Figma is known for its collaborative design power, but when it comes to front-end development, one common question emerges: Can Figma export HTML? The short answer is: not natively, but there are workarounds. Whether you’re building websites, web apps, or handoff files for developers, understanding how to bridge the gap between design and code is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk through what’s possible, what’s not, and the best tools to help you convert Figma designs into HTML.
Can You Export HTML Directly from Figma?
Out of the box, Figma doesn’t include a feature to export HTML files directly. The platform is a vector-based UI design tool, not a code generator. However, it does allow you to inspect elements in Dev Mode, which provides CSS, iOS, and Android code snippets for individual layers—helpful, but not full HTML exports.
So if you’re asking, “Can I click a button and download a complete HTML file from Figma?” — the answer is no, unless you use external tools or plugins.
3 Ways to Export HTML from Figma
1. Use Figma Plugins
Several community-made plugins can help generate HTML from your Figma designs:
- HTML Generator
This plugin lets you select frames and export them to HTML and CSS. It’s good for basic layouts but may require code cleanup. - Figma to HTML
Offers a more structured output with responsive design options. Ideal for quick mockups or marketing pages. - Anima
A powerful plugin that turns Figma designs into responsive HTML and CSS, with support for interactions and breakpoints. You’ll need to sign up for a free or paid Anima account.
These tools generate HTML based on your layer structure, so proper naming, grouping, and use of Auto Layout can significantly improve the result.
2. Use Code Inspect in Dev Mode
Figma’s Dev Mode allows developers to click on elements and view their corresponding CSS. While this doesn’t export full HTML, it provides:
- Positioning
- Text styles
- Border, shadow, and fill values
Developers can manually translate this into HTML + CSS code. It’s a slower approach, but often yields cleaner, maintainable code tailored to your tech stack.
3. Use External Code Tools and Builders
You can also import Figma designs into web builders that output HTML/CSS:
- Webflow: Not a direct export, but you can recreate Figma layouts with pixel precision and export HTML/CSS/JS.
- Framer: Convert Figma components into responsive React-based code.
- TeleportHQ: Allows design-to-code conversion with exportable HTML files.
What You Need to Know Before Exporting
- Auto Layout is your friend: Using Auto Layout in Figma makes your design more structured and easier to translate to code.
- Layer naming and grouping: Clean naming ensures better plugin output.
- Expect to refactor: Even with good plugins, exported code might not be production-ready. Think of it as a starting point.
When Not to Export HTML from Figma
- If you’re building a complex web app with logic, animations, or database integration, plugins will fall short.
- Teams that follow atomic design or use component libraries (like React or Vue) may prefer manual handoff or coded UI kits.
Conclusion
While Figma doesn’t offer native HTML export, you can absolutely convert your designs into code with the right tools and techniques. Whether you’re prototyping fast with Anima or handing off to developers using Dev Mode, understanding the capabilities and limits of Figma HTML workflows helps streamline your product development process.
Designilo 