Select the objects you want to align or distribute.
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Align or distribute objects
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to align or distribute objects in Adobe InDesign using alignment options and spacing tools for precise layout control.
Object alignment helps maintain consistent spacing and visual balance across your layouts. InDesign provides alignment and distribution tools that allow you to position objects relative to selections, page margins, or the entire spread. These tools are useful when aligning multiple objects to a common edge or distributing them evenly, while keeping text alignment and locked objects unaffected.
Align and distribute objects using the Align panel
Select Window > Object & Layout > Align.
Select the required alignment reference from the Align To drop-down menu.
Select an alignment option in the Align Objects section to align object edges or centers horizontally or vertically.
Select a distribution option in the Distribute Objects section to distribute objects evenly based on their edges or centers.
Select Use Spacing in the Distribute Objects section for custom spacing.
Enter the required spacing value to define the distance between objects.
Select a distribute option in the Distribute Spacing section to apply equal spacing between object edges.
Select Use Spacing under Distribute Spacing and enter a spacing value to apply equal edge-to-edge spacing.
Drag a selection handle while holding the Spacebar to distribute spacing proportionally.
Adjust spacing using the Gap tool
Position the pointer between the objects where you want to adjust spacing.
Select the Gap tool.
Move the pointer between two objects.
Drag to move the gap and resize adjacent objects proportionally.
Shift-drag to adjust spacing between the nearest objects only.
Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) + drag to resize the gap.
Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) + drag to move the gap and objects together.
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