How can I add padding to the intrinsic content size of UILabel?

If you're using auto layout, you can set the horizontal constraints and use an NSDictionary in the metrics parameter to set this dynamically.

For instance, if you wanted to give a 10pt padding to the inner content of a UIButton, you could do something like the following:

NSDictionary *padding = @{ @"padding" : @(button.intrinsicContentSize.width + 20) };
NSArray *buttonHConstraints = [NSLayoutConstraint constraintsWithVisualFormat:@"H:|[button(==padding)]|" options:0 metrics:padding views:NSDictionaryOfVariableBindings(button)];

You can extend UILabel and override the intrinsicContentSize by yourself. Please make sure you have set the textAlignment = NSTextAlignmentCenter as well.

-(CGSize)intrinsicContentSize{
    CGSize contentSize = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    return CGSizeMake(contentSize.width + 50, contentSize.height);
}

Swift 5.0

open override var intrinsicContentSize: CGSize {
    let size = super.intrinsicContentSize
    return CGSize(width: size.width + 16, height: size.height)
}

This probably only works when you only have just one line of text to display.

You can create a UILabel subclass and override intrinsicContent,

-(CGSize)intrinsicContentSize {
    CGSize s = [super intrinsicContentSize];
    s = CGSizeMake(s.width + 20, s.height);
    return s;
}

This will add a padding of 20 points to the width. If you want your text in the middle, be sure to set the text alignment to center.