How to Make a Grid in InDesign

Have you ever needed a grid in Adobe InDesign and been unable to find it? This tutorial will teach you the basics of how to make a grid in InDesign and how to customize it. 

What You Will Learn in This Tutorial

  • How to make a baseline grid in InDesign
  • How to make a square grid in InDesign
  • How to make a dot grid in InDesign

What You’ll Need

You can follow along using your own documents if you want, but here are the resources I’m using in this demonstration:

1. How to Make a Baseline Grid in InDesign

Step 1

Baseline grids in InDesign are great for keeping text aligned across your document. Using baseline grids for publications like magazines comes in handy. To access your baseline preferences, go to InDesign > Preferences > Grids.

Open preferencesOpen preferencesOpen preferences

Step 2 

Choose the following Baseline Grid settings:

  • Color: Green
  • Start: 15 mm
  • Relative To: Top of Page
  • Increment Every: 12 pt
  • View Threshold: 75%
Baseline grid optionsBaseline grid optionsBaseline grid options

Step 3

To view your Baseline Grid, go to View > Grids & Guides > Show Baseline Grid. Your grid should now appear on your document spread. If you’re having trouble with the baseline grid not appearing, try zooming in/out. 

View baseline gridView baseline gridView baseline grid

2. How to Make a Square in InDesign

Step 1

Access the Grid Preferences menu by going to InDesign > Preferences > Grids. Now, we will make changes to the Document Grid settings. Change the Color to Dark Blue, Gridline Every to 30 mm, and Subdivisions to 8. Click OK.

Document grid preferencesDocument grid preferencesDocument grid preferences

Step 2

In InDesign, show grid lines by going to View > Grids & Guides > Show Document Grid. Use the grids in InDesign to align objects and images. 

View document gridView document gridView document grid

3. How to Make a Dot Grid in InDesign

Step 1

Create a new page at the end of your document. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and click anywhere in the document. This will bring up the Ellipse Options. Change the size to 2 mm. Change the Fill of the dot to Black in the Swatches panel. Move the dot to the top left corner of your document.

Ellipse OptionsEllipse OptionsEllipse Options

Step 2

With the dot selected, go to Edit > Step and Repeat. Choose the following settings:

  • Rows: 37
  • Columns: 22
  • Create as a grid should be checked
  • Vertical: 8.1 mm
  • Horizontal: 9.7 mm

Click OK.

Step and repeatStep and repeatStep and repeat

Step 3

Your grid should look similar to the image below. 

Dot gridDot gridDot grid

Master InDesign

Since you’ve mastered this tutorial on how to create a grid in InDesign, it’s time to learn even more. Taking your skills to the next level is easy with this set of tutorials that will teach you how to work with type.


This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Ashlee Harrell

Have you ever needed a grid in Adobe InDesign and been unable to find it? This tutorial will teach you the basics of how to make a grid in InDesign and how to customize it. 

What You Will Learn in This Tutorial

  • How to make a baseline grid in InDesign
  • How to make a square grid in InDesign
  • How to make a dot grid in InDesign

What You'll Need

You can follow along using your own documents if you want, but here are the resources I'm using in this demonstration:

1. How to Make a Baseline Grid in InDesign

Step 1

Baseline grids in InDesign are great for keeping text aligned across your document. Using baseline grids for publications like magazines comes in handy. To access your baseline preferences, go to InDesign > Preferences > Grids.

Open preferencesOpen preferencesOpen preferences

Step 2 

Choose the following Baseline Grid settings:

  • Color: Green
  • Start: 15 mm
  • Relative To: Top of Page
  • Increment Every: 12 pt
  • View Threshold: 75%
Baseline grid optionsBaseline grid optionsBaseline grid options

Step 3

To view your Baseline Grid, go to View > Grids & Guides > Show Baseline Grid. Your grid should now appear on your document spread. If you're having trouble with the baseline grid not appearing, try zooming in/out. 

View baseline gridView baseline gridView baseline grid

2. How to Make a Square in InDesign

Step 1

Access the Grid Preferences menu by going to InDesign > Preferences > Grids. Now, we will make changes to the Document Grid settings. Change the Color to Dark Blue, Gridline Every to 30 mm, and Subdivisions to 8. Click OK.

Document grid preferencesDocument grid preferencesDocument grid preferences

Step 2

In InDesign, show grid lines by going to View > Grids & Guides > Show Document Grid. Use the grids in InDesign to align objects and images. 

View document gridView document gridView document grid

3. How to Make a Dot Grid in InDesign

Step 1

Create a new page at the end of your document. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and click anywhere in the document. This will bring up the Ellipse Options. Change the size to 2 mm. Change the Fill of the dot to Black in the Swatches panel. Move the dot to the top left corner of your document.

Ellipse OptionsEllipse OptionsEllipse Options

Step 2

With the dot selected, go to Edit > Step and Repeat. Choose the following settings:

  • Rows: 37
  • Columns: 22
  • Create as a grid should be checked
  • Vertical: 8.1 mm
  • Horizontal: 9.7 mm

Click OK.

Step and repeatStep and repeatStep and repeat

Step 3

Your grid should look similar to the image below. 

Dot gridDot gridDot grid

Master InDesign

Since you've mastered this tutorial on how to create a grid in InDesign, it's time to learn even more. Taking your skills to the next level is easy with this set of tutorials that will teach you how to work with type.


This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Ashlee Harrell


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