How to Add a Border in Photoshop

The fastest way to add a border in Photoshop

The quickest method is to use the Canvas Size tool, which expands your image and fills the new space with a color you choose. Open your image in Photoshop, go to Image > Canvas Size, increase the width and height by the same amount on all sides (Photoshop will center your original image automatically), and set the canvas extension color to whatever you want the border to be. This takes about 30 seconds and works for any image.

If you want more control over the border appearance — different colors on different sides, or a textured edge — you will need to use the Stroke function instead. That method takes a few more steps but gives you options the Canvas Size tool does not.

Key Takeaways

Canvas Size is the fastest way to add a solid-color border: expand the canvas, center your image, and choose the fill color.
Stroke lets you add a border to a specific layer or selection, and you can control the width, color, and position (inside, outside, or centered on the edge).
If your image has a transparent background, make sure you flatten it first or the border will only appear on the layer itself, not around the whole image.
You can create a decorative border by making a new layer, filling it with a pattern or gradient, and placing it behind your image layer.

Using Canvas Size for a straightforward solid border

Open your image and go to Image > Canvas Size. A dialog box will appear showing your current image dimensions. Decide how thick you want the border — if you want a half-inch border on all sides and your image is 300 pixels wide, add 1 inch to the width (so it becomes 300 + 96 pixels, since Photoshop uses 96 pixels per inch by default). Do the same for height.

Make sure the Anchor grid in the center of the dialog shows your original image centered — it should be by default. Look at the Canvas extension color dropdown at the bottom and choose the color you want the border to be. Click OK. Your image will now have a border of that color around all four sides.

If the border color does not match what you expected, you can undo this step (Ctrl+Z on Windows, Command+Z on Mac) and try again. The canvas extension color defaults to your background color, so if you want a specific color, set your background color first by clicking the background color square in the toolbox and choosing from the color picker.

Using Stroke to add a border to a layer or selection

The Stroke method works differently: it draws a line around the edge of a layer or selection. First, make sure you have the layer you want to border selected in the Layers panel. Go to Edit > Stroke. A dialog will appear asking for the stroke width (in pixels), the color, and the position.

The position matters: Inside draws the stroke inside the layer boundary, Outside draws it outside, and Center straddles the edge. For most borders, Inside or Center looks better because it keeps the border contained. Choose your color, set the width (usually 2 to 10 pixels depending on your image size), and click OK.

Stroke works best when your image is a single flattened layer. If your image has multiple layers or transparency, the stroke will only appear around the edges of that specific layer, not around the whole image. To border the entire image this way, flatten it first by going to Image > Flatten Image.

Creating a decorative border with a new layer

For a border that is more than just a solid line — one with texture, a gradient, or a pattern — create a new layer and place it behind your image. Go to Layer > New > Layer, then drag this new layer below your image layer in the Layers panel. Fill it with whatever you want: a solid color, a pattern from the Edit > Fill menu, or a gradient applied with the Gradient tool.

Resize your image layer or add padding with Canvas Size so the decorative layer shows around the edges. This method gives you complete freedom over the border design because you are really just creating a background layer that shows around your image.

Adjusting border width and color after you add it

If you used Canvas Size and want to change the border width, go back to Image > Canvas Size and adjust the dimensions again. Photoshop will remember that your original image is centered, so you can make the border thicker or thinner without moving your image.

If you used Stroke and want to change the width or color, you will need to undo the stroke (Ctrl+Z or Command+Z) and explore it again with different settings. Stroke does not create an editable object the way some other tools do — once it is applied, it becomes part of the layer itself. If you think you might want to adjust the border later, use the decorative layer method instead, because you can edit or delete that layer at any time without affecting your image.

Flattening your image before exporting

Once your border is the way you want it, flatten the image before you save it as a JPG or PNG. Go to Image > Flatten Image. This merges all layers into one and removes any transparency, so your border will be solid and permanent in the final file.

If you want to keep the ability to edit the border later, save the file as a Photoshop document (.psd) before flattening. The .psd format preserves all your layers, so you can open it again and adjust the border without starting over. Then flatten a copy for export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a border that is thicker on some sides than others?

Canvas Size and Stroke both add equal borders on all sides. To create uneven borders, use the decorative layer method: create a new layer, fill it with color, and manually erase or mask the parts where you do not want the border to show. This takes longer but gives you complete control.

What if my image has a transparent background and I want to border just the visible part?

Flatten the image first (Image > Flatten Image), which will replace the transparency with your background color. Then use Canvas Size or Stroke. If you want to keep the transparency and only border the visible content, use Stroke with the layer selected — it will border the layer boundary, not the canvas.

How do I add a white border to a photo?

Set your background color to white by clicking the background color square in the toolbox and choosing white from the color picker. Then use Canvas Size and set the canvas extension color to background color. Alternatively, use Stroke with white as the stroke color.

Can I add a border with rounded corners?

Canvas Size and Stroke both create square corners. To round the corners, use the decorative layer method and explore a layer mask with rounded corners, or use the Select > Modify > Smooth tool to soften the edges before stroking.

What file format should I save my bordered image in?

JPG works for photographs and images without transparency. PNG preserves transparency if you did not flatten the image. Save as .psd first if you think you might edit the border later — you can always export a flattened copy to JPG or PNG afterward.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.