Designilo

Unlike word processors or code editors, Figma doesn’t have a built-in “text-indent” feature. So when designers need to create indented text, whether for paragraphs, lists, or visual alignment, they often wonder: How do I do this cleanly in Figma?

The good news is that you can simulate indentation using layout techniques, padding, and a few clever tricks. This article walks you through three effective ways to indent text in Figma—and when to use each one.

🛠️ Method 1: Use Spaces or Non-breaking Spaces

The quickest way to create an indent is by adding spaces at the beginning of a paragraph.

How to do it:

1. Place your text in a normal text box.
2. At the start of the paragraph, add spaces using the spacebar (␣) or copy-paste a non-breaking space (⌥ + Space on Mac).
3. You can control the number of spaces for consistency.

✅ Best for: Quick mockups, one-off text adjustments, or paragraph-first line indents.

Limitations: This method isn’t scalable or consistent across devices and screen sizes—it’s more visual than structural.

📏 Method 2: Use Padding with Auto Layout

If your text block is part of an Auto Layout frame, you can simulate indentation by using left padding.

How to do it:

1. Place your text inside a frame (Frame → Auto Layout → Vertical).
2. Apply left padding (e.g., 16px or 24px) to the frame.
3. If needed, keep the top padding low to maintain tight vertical spacing.

✅ Best for: UI design, components, form labels, or responsive layouts.

This approach ensures consistency and scales well with dynamic content.

📐 Method 3: Use Columns or Nested Frames for Lists

If you’re working with bullet points or multi-line lists, consider nesting each line of text in a horizontal Auto Layout frame with a fixed-width element (like an empty spacer or bullet symbol) on the left.

How to do it:

1. Create a new horizontal frame.
2. Add a small frame or icon to the left (e.g., a 16px-wide empty rectangle or bullet).
3. Place your text layer next to it.
4. Set spacing and alignment so it reads like an indented block.

✅ Best for: Lists, structured content, and repeated elements in a design system.

This gives you fine-grained control over alignment, especially when used with components or variable text.

💡 Bonus Tip: Use Grids or Guides

For pixel-perfect indentation, turn on layout grids or rulers (Shift + R) and align your text layers to consistent vertical lines. This ensures visual alignment without relying on manual nudging.

✅ Final Thoughts

Figma might not have a built-in “indent” button—but with a few layout tricks, you can achieve the same results cleanly and consistently. Whether you’re working on UI components or designing long-form content, Auto Layout and padding are your best tools for creating reliable indents in your designs.