# How can I increase the line spacing in a matrix?

I'm trying to create a pmatrix whose components are rather complicated fractions (Christoffel symbols), and the line spacing is too small making the whole thing a bit cramped and hard to read.

Is there any easy way to increase the spacing (about 1.5 the default would be perfect)?

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You could redefine \arraystretch. This can be made locally, within a group or environment. For example:

\begingroup
\renewcommand*{\arraystretch}{1.5}
\endgroup


But you could do it in the preamble too, then it would have effect on all matrices and arrays.

Here's a redefinition of an internal amsmath LaTeX macro for customizing line spacing in specific matrices arbitrarily as desired:

\makeatletter
\renewcommand*\env@matrix[1][\arraystretch]{%
\edef\arraystretch{#1}%
\hskip -\arraycolsep
\let\@ifnextchar\new@ifnextchar
\array{*\c@MaxMatrixCols c}}
\makeatother


After putting this in your preamble, you can write

\begin{pmatrix}[1.5]
...


vary the value as you like, with pmatrix, vmatrix, bmatrix and alike, or use it without the optional argument as usually.

I used it similar in my blog some years ago.

Complete small example to show the difference:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\makeatletter
\renewcommand*\env@matrix[1][\arraystretch]{%
\edef\arraystretch{#1}%
\hskip -\arraycolsep
\let\@ifnextchar\new@ifnextchar
\array{*\c@MaxMatrixCols c}}
\makeatother
\begin{document}
$\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}[1.5] 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$
\end{document}


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Thanks so much, that was so helpful! Marie – user17708 Aug 17 '12 at 16:09
How can one change the stretching in the preamble and have it done? Do one have to write \begin{pmatrix}[1.5] to stretch it?: EDIT: OK I found it: just add "\renewcommand*{\arraystretch}{1.5}" in the preamble and you're good to go. – Faq May 1 '14 at 18:14

By redefining \arraystretch you can change the vertical space between the all rows; using the optional argument for \\ you can control the vertical space for individual lines:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

$\begin{pmatrix} \dfrac{a}{b} & c\\ \dfrac{a}{b} & d\\ \dfrac{a}{b} & e \end{pmatrix}$

$\renewcommand\arraystretch{2} \begin{pmatrix} \dfrac{a}{b} & c\\ \dfrac{a}{b} & d\\ \dfrac{a}{b} & e \end{pmatrix}$

$\begin{pmatrix} \dfrac{a}{b} & c \\[1em] \dfrac{a}{b} & d\\[2em] \dfrac{a}{b} & e \end{pmatrix}$

\end{document}

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\[1em] This is very helpful, thanks. – Rafael Wörner May 21 '14 at 19:25
+1 for \\[1em] – Wauzl Nov 25 '15 at 8:44