UILabel text margin

I'm looking to set the left inset/margin of a UILabel and can't find a method to do so. The label has a background set so just changing its origin won't do the trick. It would be ideal to inset the text by 10px or so on the left hand side.

I solved this by subclassing UILabel and overriding drawTextInRect: like this:

- (void)drawTextInRect:(CGRect)rect {
    UIEdgeInsets insets = {0, 5, 0, 5};
    [super drawTextInRect:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets)];
}

Swift 3.1:

override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
    let insets = UIEdgeInsets.init(top: 0, left: 5, bottom: 0, right: 5)
    super.drawText(in: UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets))
}

Swift 4.2.1:

override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
    let insets = UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 5, bottom: 0, right: 5)
    super.drawText(in: rect.inset(by: insets))
}

As you might have gathered, this is an adaptation of tc.'s answer. It has two advantages over that one:

1. there's no need to trigger it by sending a sizeToFit message
2. it leaves the label frame alone - handy if your label has a background and you don't want that to shrink

For multiline text the left and the right margin can be set by using NSAttributedString.

NSMutableParagraphStyle *style =  [[NSParagraphStyle defaultParagraphStyle] mutableCopy];
style.alignment = NSTextAlignmentJustified;
style.firstLineHeadIndent = 10.0f;
style.headIndent = 10.0f;
style.tailIndent = -10.0f;   

NSAttributedString *attrText = [[NSAttributedString alloc] initWithString:title attributes:@{ NSParagraphStyleAttributeName : style}];  

UILabel * label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:someFrame];
label.numberOfLines = 0;
label.attributedText = attrText;

Here is the above example adopted to Swift 5:

extension UILabel {
    func setMargins(margin: CGFloat = 10) {
        if let textString = self.text {
            var paragraphStyle = NSMutableParagraphStyle()
            paragraphStyle.firstLineHeadIndent = margin
            paragraphStyle.headIndent = margin
            paragraphStyle.tailIndent = -margin
            let attributedString = NSMutableAttributedString(string: textString)
            attributedString.addAttribute(.paragraphStyle, value: paragraphStyle, range: NSRange(location: 0, length: attributedString.length))
            attributedText = attributedString
        }
    }
}

The best approach to add padding to a UILabel is to subclass UILabel and add an edgeInsets property. You then set the desired insets and the label will be drawn accordingly.

OSLabel.h

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

@interface OSLabel : UILabel

@property (nonatomic, assign) UIEdgeInsets edgeInsets;

@end

OSLabel.m

#import "OSLabel.h"

@implementation OSLabel

- (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame{
    self = [super initWithFrame:frame];
    if (self) {
        self.edgeInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 0, 0, 0);
    }
    return self;
}

- (void)drawTextInRect:(CGRect)rect {
    [super drawTextInRect:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, self.edgeInsets)];
}

- (CGSize)intrinsicContentSize
{
    CGSize size = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    size.width  += self.edgeInsets.left + self.edgeInsets.right;
    size.height += self.edgeInsets.top + self.edgeInsets.bottom;
    return size;
}

@end

Subclassing is a little cumbersome for such a simple case. An alternative is to simply add the UILabel with no background set to a UIView with the background set. Set the label's x to 10 and make the outer view's size 20 pixels wider than the label.

With Swift 3, you can have the desired effect by creating a subclass of UILabel. In this subclass, you will have to add a UIEdgeInsets property with the required insets and override drawText(in:) method, intrinsicContentSize property (for Auto layout code) and/or sizeThatFits(_:) method (for Springs & Struts code).

import UIKit

class PaddingLabel: UILabel {
    
    let padding: UIEdgeInsets
    
    // Create a new PaddingLabel instance programamtically with the desired insets
    required init(padding: UIEdgeInsets = UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 10, bottom: 0, right: 10)) {
        self.padding = padding
        super.init(frame: CGRect.zero)
    }
    
    // Create a new PaddingLabel instance programamtically with default insets
    override init(frame: CGRect) {
        padding = UIEdgeInsets.zero // set desired insets value according to your needs
        super.init(frame: frame)
    }
    
    // Create a new PaddingLabel instance from Storyboard with default insets
    required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
        padding = UIEdgeInsets.zero // set desired insets value according to your needs
        super.init(coder: aDecoder)
    }
    
    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawText(in: UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, padding))
    }
    
    // Override `intrinsicContentSize` property for Auto layout code
    override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
        let superContentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize
        let width = superContentSize.width + padding.left + padding.right
        let height = superContentSize.height + padding.top + padding.bottom
        return CGSize(width: width, height: height)
    }
    
    // Override `sizeThatFits(_:)` method for Springs & Struts code
    override func sizeThatFits(_ size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
        let superSizeThatFits = super.sizeThatFits(size)
        let width = superSizeThatFits.width + padding.left + padding.right
        let heigth = superSizeThatFits.height + padding.top + padding.bottom
        return CGSize(width: width, height: heigth)
    }
    
}

The following example shows how to use PaddingLabel instances in a UIViewController:

import UIKit

class ViewController: UIViewController {
    
    @IBOutlet weak var storyboardAutoLayoutLabel: PaddingLabel!
    let autoLayoutLabel = PaddingLabel(padding: UIEdgeInsets(top: 20, left: 40, bottom: 20, right: 40))
    let springsAndStructsLabel = PaddingLabel(frame: CGRect.zero)
    var textToDisplay = "Lorem ipsum dolor sit er elit lamet."
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        
        // Set autoLayoutLabel
        autoLayoutLabel.text = textToDisplay
        autoLayoutLabel.backgroundColor = .red
        autoLayoutLabel.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        view.addSubview(autoLayoutLabel)
        autoLayoutLabel.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.leadingAnchor, constant: 30).isActive = true
        autoLayoutLabel.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.centerYAnchor).isActive = true
        
        // Set springsAndStructsLabel
        springsAndStructsLabel.text = textToDisplay
        springsAndStructsLabel.backgroundColor = .green
        view.addSubview(springsAndStructsLabel)
        springsAndStructsLabel.frame.origin = CGPoint(x: 30, y: 90)
        springsAndStructsLabel.sizeToFit()
        
        // Set storyboardAutoLayoutLabel
        storyboardAutoLayoutLabel.text = textToDisplay
        storyboardAutoLayoutLabel.backgroundColor = .blue
    }
    
    // Link this IBAction to a UIButton or a UIBarButtonItem in Storyboard
    @IBAction func updateLabelText(_ sender: Any) {
        textToDisplay = textToDisplay == "Lorem ipsum dolor sit er elit lamet." ? "Lorem ipsum." : "Lorem ipsum dolor sit er elit lamet."
        
        // autoLayoutLabel
        autoLayoutLabel.text = textToDisplay
        
        // springsAndStructsLabel
        springsAndStructsLabel.text = textToDisplay
        springsAndStructsLabel.sizeToFit()
 
        // storyboardAutoLayoutLabel
        storyboardAutoLayoutLabel.text = textToDisplay
    }
    
}

Swift version of Recycled Steel's answer + intrinsizeContentSize().

It supports a more traditional style of setting insets for other view objects with insets while being able to set insets in Interface Builder, i.e. insets are set like so programmatically:

label.insets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 0, 5, 0)

Please let me know if there are any bugs.

Swift 5

@IBInspectable var topInset: CGFloat = 0.0
@IBInspectable var leftInset: CGFloat = 0.0
@IBInspectable var bottomInset: CGFloat = 0.0
@IBInspectable var rightInset: CGFloat = 0.0

var insets: UIEdgeInsets {
    get {
        return UIEdgeInsets(top: topInset, left: leftInset, bottom: bottomInset, right: rightInset)
    }
    set {
        topInset = newValue.top
        leftInset = newValue.left
        bottomInset = newValue.bottom
        rightInset = newValue.right
    }
}

override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
    super.drawText(in: UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets))
}

override func sizeThatFits(_ size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
    var adjSize = super.sizeThatFits(size)
    adjSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
    adjSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
    
    return adjSize
}

override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
    var contentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize
    contentSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
    contentSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
    
    return contentSize
}

Swift 4.2

@IBDesignable class InsetLabel: UILabel {
    @IBInspectable var topInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var leftInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var bottomInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var rightInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    
    var insets: UIEdgeInsets {
        get {
            return UIEdgeInsetsMake(topInset, leftInset, bottomInset, rightInset)
        }
        set {
            topInset = newValue.top
            leftInset = newValue.left
            bottomInset = newValue.bottom
            rightInset = newValue.right
        }
    }
    
    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawText(in: rect.inset(by: insets))
    }
    
    override func sizeThatFits(_ size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
        var adjSize = super.sizeThatFits(size)
        adjSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
        adjSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
        
        return adjSize
    }
    
    override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
        var contentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize
        contentSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
        contentSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
        
        return contentSize
    }
}

Swift 3

@IBDesignable class InsetLabel: UILabel {
    @IBInspectable var topInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var leftInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var bottomInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var rightInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    
    var insets: UIEdgeInsets {
        get {
            return UIEdgeInsetsMake(topInset, leftInset, bottomInset, rightInset)
        }
        set {
            topInset = newValue.top
            leftInset = newValue.left
            bottomInset = newValue.bottom
            rightInset = newValue.right
        }
    }
    
    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawText(in: UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets))
    }
    
    override func sizeThatFits(_ size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
        var adjSize = super.sizeThatFits(size)
        adjSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
        adjSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
        
        return adjSize
    }
    
    override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
        var contentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize
        contentSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
        contentSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
        
        return contentSize
    }
}

Swift 2.2

@IBDesignable class InsetLabel: UILabel {
    @IBInspectable var topInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var leftInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var bottomInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    @IBInspectable var rightInset: CGFloat = 0.0
    
    var insets: UIEdgeInsets {
        get {
            return UIEdgeInsetsMake(topInset, leftInset, bottomInset, rightInset)
        }
        set {
            topInset = newValue.top
            leftInset = newValue.left
            bottomInset = newValue.bottom
            rightInset = newValue.right
        }
    }
        
    override func drawTextInRect(rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawTextInRect(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets))
    }
        
    override func sizeThatFits(size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
        var adjSize = super.sizeThatFits(size)
        adjSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
        adjSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
        
        return adjSize
    }
    
    override func intrinsicContentSize() -> CGSize {
        var contentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize()
        contentSize.width += leftInset + rightInset
        contentSize.height += topInset + bottomInset
        
        return contentSize
    }
}

Edit: This is really old. There are better solutions above.

I ended up just adding some spaces to the text:

self.titleLabel.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"    %@", self.titleLabel.text];

Ugly yet effective, and no subclassing required.

You can try "\t" as well. For a generic solution please refer to the accepted answer

You can also solve this by initializing your UILabel with a custom frame.

    CGRect initialFrame = CGRectMake(0, 0, 100, 100);
    UIEdgeInsets contentInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 10, 0, 0);
    CGRect paddedFrame = UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(initialFrame, contentInsets);

    self.label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:paddedFrame];

Nod to CGRect Tricks.

and an @IBDesignable that make it work with Interface Builder

Swift 4

//
//  PaddedLabel.swift
//  TrainCentric
//
//  Created by Arsonik
//  https://stackoverflow.com/a/33244365/337934
//

import UIKit

@IBDesignable
class PaddedLabel: UILabel {
    
    @IBInspectable var inset:CGSize = CGSize(width: 0, height: 0)
    
    var padding: UIEdgeInsets {
        var hasText:Bool = false
        if let t = self.text?.count, t > 0 {
            hasText = true
        }
        else if let t = attributedText?.length, t > 0 {
            hasText = true
        }
        
        return hasText ? UIEdgeInsets(top: inset.height, left: inset.width, bottom: inset.height, right: inset.width) : UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 0, right: 0)
    }
    
    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawText(in: rect.inset(by: padding))
    }
    
    override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
        let superContentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize
        let p = padding
        let width = superContentSize.width + p.left + p.right
        let heigth = superContentSize.height + p.top + p.bottom
        return CGSize(width: width, height: heigth)
    }
    
    override func sizeThatFits(_ size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
        let superSizeThatFits = super.sizeThatFits(size)
        let p = padding
        let width = superSizeThatFits.width + p.left + p.right
        let heigth = superSizeThatFits.height + p.top + p.bottom
        return CGSize(width: width, height: heigth)
    }
}

Swift 2

@IBDesignable
class PaddedLabel: UILabel {

	@IBInspectable var inset:CGSize = CGSize(width: 0, height: 0)

	var padding: UIEdgeInsets {
		var hasText:Bool = false
		if let t = text?.length where t > 0 {
			hasText = true
		}
		else if let t = attributedText?.length where t > 0 {
			hasText = true
		}

		return hasText ? UIEdgeInsets(top: inset.height, left: inset.width, bottom: inset.height, right: inset.width) : UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 0, right: 0)
	}

	override func drawTextInRect(rect: CGRect) {
		super.drawTextInRect(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, padding))
	}

	override func intrinsicContentSize() -> CGSize {
		let superContentSize = super.intrinsicContentSize()
		let p = padding
		let width = superContentSize.width + p.left + p.right
		let heigth = superContentSize.height + p.top + p.bottom
		return CGSize(width: width, height: heigth)
	}

	override func sizeThatFits(size: CGSize) -> CGSize {
		let superSizeThatFits = super.sizeThatFits(size)
		let p = padding
		let width = superSizeThatFits.width + p.left + p.right
		let heigth = superSizeThatFits.height + p.top + p.bottom
		return CGSize(width: width, height: heigth)
	}
}

For Xamarin users (using Unified API):

class UIMarginLabel : UILabel
{
    public UIMarginLabel()
    {
    }

    public UIMarginLabel( CGRect frame ) : base( frame )
    {
    }

    public UIEdgeInsets Insets { get; set; }

    public override void DrawText( CGRect rect )
    {
        base.DrawText( Insets.InsetRect( rect ) );
    }
}

And for those using the original MonoTouch API:

public class UIMarginLabel : UILabel
{
    public UIEdgeInsets Insets { get; set; }

    public UIMarginLabel() : base()
    {
        Insets = new UIEdgeInsets(0, 0, 0, 0);
    }
    public UIMarginLabel(RectangleF frame) : base(frame)
    {
        Insets = new UIEdgeInsets(0, 0, 0, 0);
    }

    public override void DrawText(RectangleF frame)
    {
        base.DrawText(new RectangleF(
            frame.X + Insets.Left,
            frame.Y + Insets.Top,
            frame.Width - Insets.Left - Insets.Right,
            frame.Height - Insets.Top - Insets.Bottom));
    }
}

If you don't want to use an extra parent view to set the background, you can subclass UILabel and override textRectForBounds:limitedToNumberOfLines:. I'd add a textEdgeInsets property or similar and then do

- (CGRect)textRectForBounds:(CGRect)bounds limitedToNumberOfLines:(NSInteger)numberOfLines
{
  return [super textRectForBounds:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(bounds,textEdgeInsets) limitedToNumberOfLines:numberOfLines];
}

For robustness, you might also want to call [self setNeedsDisplay] in setTextEdgeInsets:, but I usually don't bother.

To expand on the answer provided by Brody Robertson you can add the IB Designable bits. This means you can adjust the label from within Storyboard.

In your subclassed UILabel do

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

IB_DESIGNABLE

@interface insetLabel : UILabel

@property (nonatomic, assign) IBInspectable CGFloat leftEdge;
@property (nonatomic, assign) IBInspectable CGFloat rightEdge;
@property (nonatomic, assign) IBInspectable CGFloat topEdge;
@property (nonatomic, assign) IBInspectable CGFloat bottomEdge;

@property (nonatomic, assign) UIEdgeInsets edgeInsets;

@end

Then do;

#import "insetLabel.h"

@implementation insetLabel

- (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame
{
    self = [super initWithFrame:frame];
    if (self)
    {
        self.edgeInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(self.topEdge, self.leftEdge, self.bottomEdge, self.rightEdge);
    }
    return self;
}

- (void)drawTextInRect:(CGRect)rect
{
    self.edgeInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(self.topEdge, self.leftEdge, self.bottomEdge, self.rightEdge);

    [super drawTextInRect:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, self.edgeInsets)];
}

- (CGSize)intrinsicContentSize
{
    CGSize size = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    size.width  += self.edgeInsets.left + self.edgeInsets.right;
    size.height += self.edgeInsets.top + self.edgeInsets.bottom;
    return size;
}

@end

EDIT

You should probably add a setter method for edgeInsets.

Maybe later for the party, but the following just works. Just subclass UILabel.

#import "UITagLabel.h"

#define padding UIEdgeInsetsMake(5, 10, 5, 10)

@implementation UITagLabel

- (void)drawTextInRect:(CGRect)rect {
    [super drawTextInRect:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, padding)];
}

- (CGSize) intrinsicContentSize {
    CGSize superContentSize = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    CGFloat width = superContentSize.width + padding.left + padding.right;
    CGFloat height = superContentSize.height + padding.top + padding.bottom;
    return CGSizeMake(width, height);
}

- (CGSize) sizeThatFits:(CGSize)size {
    CGSize superSizeThatFits = [super sizeThatFits:size];
    CGFloat width = superSizeThatFits.width + padding.left + padding.right;
    CGFloat height = superSizeThatFits.height + padding.top + padding.bottom;
    return CGSizeMake(width, height);
}

@end

Here is a swift solution. Just add this custom class on the bottom of your file (or create a new file for it) and use MyLabel instead of UILabel when creating your label.

class MyLabel: UILabel{
    override func drawTextInRect(rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawTextInRect(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 10, bottom: 0, right: 0)))
    }
}

I didn't find the suggestion to use UIButton in the answers above. So I will try to prove that this is a good choice.

button.contentEdgeInsets = UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 8, bottom: 0, right: 8)

In my situation using UIButton was the best solution because:

• I had a simple single-line text
• I didn't want to use UIView as a container for UILabel (i.e. I wanted to simplify math calculations for Autolayout in my cell)
• I didn't want to use NSParagraphStyle (because tailIndent works incorrect with Autolayout – width of UILabel is smaller than expected)
• I didn't want to use UITextView (because of possible side effects)
• I didn't want to subclass UILabel (less code fewer bugs)

That's why using the contentEdgeInsets from UIButton in my situation became the easiest way to add text margins.

Hope this will help someone.

If you're using autolayout in iOS 6+, you can do this by adjusting the intrinsicContentSize in a subclass of UILabel.

- (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame
{
    self = [super initWithFrame:frame];
    if (self) {
        self.textAlignment = NSTextAlignmentRight;
    }
    return self;
}

- (CGSize)intrinsicContentSize 
{
    CGSize size = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    return CGSizeMake(size.width + 10.0, size.height);
}

blyabtroi's asnwer converted in Swift (No Subclassing required)

let style: NSMutableParagraphStyle = NSParagraphStyle.defaultParagraphStyle().mutableCopy() as! NSMutableParagraphStyle
style.alignment = .Justified
style.firstLineHeadIndent = 10.0
style.headIndent = 10.0
style.tailIndent = -10.0
let attrText: NSAttributedString = NSAttributedString(string: title, attributes: [NSParagraphStyleAttributeName:style])
let label: UILabel = UILabel(frame: someFrame)
label.numberOfLines = 0
label.attributedText = attrText

Swift 4 version of blyabtroi solution

let leadingMargin: CGFloat = 10
let trailingMargin: CGFloat = 10

let style = NSMutableParagraphStyle()
style.alignment = .justified
style.firstLineHeadIndent = leadingMargin
style.headIndent = leadingMargin
style.tailIndent = trailingMargin

label.attributedText = NSAttributedString(string: "Label with margins", 
                                          attributes: [NSAttributedStringKey.paragraphStyle: style])

Instead of UILabel perhaps use https://github.com/mattt/TTTAttributedLabel

BITAttributedLabel *label = [BITAttributedLabel new];
label.font = font;
label.text = @"hello";
label.textInsets = UIEdgeInsetsMake(10, 10, 10, 10);
[label sizeToFit];

In Swift it solves like this.

class Label: UILabel {
    override func drawTextInRect(rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawTextInRect(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 10, bottom: 0, right: 10)))
    }
}

This works correctly with multi-line labels:

class PaddedLabel: UILabel {
    var verticalPadding: CGFloat = 0
    var horizontalPadding: CGFloat = 0
    
    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        let insets = UIEdgeInsets(top: verticalPadding, left: horizontalPadding, bottom: verticalPadding, right: horizontalPadding)
        super.drawText(in: UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets))
    }
    
    override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
        get {
            let textWidth = super.intrinsicContentSize.width - horizontalPadding * 2
            let textHeight = sizeThatFits(CGSize(width: textWidth, height: .greatestFiniteMagnitude)).height
            let width = textWidth + horizontalPadding * 2
            let height = textHeight + verticalPadding * 2
            return CGSize(width: frame.width, height: height)
        }
    }
}

A lot of the answers are missing the override of sizeThatFits. With this subclass you can just create the label, set the padding, and then say label.SizeToFit() and voila.

import UIKit

class UILabelEx : UILabel
{
    var padding : UIEdgeInsets = UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 0, right: 0)

    override func drawTextInRect(rect: CGRect) {
    
        super.drawTextInRect(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, padding))
    }

    override func sizeThatFits(size: CGSize) -> CGSize
    {
    
        var adjSize = super.sizeThatFits(size)
        adjSize.width += padding.left + padding.right
        adjSize.height += padding.top + padding.bottom
    
        return adjSize
    }
}

Swift 3 & AutoLayout compatible version:

class InsetLabel: UILabel {

    var insets = UIEdgeInsets()

    convenience init(insets: UIEdgeInsets) {
        self.init(frame: CGRect.zero)
        self.insets = insets
    }

    convenience init(dx: CGFloat, dy: CGFloat) {
        let insets = UIEdgeInsets(top: dy, left: dx, bottom: dy, right: dx)
        self.init(insets: insets)
    }

    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawText(in: UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets))
    }

    override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize  {
        var size = super.intrinsicContentSize
        size.width += insets.left + insets.right
        size.height += insets.top + insets.bottom
        return size
    }
}

This is the easiest solution I found for this:

Swift 4

class CustomLabel: UILabel{
    override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {
        super.drawText(in: rect.inset(by: UIEdgeInsets.init(top: 10, left: 10, bottom: 10, right: 10)))
    }
}

Make sure you set your labels to the CustomLabel class in code as well as in storyboard.

Xcode 6.1.1 Swift solution using a extension.

The file name could be something like "UILabel+AddInsetMargin.swift":

import UIKit

extension UILabel
{
    public override func drawRect(rect: CGRect)
    {
        self.drawTextInRect(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, UIEdgeInsets(top: 0, left: 5, bottom: 0, right: 5)))
    }
}

without subclassing and all that jazz.. i did this dynamically:

[cell.textLabel setTranslatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints:NO];
[cell.textLabel constraintTrailingEqualTo:cell.contentView constant:-100];

the constraint part is just a simple code sugar wrapper (we have the same methods for adding a padding from top/bottom/left/right).. i'll open source the whole wrapper if i get enough love here:

- (id)constraintTrailingEqualTo:(UIView *)toView constant:(CGFloat)constant
{
    NSLayoutConstraint *cn = [NSLayoutConstraint constraintWithItem:self
                                                          attribute:NSLayoutAttributeTrailing
                                                          relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationEqual
                                                             toItem:toView
                                                          attribute:NSLayoutAttributeTrailing
                                                         multiplier:1 constant:constant];

    [toView addConstraint:cn];
    return self;
}

(note i did this in the context of

- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath: (NSIndexPath *)indexPath;

you may have to call [self setNeedsLayout]; depending on your context.

#import "E_LabelWithPadding.h"
#define padding UIEdgeInsetsMake(2, 0, 2, 0)
#define padding1 UIEdgeInsetsMake(0, 0, 0, 0)
@implementation E_LabelWithPadding
- (void)drawTextInRect:(CGRect)rect {
if (![self.text isEqualToString:@""]) {
    [super drawTextInRect:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, padding)];
}else {
    [super drawTextInRect:UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, padding1)];
}

}

- (CGSize) intrinsicContentSize {
if (![self.text isEqualToString:@""]) {
    CGSize superContentSize = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    CGFloat width = superContentSize.width + padding.left + padding.right;
    CGFloat height = superContentSize.height + padding.top + padding.bottom;
    return CGSizeMake(width, height);
}else {
    CGSize superContentSize = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    CGFloat width = superContentSize.width + padding1.left + padding1.right;
    CGFloat height = superContentSize.height + padding1.top + padding1.bottom;
    return CGSizeMake(width, height);
}

}

- (CGSize) sizeThatFits:(CGSize)size {
if (![self.text isEqualToString:@""]) {
    CGSize superSizeThatFits = [super sizeThatFits:size];
    CGFloat width = superSizeThatFits.width + padding.left + padding.right;
    CGFloat height = superSizeThatFits.height + padding.top + padding.bottom;
    return CGSizeMake(width, height);
}else {
    CGSize superSizeThatFits = [super sizeThatFits:size];
    CGFloat width = superSizeThatFits.width + padding1.left + padding1.right;
    CGFloat height = superSizeThatFits.height + padding1.top + padding1.bottom;
    return CGSizeMake(width, height);
}

}

@end

If label is created programmatically, padding can be calculated using the sizeThatFits method. If using more than one line, the text will be line broken at the max width value.

let text = UILabel()
let padding = 10
text.layer.cornerRadius = 5
text.layer.masksToBounds = true
text.text = "Hello"
text.font = UIFont(name: text.font.fontName, size: 18)
text.textAlignment = NSTextAlignment.center
text.numberOfLines = 1
            
let maxSize = CGSize(width: 100, height: 100)
var size = text.sizeThatFits(maxSize)
size.width = size.width + padding * 2
size.height = size.height + padding * 2
text.frame = CGRect(origin: CGPoint(x: 0, y: 0), size: size)

I had solved it using xcode builder (but surely this could be achieved with swift using constraints):

Just create a UIView of the relevant size And add a child of type UILabel to that view

and there you go, you have padding :)

I think UILabel class have no method for setting margin. Why you not set the position of Label at required place?

See below code:

UILabel *label = [[UILabel alloc] init];
label.text = @"This is label";
label.frame = CGRectMake(0,0,100,100);

if from interface builder then just position Label by following:

yourLabel.frame = CGRectMake(0,0,100,100);

Maybe you could give this code a try

CGRect frame = btn.titleLabel.frame;
int indent = 20;
int inset = 20;
[btn.titleLabel setFrame:CGRectMake(frame.origin.x+inset,frame.origin.y,frame.size.width+indent,frame.size.height)];

To get rid of vertical padding for a single line label I did:

// I have a category method setFrameHeight; you'll likely need to modify the frame.
[label setFrameHeight:font.pointSize];

OR, without the category, use:

CGRect frame = label.frame;
frame.size.height = font.pointSize;
label.frame = frame;

Just add spaces to the left if it's a single line, more than 1 line will have 0 padding again.

[self.myLabel setText:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"   %@", self.myShortString]];

You need to calculate UILabel size when you put insets. It can have different number of lines because of text alignment, line break mode.

override func drawText(in rect: CGRect) {

    let size = self.sizeThatFits(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(rect, insets).size);
    super.drawText(in: CGRect.init(origin: CGPoint.init(x: insets.left, y: insets.top), size: size));
}

override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
    
    var size = super.intrinsicContentSize;
    
    if text == nil || text?.count == 0 {
        return size;
    }
    
    size = self.sizeThatFits(UIEdgeInsetsInsetRect(CGRect.init(origin: CGPoint.zero, size: size), insets).size);
    size.width  += self.insets.left + self.insets.right;
    size.height += self.insets.top + self.insets.bottom;

    return size;
}

try iEun/InsetLabel

This is the easiest way I found. It works like a charm for me.

UIView *titleSection = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, screenWidth, 100)];
[titleSection addSubview:titleSection];

UILabel *label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectInset(titleSection.frame, PADDING, 0)];
[titleSection addSubview:label];

A lot of these answers are complicated. In some cases, that's necessary. However, if you're reading this, your label has no left/right margin, and you just want a little padding, here's the whole solution:

Step 1: Add spaces at the end (literally, hit the spacebar a few times)

Step 2: Set the text alignment of the label to centered

Done

Set the label's textAlignment property to NSTextAlignmentRight and augment its width.

Don't code, Xcode !

Instead of using UILabel for this specific matter, I suggest you to take a look at UIButton. It gives, out of the box, the ability to set Content Insets (top, left, bottom, right) in the Size inspector. Set the desired margins, after that disable the button right in Xcode and done.