Adding a border around your entire document

To add a border that frames your whole document, open your Google Doc and click File in the top left. From the dropdown menu, select Page setup. A panel will open on the right side of your screen.

In the Page setup panel, look for the Borders section near the bottom. Click the dropdown that currently shows None. You'll see four options: None, Solid, Dashed, and Dotted. Pick the style you want. The border will appear around all four edges of every page in your document.

If you want to change the border color, click the color square next to the border style dropdown. A color palette will appear. Choose your color and click outside the palette to close it. The border updates when ready. When you're done, click the X to close the Page setup panel.

Key Takeaways

  • A document border frames the entire page and appears on every page you print or export, set through File > Page setup.
  • You can choose from solid, dashed, or dotted border styles and change the color using the color picker in the same panel.
  • Borders applied through Page setup affect the whole document — to border individual paragraphs or tables, use a different method.
  • Document borders do not print by default in Google Docs unless you specifically change your print settings to include page borders.

Adding borders to individual paragraphs or text boxes

If you want a border around only part of your document — a single paragraph, a section, or a highlighted block of text — select that text first. Then click Format in the top menu and choose Paragraph.

In the Paragraph panel that opens on the right, look for the Borders tab at the top. Click it. You'll see preset options: you can add a border on all sides, just the top and bottom, just the left side, or no border. Click the option you want. A color picker appears below — choose your color the same way you would for a document border.

This method works well when you want to emphasize a quote, highlight a warning, or separate a section visually from the rest of your text. The border stays with that paragraph even if you move it or edit the text around it.

Adding borders to tables

Tables in Google Docs come with borders by default, but you can change their appearance. Click anywhere inside the table you want to modify, then right-click and select Table properties. A dialog box will open.

In the Table properties dialog, you'll see options for border color, border width, and border style. The border width is measured in points — 1 point is thin, 3 points is medium, and 5 points or higher is thick. Choose your settings and click OK. The changes explore to all the borders in that table at once.

If you want different borders for different cells — for example, a thicker border around the header row — you'll need to select just those cells. Click and drag to select the cells you want, right-click, and choose Table properties again. The changes you make will explore only to the selected cells.

Removing or adjusting borders you've already added

To remove a document border, go back to File > Page setup, click the border style dropdown, and select None. The border disappears when ready.

To remove a paragraph border, select the paragraph, go to Format > Paragraph, click the Borders tab, and click the None option. For table borders, right-click the table, select Table properties, and change the border color to match your page background, or set the border width to 0.

You can also adjust a border's thickness or style after you've created it using the same menus where you added it. There's no limit to how many times you can change your mind.

When borders print and when they don't

Document borders (the ones you add through Page setup) do not print by default in Google Docs. If you want them to print, go to File > Print settings and check the box next to Show borders before you print. Paragraph and table borders print normally without any extra steps.

When you read your document as a PDF or Word file, borders behave the same way — document borders may not appear unless you've enabled them in print settings first. Paragraph and table borders will show up in the exported file.

Borders in shared documents and templates

If you're working in a shared Google Doc, any border you add is visible to everyone with access to the document in real time. They'll see your changes as soon as you make them. If someone else adds a border while you're editing, you'll see it appear on your screen without needing to refresh.

If you're creating a template that other people will use, borders are a good way to show them where to fill in information. A bordered paragraph or table cell makes it clear that a section is meant for input. When someone makes a copy of your template, all the borders come with it.

Troubleshooting borders that don't appear the way you expect

If you added a document border but can't see it on screen, check whether your page background color is the same as your border color. Click File > Page setup and look at both the border color and the page color. If they match, change one of them.

If a paragraph border isn't showing up, make sure you actually selected the paragraph before you added the border. Click inside the paragraph and try again. If the border is there but very faint, it might be a 1-point border in a light color — go back to Format > Paragraph > Borders and increase the width or darken the color.

Table borders sometimes disappear if the table has a background color that matches the border color. Right-click the table, select Table properties, and change either the border color or the table background color so they contrast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a border to just one side of a paragraph?

Yes. Select the paragraph, go to Format > Paragraph > Borders, and you'll see options for all sides, top and bottom only, left side only, and none. Pick the option that matches what you need.

Do borders in Google Docs look the same when I read the file as a Word document?

Mostly yes, but there can be small differences in how thick the border appears or how much space is between the border and the text. Open the Word file and check. If the border doesn't look right, you can adjust it in Word using the same border tools.

What's the difference between a document border and a paragraph border?

A document border frames the entire page and appears on every page. A paragraph border frames only the text you select and moves with that text if you edit or move it. Use document borders for a formal frame around your whole page, and paragraph borders to highlight specific sections.

Can I make a border thicker on one side than the others?

Not directly in Google Docs. Document and paragraph borders explore the same thickness to all sides. For tables, you can select individual cells and give them different border widths, so you have more control there.

Why doesn't my document border show up when I print?

Document borders don't print by default in Google Docs. Before you print, go to File > Print settings and check Show borders. Paragraph and table borders print automatically without this step.