You have 2 options : 1- You can use Storyboard to make your autolayout by setting your constrains for top + leading + trailing + bottom and give it certain dimensions. 2- You can do it purely programmatically by initializing it without storyboard and give it some desired properties , and then you setup your dimensions for your item (UILable , or UIView , or UITextField , or UITextView) , and then you setup the anchors for top + leading + trailing + bottom and you make them active . Finally , you add it as subview .