How to Change Line Height in Figma

When designing with text in Figma, one of the most important adjustments you can make is line height—the vertical spacing between lines of text. This property is crucial for improving readability, creating visual balance, and maintaining a consistent typographic rhythm across your UI. Fortunately, Figma makes adjusting line height simple and intuitive.

🧠 What Is Line Height?

Line height (sometimes called “leading”) refers to the amount of vertical space between lines of text within a single text box. In Figma, line height is measured in pixels (px) and affects how dense or spacious your text block feels.

🛠️ How to Change Line Height in Figma

Follow these steps to adjust the line height:

Select the Text Layer
Click on the text element with the Move Tool (V).
Open the Text Properties Panel
In the right-hand panel, under the “Text” section, you’ll find the “Line height” field beneath font size and letter spacing.
Choose a Value
- Auto (default): Figma automatically sets line height based on the font size.
- Fixed: Enter a custom pixel value like 24px or 32px for more control.
Preview and Adjust
The changes will be applied in real-time, allowing you to visually test spacing for different sizes and styles.

🎯 When to Use Custom Line Height

For Body Text: Use 1.4–1.6× the font size (e.g., 16px text = ~24px line height) for comfortable reading.
For Headlines: Use tighter line heights (e.g., 1.1–1.3×) to keep headings visually compact.
In Buttons/Labels: Match line height to the height of the button for better vertical alignment.

💡 Best Practices

Avoid mixing Auto and Fixed line heights within the same design system.
Always check responsiveness—smaller screens may require tighter spacing.
Use consistent ratios (e.g., font size × 1.5) across your design for harmony.

✅ Wrapping Up

Changing line height in Figma is quick but impactful. Whether you’re designing marketing pages or dense dashboards, getting the vertical rhythm of your text right will instantly improve legibility and visual appeal. Make it part of your typography toolkit, and your designs will look cleaner and feel more balanced.