Line borders for word

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Sometimes, putting a border around text will work better in your document than inserting a text box or a one-cell table, to achieve a similar look.

Example of three paragraphs, the second paragraph being enclosed by a thin line.

  1. Select a word, line, or paragraph.

  2. Go to Home > Borders, and then open the menu of border choices.

    Add a border to some text

  3. Choose the type of border you want:

    Table border location

Customize the border

  1. After you’ve selected your text and found the basic type of border you’d like, open the Borders menu again, and choose Borders and Shading.

  2. Make your choices for style, color, and width, and then apply the choice with the buttons in the Preview section of the dialog box. When the preview is the way you want it, click OK.

    The Apply to drop-down menu in the Borders and Shading dialog box

    Note: Make sure that the Apply to box has the correct setting: Text or Paragraph.

See Also

Add, change, or delete borders from documents or pictures

You can add a border to an individual word, a line of text, or an entire paragraph. You can make borders as plain or fancy as you want.

You can also add a border to a picture, put a border around a table, add a border to an individual page. 

Add a border to selected text

  1. Select a word, line, or paragraph.

  2. On the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Borders button.

    On the Home tab, click Borders to add or change borders on selected text.

  3. In the Borders gallery, click the border style that you want to apply.

Customize the text border

  1. After you’ve selected your text and found the basic type of border you’d like, click the arrow next to the Borders button again, and then click Borders and Shading.

  2. In the Borders and Shading dialog box, change Setting, Style, Color, and Width to create the border style that you want.

    Customize borders in the Borders and Shading dialog box.

    Note: To make sure the border style is correctly applied, set Apply to to Text or Paragraph. If you haven’t selected any text, you can only set Apply to to Paragraph.

  3. Click OK to apply your selected border styles.

Tip: You can also fill the area of your selected text with color. In the Borders and Shading dialog box, click Shading to select a color and patterns. The color you pick in the Fill list fills the rectangular area; the color you select from the Color menu is applied to the rectangular area in a pattern you select from the Style list.

See Also

Add, change, or delete borders from documents or pictures

Add a border to a table

Need more help?


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Learn how to insert a lined or art border in Microsoft Word documents on desktop


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  • Adding a Page Border (Windows)
  • |

  • Adding a Page Border (Mac)
  • |

  • Adding a Text Border
  • |

  • Q&A

Do you want to make an outside border in your Microsoft Word documents? You can easily add a solid or dotted border to an entire page or selected content. You can also use Microsoft Word’s included designs to create an artistic border for themed event flyers. This wikiHow will show you how to create a border around text, images, or pages in Microsoft Word using your Windows or Mac computer.

Things You Should Know

  • To add a page border, click «Design» → «Page Borders». Select a border setting, style, and page application. Click «OK».
  • To add a border around text or images, select the content. Click the «Home» tab and click the arrow next to the border icon. Click «Borders and Shading…»
  • Select a border setting, style, and page application. Click «OK».
  1. 1

    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows.[1]

    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
    • Use this method to add a lined border around a Microsoft Word document. This is different from changing the margins.
  2. 2

    Click Design. This will be in the top toolbar, between Draw and Layout.

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  3. Image titled Add a Border to Word Step 14

    3

    Click Page Borders. You can find this at the left side of the Design section, next to Page Color. It will have an icon of a page with a yellow border.

    • A new window will open.
  4. 4

    Click Page Border. This is the middle tab on the Borders and Shading window. You may already be on this tab.

  5. 5

    Select a border setting. In the left-most column, click the border option that you want to use. Select from: None, Box, Shadow, 3-D, and Custom.

    • If you want a simple border to go all the way around your page, select Box.
    • To add a border with fun images, click the Art drop-down menu and select from Word’s art gallery. This border can be used for themed flyers for holidays and events.
  6. 6

    Select a border style. In the «Style» column, scroll down until you find the border style you want to use, then click the style. Select from the various solid and dotted line styles.

    • If needed, you can also change the border’s color and width from the Color and Width drop-down menus, respectively.
  7. 7

    Select pages to use. If you created a new section earlier in this method, click the «Apply to» drop-down box, then click the section to which you want to apply the border in the resulting drop-down menu.

    • To apply the border to the first page of your section, click This section — first page only in the drop-down menu.
  8. 8

    Click OK. It’s at the bottom of the page. This will apply the border to your document’s specified page(s).

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  1. 1

    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Mac.[2]

    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
  2. 2

    Click Design. This will be in the top toolbar, between Draw and Layout.

  3. 3

    Click Page Borders. You can find this at the left side of the Design section, next to Page Color. It will have an icon of a page with a yellow border.

    • The Borders and Shading window will open, set to the Page Border tab. If it isn’t already on the Page Border tab, click it now.
  4. 4

    Select a border setting. In the left-most column, click the border option that you want to use. Select from: None, Box, Shadow, 3-D, and Custom.

    • If you want a simple border to go all the way around your page, select Box.
    • To add a border with fun images, click the Art drop-down menu and select from Word’s art gallery. This border can be used for themed flyers for holidays and events.
  5. 5

    Select a border style. In the «Style» column, scroll down until you find the border style you want to use, then click the style. Select from the various solid and dotted line styles.

    • If needed, you can also change the border’s color and width from the Color and Width drop-down menus, respectively.
  6. 6

    Select pages to use. If you created a new section earlier in this method, click the «Apply to» drop-down box, then click the section to which you want to apply the border in the resulting drop-down menu.

    • To apply the border to the first page of your section, click This section — first page only in the drop-down menu.
  7. 7

    Click OK. This is the blue button. This will apply the border to your document’s specified page(s).

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  1. 1

    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square.

  2. 2

    Click Home. This is in the top toolbar, between File and Insert.

  3. Image titled Add a Border to Word Step 3

    3

    Select content. Click and drag your mouse across the text or image(s) around which you want to place a border.

    • This method will place a border around an entire selection of images and text together.
    • If you want to place a border around a single image, double-click the image. Select a preset style from the Picture Styles section, or click Picture Border to set the color, weight, and design of the border.[3]
  4. 4

    Click

    Android 7 Dropdown

    next to the «Borders» button. The Borders button resembles a square divided into four smaller squares; you’ll find it in the «Paragraph» section of options in the toolbar, just right of the paint bucket icon. A drop-down menu will open.

    • On a Mac, click the Format menu item at the top of the screen instead.
  5. 5

    Click Borders and Shading…. It’s at the bottom of the drop-down menu. A new window will open.

    • On a Mac, you’ll find this option in the middle of the Format drop-down menu.
  6. Image titled Add a Border to Word Step 15

    6

    Select a border setting. In the left-most column, click the border option that you want to use. Select from: None, Box, Shadow, 3-D, and Custom.

    • If you want a simple border to go all the way around your text, select Box.
  7. Image titled Add a Border to Word Step 16

    7

    Select a border style. In the «Style» column, scroll down until you find the border style you want to use, then click the style. Select from the various solid and dotted line styles.

    • If needed, you can also change the border’s color and width from the Color and Width drop-down menus, respectively.
    • To add a border with images, click the Art drop-down menu and select a design.
  8. Image titled Add a Border to Word Step 17

    8

    Select pages to use. If you created a new section earlier in this method, click the «Apply to» drop-down box, then click the section to which you want to apply the border in the resulting drop-down menu.

    • To apply the border to the first page of your section, click This section — first page only in the drop-down menu.
  9. Image titled Add a Border to Word Step 18

    9

    Click OK. This will apply the border to your document’s specified page(s).

    • Be sure to save your document when you’re finished.
    • You can also use Microsoft Word to create a booklet or another handout flyer.
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Add New Question

  • Question

    How can I place a border around a picture I’ve inserted into a document?

    Community Answer

    You do what is shown above, but instead, you click on the picture before you go through the steps.

  • Question

    How do I put a border around a table in Microsoft Word?

    Community Answer

    Go into Format —> Borders and Shading. There you’ll find options for borders you can apply to the table.

  • Question

    What three options can I set regarding a picture border?

    Community Answer

    The three option you can set are: small, medium and large.

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Insert Lines in Microsoft Word Documents

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 9, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You can insert a line in Word using the Ribbon or by using keyboard shortcuts. It’s best to avoid drawing lines and instead insert border lines in Microsoft Word (normally paragraph borders) so the line or lines will move as you edit the document.

In this article, we’ll focus on inserting lines using borders attached to paragraphs. In Microsoft Word, anything with a hard return after it is a paragraph. If you use border lines, you can customize the type of border, line thickness and color. You can also include paragraph border lines in styles so they will appear throughout your document. If you draw lines using Insert Shapes, you’ll have to worry about the line being inline or floating.

You can insert a line in Word in 3 ways using borders:

  1. Use the Borders command on the Home tab in the Ribbon
  2. Select and apply different types of lines using the Borders and Shading dialog box
  3. Insert different types of lines using keyboard shortcuts (which add lines using AutoCorrect)

Recommended article: How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word

Do you want to learn more about Microsoft Word? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom Word courses >

Inserting a line using the Borders button

To insert a line in Word above and / or below a paragraph using the Borders button:

  1. Select the paragraph(s) to which you want to add a line.
  2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Click Borders in the Paragraph group. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Select the line you want to use.

Below is the Borders command in the Ribbon in Word:

Borders button in Word to insert lines.

Removing lines using the Borders command

To remove a border line or lines from one or more paragraphs:

  1. Select the paragraph(s) with the border lines you want to remove.
  2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon and then click Borders. A drop-down menu appears.
  3. Choose No Border from the drop-down menu.

Inserting a line using the Borders and Shading dialog box

You can apply a line or custom border lines to one or more paragraphs using the Borders and Shading dialog box.

To insert a line in Word above and / or below a paragraph using the Borders and Shading dialog box:

  1. Select the paragraph(s) to which you want to add a line.
  2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Click Borders in the Paragraph group. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Select Borders and Shading. A dialog box appears.
  5. Select a border style, color and width.
  6. Click between the guides in the sample area on the right (above or below the sample).
  7. Click Options (if required), enter any offset amounts to control the distance between the line and the paragraph and click OK.
  8. In Apply to, ensure Paragraph is selected.
  9. Click OK.

Below is the Borders and Shading dialog box where you can add a line or lines to paragraphs:

Insert lines in Word using Borders and Shading dialog box.

Removing lines using the Borders and Shading dialog box

To remove lines from one or more paragraphs using the Borders and Shading dialog box:

  1. Select the paragraph(s) with the lines you want to remove.
  2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon and click Borders. A drop-down menu appears.
  3. Select Borders and Shading. A dialog box appears.
  4. Click None in the Setting area.
  5. In Apply to, ensure Paragraph is selected.
  6. Click OK.

Inserting a line using keyboard shortcuts

You can also insert a horizontal line using keyboard shortcuts (which insert border lines as AutoCorrect entries).

Type the following characters and then press Enter or Return to insert lines:

  • To insert a plain single line, type three hyphens (—).
  • To insert a plain double line, type three equal signs (===).
  • To insert a dotted line, type three asterisks (***).
  • To insert a bold single line, type three underlines (___).
  • To insert a wavy line, type three tildes (~~~).
  • To insert a triple line, type three number signs or hash tags (###).

To remove these lines, select the paragraph with the line, click the Borders button on the Home tab and select No Border.

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Want to add a professional look or add a colorful look to your Word document? Adding borders will do that. Do you know how to add borders to Word documents? It is the quick guide to add a Page border in word. You can add a line as a border to a word document. You can also add some decorative art pictures as a border to the word document.

You can also read how to remove a page border in word a tutorial from Microsoft office support. In this article, I am going to show you how to add borders, lines to word document in an easy way.

  • You may like: How to insert background in word
  • How to insert and format pictures in word

Table of Contents

Video Tutorial:

For our reader’s convenience we provided video tutorial. Try adding page borders by watching the below tutorial instead of reading.

Here I am showing you how you can add line or art as Page border in word.

Line as Page border in word

  • Open word document.
How to add border in word
  1. Go to “Page Layout” in the top menu.
  2. Click “Page borders”. You will see the “Borders and shading” window.
  3. Make sure the “Page border” tab is selected.
  4. Select any one of the options, box or shadow or 3-D or custom under “Setting”.
  5. Select border style. You can select lines or dots.
  6. Select the color of the border by clicking down the arrow mark at the color rectangular box.
  7. Select the width of the border by clicking down the arrow mark at the width rectangular box.
  8. You can apply this border to a particular page or to the entire document by clicking on the down arrow mark near the “Apply to:” rectangular box.
  9. Click “Ok”. You will see the border in your document.

Art as Page border in word

Open word document and follow above procedure up to step 4.

How to create border in word
  • Click down the arrow mark at “Art”. You will see the available art pictures. Select anyone.
  • Change width according to your requirement.
  • Click Ok. You will see the art border in your word document.

How to customize Page border in word?

You can change border distance from text or from edge to border line.

Click on “Options” which is just below “Apply to:” or just above the “Ok” button. You will see the “Border and Shading Options” window.

Page boder in word
  • Select any one of the two options under “measure from”.
  • Change top, bottom, left, or right points according to your requirement under margin.
  • Click “Ok”. You will see a change in borderline distance.
  • Read : How to insert and remove watermark in word
  • How to add, edit and remove hyperlink in word

I hope, you like my article about Page border in word. If you like it, do me favor by sharing it with your friends and follow WhatVwant on Facebook and Twitter for more tips. Subscribe to whatVwant channel on YouTube for regular updates.

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13 February 2020

Word and PowerPoint have some great ways to add a border or frame around an image, graphic or logo. We covered these broadly in a Framing Pictures in Office and now we will look in detail at the Compound Type, or multi-line borders.

Compound Type is Microsoft’s name for the options of two-line borders with thin or thick inner or outer lines, plus one triple-line option.

To get to the compound borders, click on the picture and go to Picture Format | Picture Border | Weight | More Lines.

Format Text Effects

This will open up the Format Picture pane on the side of the screen at Format Text Effects | Text Outline.

Select Solid Line to reveal more options.

Choose the color and width of the border you want to add. For multi-line borders to be visible, you need to select a fairly large width, at least 3pt.

We have selected a blue 10 pt border for our example so you can clearly see the different types, but you may choose something more subtle if you wish.   Here’s the standard solid border.

Now we can choose the Compound Type to change the look of that border.

The default is a solid line, as in the picture above, but there are four more options.

Two equal lines:

Thick outer, thin inner line:

Thin outer, thick inner line:

Triple line:

Framing pictures, graphics, logos in Word and PowerPoint

PowerPoint Photo Album

Simple image overlays in Word

Three ways to crop a picture with an Office shape

Office Picture formatting tricks – Fit, Fill and Positioning

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