How to adjust and make the width of a UILabel to fit the text size?

Question

In my project, there is a UILabel with text. The font size is 16pt. The text contents are changed depending on different cases. I hope it can automatically adjust the width of UILabel to fit the total width of texts without stretching.

Is it possible?

score 115 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 04 '10 at 21:37

115

This assumes you have already set the font:

label.text = @"some text";
[label sizeToFit];

You will also need to define a maximum width, and tell your program what to do if sizeToFit gives you a width greater than that maximum.

answered Nov 04 '10 at 21:37

William Jockusch

26,513
49
182
323

3

sizeToFit method is a method of UIView. – TopChul Aug 16 '11 at 04:03
60

how to define a maximum width? – Mick F Aug 07 '12 at 13:44
9

The number of lines must be 1 for the width to adjust. If 0 it adjusts height. Also note this only seems to grow the UILabel, so make sure it's less wide in IB than all the text you'll be using. – nh32rg Mar 04 '14 at 17:12
It shrinks as well in iOS 7. – superarts.org Jul 02 '14 at 08:12
1

To define a maximum width you'd simply check `label.frame.size.width` after calling `sizeToFit`. If `label.frame.size.width` is > than your maximum width, you'd then adjust the size accordingly. – Michael Jul 31 '14 at 08:59
1

Don't forget that you have to check your auto layout constraints, if it has a fixed size it might not change on runtime. – Hola Soy Edu Feliz Navidad May 19 '15 at 13:33
Is it possible to set these properties within the storyboard? – Julius Dec 05 '17 at 16:39

score 21 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 21 '17 at 12:37

21

Here's how to do it, suppose the following messageLabel is the label you want to have the desired effect. Now, try these simple line of codes:

    // Set width constraint for label; it's actually the width of your UILabel
    CGFloat constrainedWidth = 240.0f;
    // Calculate space for the specified string
    CGSize sizeOfText = [yourText sizeWithFont:yourFont constrainedToSize:CGSizeMake(constrainedWidth, CGFLOAT_MAX) lineBreakMode:UILineBreakModeWordWrap];
    UILabel *messageLabel = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(20,20,constrainedWidth,sizeOfText.height)];
    messageLabel.text = yourText;
    messageLabel.numberOfLines = 0;// This will make the label multiline

edited Aug 21 '17 at 12:37

Forge

6,538
6
44
64

answered Feb 01 '12 at 06:19

Munim

2,626
1
19
28

7

This is actually a really good answer... Just not for this specific question! This answer works well when you want to automatically adjust the *height* of a `UILabel` whilst maintaining a fixed width. That's in fact what I was looking for when I came across this page. I'd love to vote your answer up... but it doesn't answer the question asked. Good solution nevertheless and will probably help others who stumble across this page. – Jonathan Ellis Apr 23 '12 at 15:23
1

Thanks jon! Actually I was searching for this solution as well and incidentally I managed to make it,and then thought I should share it here. :) BTW,exactly what happened that time is that I didn't notice the question very well, so made the mistake,I think. Sorry for that,and happy that it helped you :D – Munim Apr 23 '12 at 16:53
could you post something similar for iOS 8? – user2159978 Nov 18 '14 at 08:59

score 14 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 21 '12 at 08:36

14

NSString *txt1=@"I am here.";
CGSize stringsize1 = [txt1 sizeWithFont:[UIFont systemFontOfSize:14]]; 
[label setFrame:CGRectMake(x,y,stringsize1.width,hieght)];
[label setText:txt1];

answered Nov 21 '12 at 08:36

Vikas Pandey

550
4
13

score 7 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 21 '17 at 12:23

I see three options here.

First, make label's size big enough to hold any text. That's most simple, but does not always work well - depends on its surrounding views.

Second, Label can adapt size of the font for longer text (adjustsFontSizeToFitWidth property). This is often not desirable, different fonts in elements might look ugly.

Last option is to programmatically resize the label according to its currently holding text. To calculate the size required to hold the text with current font use something like this:

CGSize textSize = [[someLabel text] sizeWithFont:[someLabel font] forWidth:someLabel.bounds.size.width lineBreakMode:UILineBreakModeWordWrap];

If we use UILineBreakModeWordWrap we can enter multiple lines on UILabel, How can I set the line space between two lines. — Vineesh TP, Jul 04 '12 at 09:40

score 3 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 08 '17 at 00:30

3

If you set your font and its size already and if you have your frame defined, try using the following for these two common conditions:

if (label.text.length > maxCharPerLine) [label setNumberOfLines:0]; // infinite lines
else [label setNumberOfLines:1]; // one line only

// Adjust your font size to fit your desired width.
[label setAdjustsFontSizeToFitWidth:YES];

edited Mar 08 '17 at 00:30

Will Von Ullrich

2,129
2
15
42

answered Jun 06 '16 at 15:49

dheeru

319
5
6

Assuming you are attempting multiple line labeling then yes this is the correct approach. For single line labeling of course set number of lines to 1. – Will Von Ullrich Mar 07 '17 at 18:19

score 2 · Answer 6 · edited Aug 08 '19 at 03:02

2

Using Auto Layout:

In the ViewController:

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    sampleLabel.text = "Electrical Maintenance and Repair"
    sampleLabel.sizeToFit()
}

edited Aug 08 '19 at 03:02

mokagio

16,391
3
51
58

answered Nov 30 '16 at 09:04

Alvin George

14,148
92
64

score 1 · Answer 7 · edited Aug 21 '17 at 13:01

1

Follow this.

CGSize stringsize = [yourString sizeWithFont:[UIFont systemFontOfSize:fontSize]]; 
[label setFrame:CGRectMake(x,y,stringsize.width,height)];
[label setText: yourString];

edited Aug 21 '17 at 13:01

Forge

6,538
6
44
64

answered Jun 10 '15 at 12:50

this method is deprecated – Kishore Kumar May 19 '16 at 14:54
and, when calling the new size measurement, you should use label.font, not the system font – eric Jun 06 '19 at 20:20

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Sep 15 '16 at 07:45

As sizeWithFont is depreciated in IOS 7.0 then you below code

#define SYSTEM_VERSION_LESS_THAN(v) ([[[UIDevice currentDevice] systemVersion] compare:v options:NSNumericSearch] == NSOrderedAscending)



 if (SYSTEM_VERSION_LESS_THAN(@"7.0")) {
        // code here for iOS 5.0,6.0 and so on
        CGSize fontSize = [itemCat_text sizeWithFont:[UIFont fontWithName:@"Helvetica" size:12]];
    } else {
        // code here for iOS 7.0
         fontSize = [itemCat_text sizeWithAttributes:
                           @{NSFontAttributeName:
                                 [UIFont fontWithName:@"Helvetica" size:12]}];
    }

How to adjust and make the width of a UILabel to fit the text size?

8 Answers8

Linked