How to Add a Text Box in Google Docs

Adding a text box takes three clicks

Open your Google Docs document and click Insert in the menu bar at the top. A dropdown list appears. Click Text box. Your cursor changes to a crosshair, and you can now draw a box anywhere on the page by clicking and dragging.

Once you release the mouse, a text box appears with a blinking cursor inside. Start typing when ready — whatever you type goes into that box. The box is separate from your regular document text, which means you can move it, resize it, or delete it without affecting the words around it.

If you do not see Text box in the Insert menu, you may be looking at an older version of Google Docs. The text box feature is standard in current versions, but if you cannot find it, try refreshing your browser or clearing your cache.

Key Takeaways

Text boxes are created through Insert > Text box and let you place text anywhere on the page, not just in the normal flow.
You draw a text box by clicking and dragging with the crosshair cursor, then type directly into it.
Text boxes can be moved by clicking and dragging them, and resized by dragging the small squares at the corners and edges.
Formatting options like font, color, and size work the same way inside a text box as they do in regular document text.
Deleting a text box removes only that box and its contents, leaving the rest of your document untouched.

Moving and resizing your text box

After you create a text box, you can reposition it anywhere on the page. Click once on the border of the text box (not inside it) to select it. The box now shows small squares at the corners and along the edges. Click and drag the border itself to move the entire box to a new location.

To make the box larger or smaller, click and drag one of those small squares. Dragging a corner square resizes the box in both directions at once. Dragging a square along an edge resizes the box in only that direction. This is useful when you want text to wrap differently inside the box or when you need the box to fit a specific space on your page.

Formatting text inside the box

Text inside a text box can be formatted the same way as regular document text. Click inside the box to place your cursor there, then select the text you want to change. Use the toolbar buttons for bold, italic, underline, font size, and color. You can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+B for bold (or Cmd+B on Mac), Ctrl+I for italic, and Ctrl+U for underline.

The text box itself also has formatting options. Click the border of the box to select it without editing the text inside. Then look for the fill color and border options in the toolbar. You can change the background color of the box, the color of its border, and the thickness of the border line. These options let you make the text box stand out or blend in depending on your document design.

Common reasons text boxes are useful

Text boxes work well when you need text in a specific location that does not fit the normal document flow. A common use is adding a callout or highlight — a box with a colored background that draws attention to important information. Another use is creating a sidebar note or comment that sits beside your main text rather than interrupting it.

Text boxes are also helpful when you are designing a document with a specific layout in mind. If you want text to appear in multiple columns, or to wrap around an image in a particular way, text boxes give you more control than the standard paragraph formatting. They are also useful for adding labels to diagrams or for creating forms where you want specific spaces for people to write answers.

Deleting a text box

To remove a text box entirely, click once on its border to select it. The box shows the selection handles (small squares) around it. Press the Delete key on your keyboard. The entire text box and everything inside it disappears. Only the text box is removed — the rest of your document stays the same.

If you only want to delete the text inside the box but keep the box itself, click inside the box and select all the text with Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac), then press Delete. The box remains on the page, empty and ready for new text.

Text boxes versus tables and columns

Google Docs offers other ways to organize text on a page. A table is better when you have data that belongs in rows and columns with clear divisions. A column layout (found under Format > Columns) is better when you want text to flow automatically from one column to the next. A text box is the right choice when you need a single block of text in a specific location that does not follow the normal page flow.

Text boxes are also more flexible than columns because you can overlap them, position them precisely, and move them without affecting the rest of the document. Columns, by contrast, affect the entire page or section. If you are unsure which tool to use, start with a text box — it is the easiest to undo and change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a text box transparent so only the text shows?

Yes. Click the border of the text box to select it, then look for the fill color button in the toolbar (it looks like a paint bucket). Click the dropdown arrow next to it and select the transparent option, usually shown as a white square with a line through it. The background disappears, leaving only your text and the border.

What happens if I copy and paste a text box?

You can copy a text box the same way you copy any object. Click the border to select it, press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac), then press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V) to paste. A duplicate text box appears, usually slightly offset from the original. You can then move it and edit the text inside independently.

Can I rotate a text box?

Google Docs does not have a built-in rotate tool for text boxes. If you need text at an angle, you can insert an image instead and rotate that, but the text inside will not be editable. For most documents, text boxes work best when they are horizontal or vertical.

Why is my text box not showing up?

The text box may be behind other content or outside the visible page area. Click Insert > Text box again and draw a new box in the middle of your page to confirm it works. If the first box was accidentally placed off-page, you can find it by pressing Ctrl+A to select all objects, then delete it. Text boxes can also be hidden if their fill color and border color both match your page background.

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.