Figma Fonts: How To Change & Customize Text

Nov 8, 2025 by Admin 44 views

Hey guys! Ever wondered how to change the font in Figma? Well, you're in the right place! Figma is a super powerful design tool, and knowing how to tweak your fonts is essential for creating awesome designs. Whether you're working on a website, mobile app, or presentation, getting your typography right can make a huge difference. So, let's dive into the world of Figma fonts and learn how to bend them to your will!

Understanding Fonts in Figma

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let's get a handle on what fonts are and how Figma handles them. Fonts, at their core, are sets of characters (letters, numbers, symbols) designed with a specific style. Think of them as the voice of your design. A bold, sans-serif font might shout modern and techy, while a flowing, script font could whisper elegant and personal. Choosing the right font can set the entire tone of your project.

Figma lets you use a variety of fonts, including those already installed on your computer and fonts from the Google Fonts library. Plus, if you have a Figma Professional plan, you can even upload your own custom fonts. This flexibility means you have a massive playground for typography, but it also means understanding how to manage and change these fonts is super important.

When you're working with text in Figma, you're not just slapping characters on the screen. You're controlling a whole bunch of properties that affect how those characters look. Things like font family (the actual font name, like Arial or Times New Roman), font weight (boldness), font size, line height, letter spacing, and color all play a part. Mastering these properties is what separates a good design from a great design. We'll go through all these properties and how to change them in Figma in the following sections. So buckle up, and let's get typographically savvy!

Changing Fonts: The Basics

Alright, let's get to the main event: actually changing the font in Figma! The process is pretty straightforward, but knowing the steps will save you a bunch of time and frustration.

Select Your Text Layer: First things first, you need to select the text layer you want to modify. You can do this by clicking on the text directly on the canvas or by selecting the layer in the Layers panel on the left side of your screen. Make sure you see the blue bounding box around your text – that's how you know it's selected.
Open the Text Panel: Once you've selected your text layer, head over to the right-hand sidebar. You should see a panel labeled "Text." This is where all the magic happens. If you don't see it, make sure you have a text layer selected. Sometimes, Figma can be a little finicky.
Choose Your Font: In the Text panel, you'll see a dropdown menu that displays the current font being used. Click on this menu, and you'll get a list of all the fonts available to you in Figma. This includes fonts installed on your computer, Google Fonts, and any custom fonts you've uploaded (if you're on the Professional plan).
Browse and Select: Scroll through the list of fonts until you find one that tickles your fancy. You can use the search bar at the top of the dropdown to quickly find a specific font by name. Once you've found the perfect font, click on it to apply it to your selected text layer. Boom! Your font has changed!
Adjust Font Styles: Some fonts come with different styles, like Regular, Bold, Italic, or Light. You can change the font style using the dropdown menu right below the font selection. Play around with these styles to see how they affect the look of your text.

That's the basic process for changing fonts in Figma. Easy peasy, right? But there's more to typography than just swapping fonts. Let's dive into some more advanced techniques.

Advanced Font Customization

Okay, now that you know how to change the basic font, let's crank things up a notch. Figma offers a ton of options for customizing your text, allowing you to create truly unique and eye-catching designs. Let's explore some of these advanced features.

Font Weight and Style

As we mentioned earlier, font weight refers to the thickness of the font. Common weights include Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, and Black. The available weights depend on the specific font you're using. To change the font weight, simply use the dropdown menu below the font selection in the Text panel. Experiment with different weights to see how they affect the readability and visual impact of your text.

Font style, on the other hand, typically refers to whether the font is italicized or not. Some fonts may also have other styles, such as oblique. To change the font style, use the style dropdown menu. Keep in mind that not all fonts have italic versions, so you might not see this option for every font.

Font Size and Line Height

Font size is pretty self-explanatory – it's the size of your text. You can change the font size by typing a value into the font size field in the Text panel or by using the up and down arrows to adjust it incrementally. Be mindful of font size when designing for different screen sizes. What looks great on a desktop might be illegible on a mobile device.

Line height, also known as leading, is the vertical space between lines of text. Adjusting the line height can significantly impact the readability of your text. Too little line height, and your text will look cramped and difficult to read. Too much line height, and your text will feel disconnected. You can change the line height in the Text panel using the line height field. A good rule of thumb is to set the line height to be around 1.2 to 1.5 times the font size.

Letter Spacing and Paragraph Spacing

Letter spacing, also known as tracking, is the horizontal space between individual letters in your text. Adjusting the letter spacing can help improve the readability and visual appeal of your text, especially for headlines and display text. You can change the letter spacing in the Text panel using the letter spacing field. A little bit of letter spacing can go a long way, so use it sparingly.

Paragraph spacing is the vertical space between paragraphs of text. Adjusting the paragraph spacing can help create visual separation between paragraphs and improve the overall flow of your text. Figma doesn't have a dedicated paragraph spacing setting, but you can achieve a similar effect by adding extra line breaks between paragraphs or by using a plugin.

Text Alignment and Decoration

Text alignment refers to how your text is aligned within its bounding box. You can align your text to the left, center, right, or justify it. To change the text alignment, use the alignment buttons in the Text panel. Choose the alignment that best suits your design and the content of your text.

Text decoration allows you to add underlines, strikethroughs, or overlines to your text. These decorations can be useful for highlighting specific words or phrases, but use them sparingly, as they can also make your text harder to read. You can add text decorations using the decoration buttons in the Text panel.

Working with Google Fonts

One of the coolest things about Figma is its seamless integration with Google Fonts. This gives you access to a massive library of free, high-quality fonts that you can use in your designs. Here's how to make the most of Google Fonts in Figma:

Accessing Google Fonts: When you open the font dropdown menu in the Text panel, you'll see a section labeled "Google Fonts." This is where all the Google Fonts are listed. You can browse through the list or use the search bar to find a specific font.
Using Google Fonts: To use a Google Font, simply select it from the list. Figma will automatically load the font and apply it to your selected text layer. It's that easy!
Font Styles: Google Fonts often come with a variety of styles, such as Regular, Bold, Italic, and Light. You can access these styles using the font style dropdown menu, just like with any other font.
Choosing the Right Google Font: With so many Google Fonts to choose from, it can be tough to know where to start. Consider the overall tone and style of your design when selecting a font. Do you want something modern and minimalist? Or something more classic and elegant? Experiment with different fonts until you find one that feels just right.

Uploading Custom Fonts (Figma Professional)

If you're on the Figma Professional plan, you have the ability to upload your own custom fonts. This is super useful if you need to use a specific font that's not available in Google Fonts or if you want to use a proprietary font that you've purchased.

Uploading Fonts: To upload a custom font, go to the Font Picker. Click the team name in the file browser. Select Fonts from the options. Click Upload font in the top-right corner. Choose one or more font files from your device. Click Open to upload.
Using Custom Fonts: Once you've uploaded your custom font, it will appear in the font dropdown menu along with your other fonts. Simply select it to apply it to your text layer.
Font Licensing: Keep in mind that you're responsible for ensuring that you have the proper license to use any custom fonts that you upload to Figma. Don't use fonts that you don't have the right to use.

Tips for Choosing the Right Font

Choosing the right font can be tricky, but here are a few tips to help you make the best choice:

Consider Your Audience: Who are you designing for? Choose a font that will resonate with your target audience.
Think About Readability: Make sure your font is easy to read, especially for body text. Avoid overly decorative or complex fonts for large blocks of text.
Create Contrast: Use different fonts for headings and body text to create visual contrast and hierarchy.
Limit Your Font Choices: Stick to a maximum of two or three fonts per design to avoid overwhelming your audience.
Test Your Fonts: Test your fonts on different devices and screen sizes to ensure they look good everywhere.

Conclusion

So there you have it! You're now a font-changing master in Figma. Go forth and create beautiful, typographically sound designs! Remember, the right font can make all the difference in the world. Happy designing!