Figma to Elementor: The Complete Conversion Guide 2026
You’ve spent hours perfecting that Figma design. The spacing is immaculate. The typography sings. Your client approved it with enthusiasm. Now comes the part that makes designers everywhere groan: rebuilding everything in Elementor from scratch.
This disconnect between design and development has plagued web professionals for years. The average designer spends 4-6 hours manually recreating a single landing page in Elementor, adjusting padding values, matching colors hex by hex, and praying the responsive breakpoints don’t destroy everything.
But here’s the thing it doesn’t have to be this painful anymore.
This guide walks you through every method for converting Figma designs to Elementor, from manual approaches to AI-powered automation. Whether you’re a freelancer handling your first client handoff or an agency scaling production, you’ll find a workflow that fits your needs and budget.
Why the Figma to Elementor Gap Exists
Before diving into solutions, understanding the problem helps you choose the right approach.
Figma and Elementor speak fundamentally different languages. Figma thinks in frames, auto-layout, and design tokens. Elementor thinks in sections, containers, and widgets. When you design a card component in Figma with auto-layout spacing, Elementor has no native way to interpret that structure.
The translation challenges include:
Layout interpretation: Figma’s auto-layout doesn’t map directly to Elementor’s flexbox containers. A horizontal stack in Figma might need manual configuration in Elementor to achieve the same behavior.
Typography mapping: Figma uses arbitrary font sizes and line heights. Elementor works best with its typography system and responsive controls. Converting requires decisions about which values become global styles versus one-off overrides.
Component logic: Figma components with variants don’t have an Elementor equivalent. Each variant becomes a separate widget configuration, losing the design system connection.
Responsive behavior: Figma’s constraints and auto-layout create responsive-ish designs. True mobile optimization requires additional Elementor configuration at tablet and mobile breakpoints.
Understanding these gaps helps you evaluate whether manual conversion, plugins, or automated tools make sense for your specific project.
Method 1: Manual Conversion (The Traditional Approach)
Manual conversion remains the most common approach, especially for simpler projects or teams without budget for specialized tools.
Setting Up Your Elementor Canvas
Start with Elementor’s container-based editor (available since Elementor 3.6). Containers offer flexbox-based layouts that align more closely with Figma’s auto-layout logic than the legacy section/column system.
Create your page structure first:
- Add a container for each major Figma frame
- Set container width to match your Figma canvas (typically 1440px for desktop)
- Configure default padding and margins to match your design system
Extracting Design Specifications
Figma’s Dev Mode (available on paid plans) provides the specifications you need:
- Dimensions: Width, height, padding, margins in pixels
- Colors: Hex values or design token references
- Typography: Font family, size, weight, line height, letter spacing
- Effects: Shadows, blurs, border radius
For teams without Dev Mode access, the standard Figma interface shows these values in the right panel when you select any element.
Building Components Systematically
Work from the outside in. Start with page-level containers, then build sections, then individual components.
For a typical hero section:
Container (full-width)
└── Container (max-width: 1200px, centered)
├── Heading Widget
├── Text Widget
└── Button WidgetMatch each Figma layer to its Elementor equivalent:
| Figma Element | Elementor Widget |
|---|---|
| Text layer | Heading or Text Editor |
| Rectangle with text | Button or styled container |
| Image | Image widget |
| Icon | Icon or Icon Box widget |
| Frame with children | Container |
Handling Responsive Breakpoints
Figma designs typically show desktop layouts only. Elementor requires explicit configuration for tablet (1024px) and mobile (767px) breakpoints.
For each element, check:
- Does the font size need reduction on mobile?
- Should the layout stack vertically?
- Do padding values need adjustment?
- Should certain elements hide on smaller screens?
Common responsive patterns:
Navigation: Horizontal menu → hamburger menu Hero sections: Side-by-side → stacked vertically Card grids: 3-column → 2-column → 1-column Font sizes: Reduce by 10-20% per breakpoint
Time Estimates for Manual Conversion
Based on typical project complexity:
| Page Type | Elements | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| Simple landing page | 20-30 | 2-3 hours |
| Multi-section homepage | 50-80 | 4-6 hours |
| Full website (5 pages) | 200+ | 15-25 hours |
These estimates assume proficiency with both Figma and Elementor. Add 30-50% for learning curve on your first few projects.
Method 2: Figma Plugins for Export
Several Figma plugins attempt to bridge the design-to-development gap with code export capabilities.
Anima
Anima exports Figma designs to HTML, CSS, and React code. While not Elementor-specific, the generated HTML can inform your Elementor build.
Best for: Developers comfortable reading code who want reference implementations Limitations: Doesn’t produce Elementor-compatible JSON; requires manual translation
Figma to HTML Exporters
Plugins like “HTML Generator” create static HTML from Figma frames. The output provides:
- Semantic HTML structure
- CSS with positioning and styling
- Asset exports for images and icons
Workflow: Export HTML → Analyze structure → Recreate in Elementor using code as reference
Why Direct Export Falls Short
No plugin currently exports directly to Elementor’s JSON format. Elementor’s widget system is proprietary, and its data structure includes:
- Widget type identifiers
- Setting schemas specific to each widget
- Responsive control values
- Global style references
Creating accurate Elementor JSON requires understanding this schema deeply—something general-purpose export tools don’t address.
Method 3: Design System Synchronization
For teams with established design systems, synchronizing Figma tokens with Elementor global styles reduces repetitive work.
Creating Matching Design Tokens
Build parallel systems in both tools:
In Figma:
- Color styles for primary, secondary, accent colors
- Text styles for headings, body, captions
- Effect styles for shadows and borders
- Spacing variables for consistent margins/padding
In Elementor:
- Global colors matching Figma color styles
- Global fonts with typography presets
- Custom CSS variables for spacing
Using Elementor’s Global System
Elementor’s Site Settings provide global defaults:
Navigate to Site Settings → Global Colors and create colors matching your Figma palette. Use identical naming conventions:
Primary/500 → Primary
Primary/700 → Primary Dark
Neutral/100 → Background LightFor typography, create Global Fonts under Site Settings → Global Fonts:
H1 Style: Heading Primary
H2 Style: Heading Secondary
Body: Body TextWhen building pages, reference these globals instead of setting values manually. Changes propagate automatically.
Token Export Tools
Tools like Tokens Studio (formerly Figma Tokens) export design tokens in JSON format. While not directly compatible with Elementor, the exported values can:
- Generate CSS custom properties
- Create documentation for developers
- Maintain single source of truth across tools
Method 4: Automated Conversion Tools
Automation tools like Figmentor dramatically reduce conversion time by handling the translation between Figma’s structure and Elementor’s widget system.
How Automated Conversion Works
The typical automated workflow:
- Select frames: Choose which Figma frames to convert
- Export design data: Plugin extracts layout, styling, and asset information
- Process conversion: AI or rule-based system maps Figma elements to Elementor widgets
- Generate output: Produces Elementor-compatible JSON with proper widget configurations
- Import to WordPress: WordPress plugin imports JSON directly into Elementor
Figmentor handles this entire pipeline, converting complex designs with auto-layout, components, and responsive behavior in minutes rather than hours.
What Gets Converted
Automated tools typically handle:
- Layout structure: Frames become containers with proper flexbox settings
- Typography: Text layers convert to Heading or Text Editor widgets with matched styling
- Colors and backgrounds: Solid colors, gradients, and images transfer accurately
- Spacing: Padding and margins maintain design specifications
- Basic interactions: Hover states and simple animations where supported
Conversion Accuracy Considerations
No automated tool achieves 100% accuracy on complex designs. Common elements requiring manual refinement:
- Custom animations: Complex Figma prototyping interactions don’t have Elementor equivalents
- Highly customized components: Unique UI patterns may need custom CSS
- Dynamic content: Repeating elements that will pull from WordPress data
- Form styling: Complex form layouts often need post-import adjustment
Plan for 15-30 minutes of refinement after automated conversion, compared to hours of manual building.
When Automation Makes Sense
Automated conversion provides the highest ROI for:
- High-volume projects: Agencies handling multiple client sites monthly
- Tight deadlines: Projects where time savings justify tool costs
- Design-heavy pages: Landing pages with numerous custom sections
- Iteration cycles: Projects requiring multiple rounds of design changes
For a single simple landing page built once, manual conversion may suffice. For anything involving iteration or scale, automation pays for itself quickly.
Optimizing Your Converted Pages
Whether you convert manually or automatically, optimization ensures your Elementor pages perform well.
Performance Considerations
Elementor adds overhead that Figma designs don’t account for. Optimize by:
Minimizing nested containers: Each container adds DOM elements. Flatten structures where possible.
Optimizing images: Export from Figma at appropriate sizes. Use WebP format. Enable lazy loading.
Reducing widget count: Combine elements where possible. A single Text Editor widget can contain multiple styled paragraphs.
Leveraging Elementor’s performance features: Enable improved asset loading, CSS print method set to internal embedding for critical pages.
SEO Optimization
Figma designs don’t include SEO elements. Add these in Elementor:
- Proper heading hierarchy: H1 for page title, H2 for sections, H3 for subsections
- Alt text for images: Descriptive text for accessibility and search
- Internal links: Connect related content throughout your site
- Meta descriptions: Configure via Yoast or RankMath integration
Responsive Refinement
Automated conversions and manual builds both need responsive testing. Check every page at:
- Desktop: 1920px, 1440px, 1280px
- Tablet: 1024px, 768px
- Mobile: 425px, 375px, 320px
Common fixes needed:
- Text that overflows containers on mobile
- Images maintaining desktop sizes
- Button touch targets too small for mobile
- Spacing that looks excessive on smaller screens
Building a Sustainable Workflow
One-off conversion is useful. A repeatable workflow is transformational.
Creating Elementor Templates from Converted Designs
Save completed sections as Elementor templates for reuse:
- Right-click the container
- Select “Save as Template”
- Name descriptively: “Hero - Left Text Right Image - Dark”
Build a library of converted components that accelerate future projects.
Version Control Considerations
Design changes happen. Prepare for iterations:
- Figma version history: Use named versions before major changes
- Elementor revisions: Enable revision history in WordPress settings
- Staging environments: Test conversions before pushing to production
Team Collaboration Tips
For agencies and teams:
- Standardize naming conventions: Consistent names across Figma and Elementor
- Document decisions: Note where conversion required interpretation
- Create conversion checklists: Ensure nothing gets missed
- Establish review processes: QA before client delivery
Common Conversion Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Fonts Don’t Match
Problem: Figma design uses fonts not available in WordPress.
Solutions:
- Upload custom fonts via Elementor’s custom fonts feature
- Use a font hosting service like Adobe Fonts
- Find similar Google Fonts alternatives
Challenge: Colors Look Different
Problem: Converted colors appear slightly off between Figma and browser.
Causes:
- Color profile differences (Figma uses unmanaged RGB)
- Monitor calibration variations
- Browser color rendering
Solution: Use exact hex values. Test on multiple devices. Accept minor variations as normal.
Challenge: Spacing Inconsistencies
Problem: Margins and padding don’t match the design exactly.
Solutions:
- Use Elementor’s padding/margin controls rather than spacing widgets
- Check for inherited values from global styles
- Verify container width settings match Figma canvas
Challenge: Complex Layouts Breaking
Problem: Intricate designs with overlapping elements don’t convert cleanly.
Solutions:
- Simplify overlapping elements using CSS positioning
- Use Elementor’s position: absolute for floating elements
- Consider whether the complexity adds enough value to justify implementation time
Measuring Conversion Success
Track metrics to improve your workflow over time:
Time per page: How long from Figma export to Elementor completion? Accuracy rate: What percentage of elements need manual adjustment? Client revision requests: Are conversions meeting design expectations? Performance scores: Do converted pages maintain good Core Web Vitals?
Benchmark your first projects, then measure improvements as you refine your process.
Choosing Your Conversion Method
The right approach depends on your specific situation:
Manual conversion works best when:
- You’re learning both tools
- Projects are small and infrequent
- Budget is extremely limited
- You need maximum control over every element
Plugin-assisted workflows work best when:
- You have development skills to interpret code exports
- Designs follow standard patterns
- You want reference code alongside manual building
Automated conversion with tools like Figmentor works best when:
- Volume justifies the investment
- Time is more valuable than tool costs
- Designs include complex components and layouts
- Projects require rapid iteration
Most professional teams use a hybrid approach—automated conversion for the heavy lifting, manual refinement for polish and optimization.
Taking Your Next Step
Converting Figma designs to Elementor doesn’t have to drain your time and energy. Whether you choose careful manual building, strategic tool assistance, or full automation, understanding the translation challenges helps you work smarter.
Start with your next project. Time your current manual process. Then explore how tools and techniques from this guide could improve your workflow. Even small efficiency gains compound across dozens of projects.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s a sustainable process that delivers quality results without burning out your team or budget.
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