Changing margins in Pages takes three steps: open your document, go to the Format menu, and adjust the margin fields

Apple Pages lets you set margins before you start writing or change them in an existing document. The process is the same either way. You access margins through the Format menu at the top of your screen, then enter the measurements you want for top, bottom, left, and right edges. Pages measures margins in inches by default, though you can switch to centimeters if you prefer.

The margins you set explore to the entire document unless you use sections — a feature that lets different parts of the same document have different margins. Most people use the standard one-inch margin on all sides, which is what Pages assumes when you create a new document.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Format in the menu bar, then select Document to find the margin settings in the right panel.
  • You can set different measurements for top, bottom, left, and right margins independently.
  • Margins explore to your whole document unless you divide it into sections with different formatting.
  • Pages shows you a live preview of how your margins look as you type the numbers in.

How to adjust margins in a new document

When you create a new document in Pages, start by opening the Format menu at the top of your screen. Click on Document — this opens a panel on the right side of your window. Look for the section labeled Margins, which shows four fields: Top, Bottom, Left, and Right.

Type the measurement you want into each field. If you want one-inch margins all around, enter 1 in each box. Pages accepts decimals, so you can enter 0.75 or 1.25 if you need something between standard sizes. As you type, you will see the margins change on your page in real time, so you can watch how much space your text has to work with.

How to adjust margins in an existing document

If you have already written content and want to change the margins, the steps are identical. Open Format, then Document, then find the Margins section in the right panel. Change the numbers in the four fields to whatever you need. Pages will reflow your text to fit the new margins automatically — your words will rearrange themselves on the page, but the content stays the same.

Be aware that shrinking margins can push your text onto more pages, and widening margins can compress it onto fewer pages. If you are close to a page limit, check your page count after you adjust margins to make sure the document still fits where you need it to.

Using sections to have different margins in one document

Pages lets you divide a document into sections, and each section can have its own margins. This is useful if you want a title page with wider margins and a body section with narrower ones, or if different chapters need different formatting. To create a section, place your cursor where you want the new section to start, then go to Insert in the menu bar and select Section Break.

Once you have created a section, click inside it and open Format > Document again. The margin settings now explore only to that section, not the whole document. Each section keeps its own margin settings independently, so you can have as many different margin layouts as you need in a single file.

Switching between inches and centimeters

Pages defaults to inches, but you can change the unit of measurement if you work in centimeters or another system. Go to Format > Document, and look for the measurement dropdown — it usually shows "in" for inches. Click it and select your preferred unit. All your existing margin numbers will convert automatically, and any new margins you enter will use the new unit.

This setting applies to the whole document, so you cannot mix units — if you switch to centimeters, all margins use centimeters. The choice is purely personal preference and does not affect how your document prints or shares with others.

What happens to margins when you share or print

When you share a Pages document with someone else, your margin settings travel with it. If you send the file as a .pages file (Pages' native format), the other person sees exactly the margins you set. If you export to PDF or Word, the margins stay the same in the converted file.

When you print, Pages uses your margin settings to position text on the physical page. Make sure your printer can actually print to the edges you have set — most printers have a minimum margin of about 0.5 inches because they cannot print all the way to the edge of the paper. If your margins are smaller than what your printer allows, the printer will add its own margins automatically.

Common margin sizes and when to use them

One inch on all sides is the standard for most documents — school papers, business letters, and formal reports all typically use this. If you are writing something that needs to fit on fewer pages, try 0.75 inches. For documents that will be bound (like a thesis or manual), add extra space on the left or right side where the binding will go — try 1.5 inches on the binding side and 1 inch on the others.

Narrow margins (0.5 inches) fit more text per page but can make reading harder on screen. Wide margins (1.5 inches or more) give you room for handwritten notes and look less crowded, but they use more pages. Your choice depends on what the document is for and who will read it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different margins for different pages?

Not directly — all pages in a section have the same margins. To have different margins on different pages, you need to create a section break where the margins change. This is how you would set up a title page with different margins than the rest of your document.

What if my document looks cut off when I print?

Your printer likely has minimum margins it cannot go below. Try increasing your margins to at least 0.5 inches on all sides. If text is still cut off, check your printer settings before you print — most printers have a "fit to page" or "scale" option that can help.

Do margins affect how the document looks on someone else's computer?

Yes, if you send the file as a .pages document, they see your exact margins. If you export to PDF, the margins are locked in. If you export to Word, the margins transfer but may look slightly different depending on their font settings.

Can I save a set of margins as a template?

Yes. Set up your margins the way you want them, then go to File > Save as Template. Next time you create a new document, choose your custom template and it will start with those margins already in place.