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A text box is an object you can add to your document that lets you put and type text anywhere in your file. Text boxes can be useful for drawing attention to specific text and can also be helpful when you need to move text around in your document.
Add a text box
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Place cursor where you want the text box to appear.
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Go to Insert and in Illustrations select Drawing.
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Select Text Box and use your cursor to create the text box.
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Insert text in box and apply any styling needed.
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Select Save andClose.
If you aren’t using a mouse
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Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.
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Then press D to select drawings.
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Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.
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Type the text that you want.
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Press the Esc key 3 times.
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Press Enter to save textbox.
Notes:
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To format the text in the text box, select the text, and then use the formatting options in the Font group on the Home tab.
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To format the text box itself, use the commands on the Shape Format contextual tab that appears when you select a text box.
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To position the text box, select it, and then when the pointer becomes a
four-headed arrow, drag the text box to a new location. -
You can also change or remove a border from a text box or shape.
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If you have multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. Select one of the text boxes and on the Shape Format tab, select Create Link.
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four-headed arrow, drag the text box to a new location.Editing in a text box
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Double click the textbox.
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In Drawing (Preview), select the textbox to place your cursor and edit text.
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When finished select Save and Close to view updated text box.
Copy a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.
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Press Ctrl+C.
Note: Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box, not inside it. If the pointer is inside, pressing Ctrl+C will copy the text, not the text box.
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Select a location and press Ctrl+V to paste the text box.
Delete a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press Delete.
Note: Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside it. If the pointer is inside the box, pressing Delete will delete the text inside the text box, not the box.
Add a text box
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Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box.
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Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
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To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text.
Notes:
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To format the text in the text box, select the text, and then use the formatting options in the Font group on the Home tab.
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To format the text box itself, use the commands on the Format contextual tab, which appears under Drawing Tools when you select a text box.
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To position the text box, select it, and then when the pointer becomes a
, drag the text box to a new location. -
You can also change or remove a border from a text box or shape.
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If you have multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. Select one of the text boxes and on the Format tab, under Drawing Tools, and then select Create Link.
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Copy a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.
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Go to Home > Copy
.Make sure that the pointer is not inside the text box, but rather on the border of the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing Copy will copy the text inside the text box and not the text box.
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Go to Home and select Paste.
.
Delete a text box
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Select the border of the text box and then press DELETE.
Make sure that the pointer is not inside the text box, but rather on the border of the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box instead.
Add a text box
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Go to Insert > Text Box and then select either Draw Text Box (where the text aligns horizontally on the page) or Vertical Text Box (where the text aligns vertically on the page).
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Select in the document, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
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To add text to a text box, click or tap inside the text box, and then type or paste text.
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To format the text in the text box, select it, and then Control + Click the text and select Font.
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To add different effects to the text box, select the text box, and use the options on the Shape Format tab (such as changing the text direction or aligning the text at the top, middle or bottom of the text box).
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To position the text box, select and hold it, and then when the pointer becomes a
, drag the text box to a new location.
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Note: If you have drawn multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. You can only link an empty text box to the one that you’ve selected. To do this, select the text box that you want to link to another text box, and then go to Shape Format > Create Link.
Copy a text box
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Select the text box you want to copy.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, the text inside the text box is copied.
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Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press
+ C. -
Select the location in your document where you want to paste the text box, press Control + Click, and then select Paste. Or, press
+ V.
+ C.Remove a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box.
Add a text box
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Go to Insert > Text Box.
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Click in your file where you’d like to insert the text box, hold your mouse button down, then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
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After you’ve drawn the text box click inside it to add text.
Copy a text box
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Select the text box you want to copy.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, the text inside the text box is copied.
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Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press
+ C. -
Select the location in your document where you want to paste the text box, press Control + Click, and then select Paste. Or, press
+ V.
Remove a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box.
Need more help?
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1
Click the Insert tab.
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2
On the right side of all of the things you can insert, look for ‘Text Box.’
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3
Select the text box that you want to use and double click on it.
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4
Cut and paste the text into the text box.
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Video
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To change the size of the text box, click on it once, and drag one of the 8 circles.
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You can change the design of the text box you have selected by going into the format tab.
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Updated on September 11, 2022
What to Know
- Select Insert > Text Box > choose a text box template. Select and drag box to the position you want.
- To resize text, select and drag circles around the edge. To rotate text, select and drag the circular arrow.
- Place the cursor inside the text box and type the information you want to appear.
This article explains how to use text boxes in Microsoft Word. Instructions apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.
How to Insert a Text Box in Word
Start by opening the document you want to add a text box to. Then follow the steps below.
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On the ribbon, select Insert.
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In the Text group, select Text Box, then choose a text box template.
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The new text box appears in the middle of the text, and the Shape Format tab is automatically selected.
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Select and drag the box to the position you want. To resize the text box, select and drag the circles around the edge. To rotate the text box, select and drag the circular arrow at the top of the box.
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Place the cursor inside the text box and type the information you want to appear there.
Why Use Text Boxes?
When you type text in Microsoft Word, you have options for making it look a particular way on the page (such as changing the page margins), but those options are limited. Text boxes expand your formatting repertoire by offering additional control and flexibility for how your text appears. You can place a text box anywhere within a document and format it with different colors and fonts. This feature is especially helpful for creating a blockquote or a sidebar.
Customize a Text Box
After you create a text box, you can customize it in a number of ways.
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To bring up options, place the cursor inside the text box and right-click. Choose an option and follow the screen prompts to add a border, change the style, or adjust the way the text box interacts with the other text on the page.
Alternatively, use the controls on the Shape Format tab.
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To go directly to the Layout Options menu, select the text box, then select the Layout Options icon (it looks like a horseshoe and is located to the right of the text box).
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Change the text, make more adjustments, or move the box to another location at any time. To delete a text box, select its border, then press Delete on the keyboard.
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If you want to get creative with your text or simply have more flexibility, consider adding a customizing a text box in Word.
If you want more flexibility with certain text in your Word document, why not use a text box? Since a text box is considered an object, you can move it wherever you like in your document. This is handy for placing text in areas you normally wouldn’t.
You can use a text box to call attention to something in your document, rotate snippets of text, or create a unique appearance. Microsoft Word also provides formatting options for text boxes that give them their own nifty style or useful function.
Here, we’ll show you how to add or draw a text box and then format it to your liking in Microsoft Word.
With Word on Windows, you can either insert a preformatted text box or draw one of your own. Either way, you can customize it afterward, so choose the best option for you.
Go to the spot in your document where you want the text box and select the Insert tab. Click the Text Box drop-down arrow and pick a Built-In style or Draw a Text Box.
If you’re using Word on Mac, go to the Insert tab, click the Text drop-down arrow, and then the Text Box arrow. You can then choose to draw a simple text box or one where the text inside is vertical.
To draw your text box on either platform, drag the crosshairs to create the size you want. You can resize the text box any time after you draw it too.
When your text box appears, click inside to add your own words.
Format and Customize a Text Box in Word
Once you insert or draw your text box, select it and go to the Shape Format tab to view all of your formatting options. You’ll find the following features in Word on Windows, which may differ slightly in Word on Mac.
Shape Styles
Choose a theme or preset style for your text box. These options include filling colors and various effects.
Or you can use the Shape Fill, Outline, and Effects options to create your own distinctive style. From gradients and patterns to dashed lines and scribbles, you have many terrific options for customizing the appearance of your text box.
Note: Some options in the Shape Styles section may not be available if you select a preset text box.
WordArt Styles
Along with making the text box itself look snazzy, you can do the same with the text inside of it. Check out the Quick Styles in the WordArt Styles for premade options.
Or use the Text Fill, Outline, and Effects to make the text really pop. You can do things like add a shadow and glow or warp the text, so it’s curvy and cool.
Text, Accessibility, Arrange, and Size
The remaining sections of the ribbon allow you to change the direction of the text inside the box, use text wrapping with other elements in your document, rotate the text box, and adjust its exact size. You can also use the Alt Text Accessibility option to describe the text box.
Edit Your Text Box
After you customize your text box, you can still edit it anytime. Just note that when you select the text box to make changes, it may appear without some of the elements or effects you’ve applied. This is to make text editing simpler.
Once you complete your edits and deselect the text box, it will return to normal with your customizations.
Add Text Anywhere, Any Way in Word
Text boxes in Microsoft Word let you place text anywhere in your document without worries of margins or other normal text limitations. And because you can completely format the text box almost any way you want, it can be both a fun and useful addition to your document.
If you use Google Docs and Microsoft Word, take a look at how to work with text boxes in Docs too!
A text box is an element you can insert and position anywhere in a document. Text boxes are great for calling special attention to a quote or a whole block of text.
Insert a Text Box
- Click the Insert tab.
- Expand the Text group, if necessary.
- Click the Text Box button.
- Select the text box you’d like to use.
- Click the text box and type to replace the placeholder text.
A gallery of text box styles appears. The styles range from simple text boxes to stylized sidebars.
The text box is automatically inserted.
The placeholder text disappears as soon as you start typing.
Text boxes can be sized, moved, arranged, and styled just like shapes and pictures.
Draw Text Boxes
You don’t have to use one of Word’s built-in text boxes; you can create one from scratch.
- From the Insert tab, expand the Text group, if necessary.
- Click the Text Box button.
- Select Draw Text Box.
- Click and drag in your document to create the text box.
The pointer changes to a crosshair, indicating that you can draw the text box.
The text box is inserted.
Link Text Boxes
Linking text boxes allows text to flow between them. For example, you could make the text of a long article flow through several smaller text boxes in a more advanced layout.
- After you have created two or more text boxes, select the first one.
- Click the Format tab in the Drawing Tools ribbon group.
- Click Create Link from the Text group.
- Click the second text box with the new cursor.
- Switch back to the first text box and type into it.
The second text box must be empty, so make sure to remove any text in it before proceeding.
The cursor changes into a tiny pitcher full of letters. Moving the cursor over the second text box reveals that you can “pour” additional text into it.
The two text boxes are linked. Now, once enough text is entered into the first text box, it will automatically overflow into the second.
You can format the text in a text box just as you would any other text by using the Font and Paragraph groups on the Home tab.
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