Lock Aspect Ratio functionality problem

Hello,

I would like to suggest some important improvements to the Lock Aspect Ratio functionality. Since Figma is widely used for building responsive designs, I believe this should be an important feature.

I noticed that this issue has already been raised, and I believe it is a real problem when working with responsive layouts.

The problem

The main issue is that Figma calculates the aspect ratio based on the exact pixel dimensions of the original element, including decimals, rather than preserving the intended aspect ratio.

For example, suppose I have:

• A parent frame that is 375 px wide
• A responsive version of the design that is 440 px wide
• An element inside the 375 px frame that should have a 4:3 aspect ratio

At 375 px, the element is 343 × 257 px. This is not mathematically an exact 4:3 ratio, but this is understandable because using an exact 4:3 ratio would result in decimal values.

However, when I resize the parent frame to 440 px, Figma appears to preserve the exact ratio of 343 × 257, rather than recognizing that the element is intended to be 4:3.

As a result, the element becomes approximately:

408 × 301.55 px

Instead, it should become:

408 × 306 px

because 408 × 306 is a 4:3 ratio.

Suggested solution

I believe Figma should allow designers to specify an aspect ratio, such as 4:3, rather than only calculating and preserving the exact ratio of the current pixel dimensions.

When Lock Aspect Ratio is enabled, Figma could preserve the selected ratio mathematically:

4:3 → Width ÷ 4 × 3 = Height

This would allow the element to resize responsively while maintaining the intended aspect ratio, without introducing unnecessary decimal dimensions.

In other words, Figma should distinguish between:

• Preserving the exact dimensions ratio (343:257)
• Preserving the intended aspect ratio (4:3)

For responsive design, the second option is much more useful.

Optional rounding

I would also suggest adding an option for rounding dimensions to whole pixels.

When resizing responsively, designers often do not want dimensions such as 301.55 px. There could be a simple setting that allows the user to choose how Figma handles decimals, for example:

• Exact — preserve the mathematically precise value
• Round — round to the nearest whole pixel
• Round down
• Round up

This would give designers more control over how responsive dimensions are calculated.

For example, if an element needs to be 408 × 306 px to maintain a 4:3 ratio, Figma should be able to calculate the ratio first and then apply the selected rounding rule, rather than preserving the decimal ratio of the original dimensions.

I understand that Figma is currently calculating the ratio very precisely, but for responsive design this precision can actually produce impractical results. Designers should be able to define the intended ratio and decide how dimensions should be rounded.

This would make responsive design significantly easier, more predictable, and more accurate.

Kind Regards, Iris