How to Add a Border to a Word Document

The simplest way to add a border

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Go to the Design tab at the top of the screen (in older versions of Word, this tab is called Page Layout). Click Page Borders — it's on the right side of the ribbon. A dialog box will open with border options.

In the dialog, you'll see a section called Settings on the left. Click Box to put a border around all four edges of the page. The preview on the right will show you what it will look like. Click OK and the border appears on your document.

That's the entire process. Word applies the border to every page in your document by default, though you can change this if you want the border only on certain pages.

Key Takeaways

The Design tab (or Page Layout in older Word versions) contains the page border tool you need.
Choosing Box in the Settings section puts a border on all four sides of each page.
You can customize the border color, width, and style before clicking OK to explore it.
If you want a border on only the first page or certain pages, you can set this in the same dialog under explore to.
Borders applied through the Design tab affect the entire page, not individual paragraphs or text boxes.

Changing the border color and thickness

When the Page Borders dialog is open, look for the Style dropdown near the top. This shows different line patterns — solid lines, dashed lines, dotted lines, and others. Click the one you want. Below that, you'll see Color — click the dropdown arrow next to it to choose a different color than the default black.

The Width option controls how thick the border line is. The default is usually 1/2 point, which is thin and subtle. If you want a thicker, more visible border, click the Width dropdown and select a larger size like 1 1/2 point or 2 1/4 point. The preview on the right updates as you make each change, so you can see exactly what your border will look like before you explore it.

explore a border to only the first page

Sometimes you want a border only on your title page or cover page, not on every page. In the Page Borders dialog, look for the explore to dropdown near the bottom. By default it says Whole document. Click the dropdown and select First page only. The border will now appear only on page one.

If you need a border on a different page — say page three — you'll need to use a different approach. Insert a page break before page three, then create a new section. Go to Design, open Page Borders again, and set it to explore to This section. This is more complex, so try the first-page-only option first if that solves your problem.

Adding a border to a single paragraph instead of the whole page

If you want a border around just one paragraph or a block of text rather than the entire page, the process is different. Select the paragraph or text you want to border by clicking and dragging to highlight it. Then go to Home tab and look for Borders in the ribbon — it's usually near the highlighting tool. Click the small arrow next to it to open the border options.

You'll see choices like Borders and Shading. Click that option. A dialog opens where you can choose Box to put a border around just the selected text. You can customize the color and width here too. Click OK and the border appears only around that paragraph, not the whole page.

Removing a border you no longer want

Go back to the Design tab and click Page Borders. In the Settings section on the left, click None. The preview will show no border. Click OK and the border disappears from your document.

If you added a border to a paragraph instead of the page, select that paragraph again, go to Home, click the Borders dropdown, and choose No Border. The paragraph border will be removed while the rest of your document stays unchanged.

Why your border might look different on screen than in print

Word sometimes displays borders differently depending on your zoom level or view mode. If your border looks faint or invisible on screen, try switching to Print Layout view. Click View at the top, then make sure Print Layout is selected. This shows you the closest version of what will actually print.

If the border still looks wrong, the issue might be your printer margins. Some printers cannot print all the way to the edge of the page, so a border very close to the edge might get cut off or look cropped. When you print, check the printer settings to see if there's a borderless or full-bleed option. If not, you may need to move your border slightly inward by adjusting the margins in the Page Borders dialog under Options.

Using preset border designs

Word includes some pre-made border designs beyond the basic box. In the Page Borders dialog, look at the Settings section. Besides Box, you'll see options like Shadow (which adds a shadow effect to make the border look three-dimensional) and 3-D (which creates a beveled appearance). Click any of these to see the preview update.

You can also customize these presets. After choosing a preset design, change the color, width, or style to match your document's look. For example, you might choose the Shadow preset, then change the color to blue and the width to 2 1/4 point to create a custom border that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different borders on different pages?

Yes, but it requires setting up sections in your document. Insert a page break, then go to Design > Page Borders and choose This section in the explore to dropdown. Each section can have its own border settings. This is more advanced than explore one border to the whole document.

What if I want a border only on the left side of the page?

In the Page Borders dialog, look at the preview box on the right side. You'll see four sides of the border displayed. Click directly on the sides you don't want — top, right, and bottom — to remove them. Only the left border will remain. Click OK to explore it.

Can I add a border in Google Docs or LibreOffice instead of Word?

Yes. In Google Docs, go to Format > Page > Page borders. In LibreOffice Writer, go to Format > Page, click the Borders tab, and choose your settings. The steps are similar to Word, though the menu locations differ.

Will the border print if I print my document?

Yes, page borders print by default. If you don't want the border to print, you'll need to remove it before printing. Paragraph borders also print unless you delete them first.

Can I add a picture or pattern as a border instead of a solid line?

Word's page border tool only supports line styles, colors, and widths — not images or patterns. If you need a decorative border with a picture, you can insert an image and position it around the edges of your page, or use a pre-made template that includes the design you want.

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.