30
Data Table	600	200	0

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card 1: Displays Total Sales. Size 200x100 px. Spacing after: 20 px.
• KPI Card 2: Displays Total Customers. Size 200x100 px. Spacing after: 20 px.
• Bar Chart: Shows Sales by Region. Size 400x300 px. Spacing after: 30 px.
• Data Table: Lists detailed sales data. Size 600x200 px. No spacing after (last item).

Dashboard Layout

+----------------+ 20px +----------------+ 20px +------------------------+
|  KPI Card 1    | ---- |  KPI Card 2    | ---- |      Bar Chart          |
|  200x100 px    |      |  200x100 px    |      |      400x300 px         |
+----------------+      +----------------+      +------------------------+


+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         Data Table                           |
|                         600x200 px                           |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Adjusting spacing between items in Figma is done by selecting the items and changing the Auto Layout spacing property. When you increase spacing, the gap between items grows, making the layout airier. Decreasing spacing brings items closer, saving space but risking clutter.

Using Figma's Auto Layout, you can also add padding around groups of items to keep consistent margins. This helps the dashboard look balanced on different screen sizes.

Self Check

If you increase the spacing between KPI Card 1 and KPI Card 2 from 20 px to 40 px, which parts of the dashboard layout change?

• The horizontal gap between KPI Card 1 and KPI Card 2 will increase, pushing KPI Card 2 and the Bar Chart further right.
• The overall width of the top row will increase.
• The Data Table below remains unchanged in size and position vertically but may shift horizontally if the top row width affects alignment.

Key Result

A simple dashboard layout showing how spacing between KPI cards, charts, and tables affects the overall design using Figma Auto Layout.

Practice

1. What does the Spacing between items property control in Figma's Auto Layout?

easy

A. The gap between child elements inside an Auto Layout frame

B. The padding inside each child element

C. The border thickness of the Auto Layout frame

D. The color of the background inside the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Auto Layout frames

   Auto Layout frames arrange child elements automatically in a row or column.

2. Step 2: Identify what spacing controls

   The Spacing between items sets the gap between these child elements, not padding or borders.

3. Final Answer:

   The gap between child elements inside an Auto Layout frame -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Spacing between items = gap between children [OK]

Hint: Spacing between items = gap between children inside Auto Layout [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing spacing with padding inside elements
• Thinking spacing changes border or background
• Mixing spacing with alignment properties

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set spacing between items to 20 pixels in Figma's Auto Layout panel?

easy

A. Type 20 in the 'Spacing between items' input box

B. Set padding to 20 pixels on all sides

C. Change the frame's width to 20 pixels

D. Add a 20 pixel margin to each child element

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate spacing input

   In Auto Layout, the 'Spacing between items' input box controls the gap between children.

2. Step 2: Set spacing value

   Typing 20 sets the gap to 20 pixels exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   Type 20 in the 'Spacing between items' input box -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Set spacing by typing value in spacing box [OK]

Hint: Set spacing by typing number in spacing input box [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing spacing with padding or margin
• Trying to resize frame instead of spacing
• Adding margin to children instead of spacing

3. Given an Auto Layout frame with three child rectangles each 50px wide, and spacing between items set to 10px, what is the total width of the frame if padding is 0?

medium

A. 180 pixels

B. 150 pixels

C. 170 pixels

D. 160 pixels

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate total width of children

   3 rectangles x 50px each = 150px total width.

2. Step 2: Calculate total spacing between items

   There are 2 gaps between 3 items, each 10px, so 2 x 10px = 20px.

3. Step 3: Add children width and spacing

   Total width = 150px + 20px = 170px.

4. Final Answer:

   170 pixels -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   3x50 + 2x10 = 170 [OK]

Hint: Total width = sum of children + (count-1)*spacing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Counting spacing gaps equal to number of items
• Forgetting to add spacing gaps
• Adding padding when it's zero

4. You set spacing between items to 15px but notice the gaps are still very small. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The frame has padding set that overrides spacing

B. The child elements have fixed width smaller than spacing

C. You forgot to enable Auto Layout on the frame

D. The Auto Layout direction is vertical, but you expect horizontal spacing

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand spacing direction

   Spacing between items applies along the Auto Layout direction (horizontal or vertical).

2. Step 2: Check Auto Layout direction

   If direction is vertical, spacing controls vertical gaps, not horizontal.

3. Step 3: Identify mismatch

   If you expect horizontal gaps but direction is vertical, spacing won't affect horizontal gaps.

4. Final Answer:

   The Auto Layout direction is vertical, but you expect horizontal spacing -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Spacing follows layout direction [OK]

Hint: Spacing applies along layout direction only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring Auto Layout direction
• Confusing padding with spacing
• Not enabling Auto Layout at all

5. You want to create a dashboard layout with 4 cards in a row, each 200px wide, with 30px spacing between cards and 40px padding inside the frame on left and right. What should be the total width of the Auto Layout frame?

hard

A. 880 pixels

B. 970 pixels

C. 860 pixels

D. 900 pixels

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate total width of cards

   4 cards x 200px each = 800px total width.

2. Step 2: Calculate total spacing between cards

   There are 3 gaps between 4 cards, each 30px, so 3 x 30px = 90px.

3. Step 3: Calculate total padding

   Padding on left and right = 40px + 40px = 80px.

4. Step 4: Add all widths

   Total width = 800px + 90px + 80px = 970px.

5. Final Answer:

   970 pixels -> Option B

6. Quick Check:

   4x200 + 3x30 + 2x40 = 970 [OK]

Hint: Total width = cards + spacing gaps + left+right padding [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Counting wrong number of spacing gaps
• Forgetting to add both left and right padding
• Mixing padding with margin