How to Create a Table in Figma Using Auto Layout

Need help making a table in Figma with autolayout? Not to worry! We got you. 

Today we’re going to be giving you step-by-step instructions on how you can make a table in Figma using auto-layout! 🤩 

With Pictures! 👀

Let's start with setting up your frame.

First, you will create your frame and hit Shift + A to apply auto layout.

Next, select Fixed-Width, Hug Contents.

Then you're going to set the left to 24, the top and bottom to 14, and on the right, we want 0.

Then you want to make the width 192.

Feel free to use whatever measurements you’d like, but once you’re happy with how it looks, you're going to hit Command + D to duplicate.

Don’t forget to line them up after you duplicate, and then duplicate as many times as you want columns. 😁

Once you have as many columns as you want, select all and hit Shift + A to apply auto layout.

Then go into each individual frame and change the Fixed Width to Fill Container.

Then select a fill for the background; for this example, we used white.

Next, you’re going to want to duplicate and line them up. 🔎

A great tip is to name each column, Column1, Column2, Column3, etc., etc.

This is going to come in handy later! 😉

Once you’ve finished naming your columns, just duplicate a bunch!

Now you have something that looks like a table! 🥳

Let’s select the entire table and hit Shift + A to apply auto layout again! 😁

We want to create visual differentiation, so let's add some color! 🎨

Select every other column and fill it with the color of your choice!

We selected a pastel green - nothing too dark, so the user can still see the text!

To create some extra depth, let's use a shadow below the header.

So you’ll want to click that first row, then hit Effects and apply an Inner Shadow.

Once you’ve seen that it’s been applied, edit the color so it matches the theme of your table! 🎨

Set the Blur and Y-Axis to 4, and the Opacity is set to 25%. This way, it’s subtle and doesn't distract the user.

Next, you're going to add an outline. Again, follow your own color pallet! 🫶

Now that your foundation is set, it’s time to add some headers. We’re using a budgeting table as an example, so our headers will be Date, Expense, Cost, Category, and Notes.

Make sure to differentiate the Header text and the Body text. We made ours a little darker to be visible to the user. 😊

Remember when we said to name each column because it’ll come in handy later…well it’s later! 🤩

Now let's use Find and Replace to create some placeholder text.

This is a great Figma plugin which, if you don't already have, don't worry here's the link so you can save SOO much time in the future. 👇

Get the Find and Replace plugin! 🕵️

Now that you’ve opened Find and Replace, you're going to type in Column1 in the Find box, and it’s going to show us how many instances we have. Then type your replacement text for Column1.

We'll use a date for our example, May 7th, 2021.

Hit Replace All, and continue the process!

So in Column2 we're going to use Oat milk and hit Replace All again, and just continue until you’ve replaced all of your columns! 🙌

🪄 Just like that, your table has been created, and we have our headers and columns.

Plus, now you know how to put some placeholder text! 😁

Are you a visual learner?

If you want to watch us create this table in 5 minutes, head over to our youtube channel! 👇

Want to watch our Marketing Intern, who's a total Figma newbie, make this table?

Check out our Tiktok and Insta! 👉 If she can do it, so can you! 😉 

Kharina Parla 

Marketing at The Craft 

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