The quickest way to add a line

Open your document in Microsoft Word and click where you want the line to appear. Go to the Insert tab at the top of the screen, then click Shapes. A dropdown menu will open. Click the straight line icon — it looks like a straightforward diagonal line. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw the line where you want it, then release.

That line is now an object you can move, resize, or delete. If you need to adjust it, click the line once to select it (you'll see small squares at each end), then drag those squares to make it longer, shorter, or angled differently. To move the whole line, click and drag from the middle of it.

This method works the same way in Word on Windows and Mac, and in Word Online through your web browser. The line appears on top of your text, so you may need to adjust where your words sit if the line overlaps them.

Key Takeaways

  • The Insert menu has a Shapes option that includes a straight line tool you can draw anywhere in your document.
  • After you draw a line, you can resize it by dragging the small squares at each end, or move it by dragging the middle.
  • A horizontal line across the page works the same way — draw it from left to right and it will snap roughly level if you hold Shift while dragging.
  • If you want a line that sits between paragraphs without overlapping text, use the Borders option under the Home tab instead.

Using borders for a line between paragraphs

If you want a line that sits neatly between two sections of text without floating on top of your words, use the border tool instead. Click at the end of the paragraph above where you want the line, or at the start of the paragraph below it. Go to the Home tab, then find the Borders button — it looks like a small square with lines around it.

Click the small arrow next to Borders to open a menu. Select Borders and Shading. A dialog box will open. Under the Presets section at the top left, click the icon that shows a line at the bottom only. This adds a border line below the paragraph you selected. Click OK and the line appears between your paragraphs.

This approach keeps your text and line properly aligned. The line will move with your text if you add or delete words above it, whereas a drawn line stays in a fixed spot on the page.

Horizontal lines that span the full page width

A common need is a line that goes all the way across the page. The Shapes method works, but you have to draw it carefully. Instead, use the border method and it will automatically stretch to match your page width. Click anywhere in the paragraph where you want the line below it, go to Home > Borders > Borders and Shading, select the bottom border preset, and click OK.

If you drew a line using Shapes and want it to be perfectly horizontal, select the line and look for a rotation handle — a small circle above the line. You can also right-click the line, choose Format Shape, and under the Size section, set the rotation to exactly 0 degrees. For a line that spans the page, the border method is faster and cleaner.

Changing the color and thickness of your line

If you drew the line using Shapes, click it to select it. Right-click and choose Format Shape. A panel will open on the right side of your screen. Click Line to expand that section. You can now change the color by clicking the color box, adjust the thickness by changing the width number, and choose whether the line is solid or dashed.

For a border line created through the Borders menu, click in the paragraph that has the border, go to Home > Borders > Borders and Shading again. Click the Options tab, then the Color dropdown to pick a new color. The Width dropdown lets you make the line thicker or thinner. Click OK to explore your changes.

Removing a line you no longer need

If you drew the line using Shapes, click it once to select it and press the Delete key. The line disappears when ready. If you can't click it precisely, click somewhere else in your document first, then use Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo your last action, which will bring back the line so you can try selecting it again.

If you added the line using the border method, click in the paragraph that has the border. Go to Home > Borders > Borders and Shading. Under Presets, click the first icon, which shows no borders. Click OK and the line is removed.

When to use each method

Use the Shapes line when you want a line at a specific angle, or when you need to place it in a precise spot on the page that doesn't align with a paragraph. Use the border method when you want a line between sections of text that will move with your document if you edit it, or when you need the line to span the full width of the page automatically.

The border method is also better if you're sharing your document with others, because borders are part of the paragraph formatting and will stay in place no matter what device or version of Word someone opens the file on. Drawn shapes sometimes shift position when a document is opened in different programs or on different computers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a line that's not straight?

Yes. In the Shapes menu, you'll see options beyond the straight line — curved lines, arrows, and connectors. Click the shape you want and draw it the same way you would draw a straight line. You can also use the freeform drawing tool to draw by hand, though it's harder to control precisely.

Why does my line disappear when I print the document?

If you used the Shapes method, the line might be set to white or a very light color. Right-click the line, choose Format Shape, click Line, and make sure the color is set to black or another dark color. If you used the border method, go back to Borders and Shading and confirm the color is not set to white.

How do I make a line that's exactly 3 inches long?

Draw the line using Shapes, then right-click it and choose Format Shape. Under the Size section, you'll see a Length field where you can type an exact measurement. Type 3" for 3 inches and press Enter. The line will resize to that exact length.

Can I add a line in Word Online?

Yes, but the Shapes tool in Word Online is more limited. Click Insert, then Shapes, and you can draw a line the same way. The border method works identically in Word Online — click Home, Borders, and Borders and Shading, then choose your border style.