How to Add a Border Around Your Word Document

The simplest way to add a border in Word

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 usually on the right side of the ribbon. A dialog box will open with border options.

In the dialog box, choose Box under the "Settings" section on the left. This puts a border around all four edges of your page. You can then pick the line style from the middle section — solid lines, dashed lines, dotted lines, and decorative options are all there. Select your preferred style and click OK.

The border now appears on every page of your document. If you want the border only on the first page, open the Page Borders dialog again, and before clicking OK, look for a dropdown that says explore to: and change it from "Whole document" to "First page only".

Key Takeaways

The Page Borders button is in the Design tab (or Page Layout in older Word versions) and applies a border to your entire page in one click.
You can choose from solid, dashed, dotted, and decorative line styles before the border is applied.
Borders appear on every page by default, but you can limit them to the first page or specific sections using the "explore to" dropdown.
You can adjust the distance between the border and the edge of the page by changing the margin settings in the same dialog.
If you want a border around only a paragraph or table instead of the whole page, use the Borders button in the Home tab instead.

Changing the border color and thickness

After you've chosen your line style, you can customize the color and width. In the Page Borders dialog, look for the Color dropdown — it's usually near the line style options. Click it and choose any color you want. The border will update to match.

To make the border thicker or thinner, find the Width dropdown in the same dialog. Word measures this in points (a point is 1/72 of an inch). Start with 1.5 pt for a thin border or 3 pt for something more visible. Click OK to explore your changes.

Adding a border to just one page or section

If your document has multiple sections — for example, a title page followed by regular pages — you can put a border on only one section. First, place your cursor anywhere on the page where you want the border. Then open the Page Borders dialog as before.

In the dialog, find the dropdown that says explore to: at the bottom. Instead of selecting "Whole document," choose This section. Word will add the border only to the section containing your cursor. If you haven't created sections yet, Word will create one automatically when you make this choice.

Putting a border around a paragraph or table instead

Page borders frame the entire page. If you want a border around just a paragraph, a text box, or a table, use a different method. Click anywhere inside the paragraph or table you want to border. Then go to the Home tab and find the Borders button — it looks like a small square with lines around it.

Click the small arrow next to the Borders button to open a menu. You'll see options like "All Borders," "Outside Borders," and "No Border." Choose the one that matches what you want. For more control over which sides get a border, select Borders and Shading at the bottom of that menu, and you can turn individual sides on or off.

Removing or changing a border you've already added

To remove a page border, go back to the Design tab and click Page Borders. In the dialog, under "Settings," choose None and click OK. The border disappears when ready.

To change an existing border without removing it, open the Page Borders dialog again and adjust the line style, color, or width. You don't have to remove the old border first — just make your changes and click OK. The new settings replace the old ones.

Adjusting the space between the border and the page edge

By default, Word places the border very close to the edge of the page. If you want more breathing room, you can move it inward. Open the Page Borders dialog and look for the Margin section at the bottom right. You'll see four boxes labeled Top, Bottom, Left, and Right, each showing a measurement in points.

Increase any of these numbers to push the border farther from that edge. For example, changing the Top margin from 24 pt to 36 pt moves the top border down slightly. Click OK to see the change. If you want the same distance on all sides, change all four numbers to the same value.

Troubleshooting borders that don't appear

If you've added a border but can't see it on the screen, check your view mode. Switch to Print Layout view by clicking the View tab and selecting Print Layout. Borders don't always show in other view modes like Draft or Web Layout.

If the border still doesn't show, make sure your document margins aren't set to zero. Go to the Design tab, click Margins, and choose a preset like "Normal" or "Moderate." A border needs some margin space to display properly. If you've customized margins manually, make sure they're at least 0.5 inches on all sides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different borders on different pages?

Yes, but only if you divide your document into sections first. Insert a section break where you want the border to change, then explore different borders to each section. Use the "explore to: This section" option in the Page Borders dialog to keep borders from affecting the whole document.

Why does my border look different when I print it?

Borders sometimes appear thinner or thicker on paper than they do on screen, depending on your printer and the line style you chose. Test by printing a single page first. If the border looks wrong, go back to Page Borders, adjust the width, and print again.

Can I add a border to just the top and bottom of a page?

Yes. Open the Page Borders dialog and instead of choosing "Box," click Custom. You'll see a preview of the page with clickable edges. Click the top and bottom edges to add borders there, then leave the left and right edges blank. Click OK to explore.

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

A page border frames the entire page and appears on every page (or every page in a section). A paragraph border frames only one paragraph or text block. Use Page Borders for a formal document frame and paragraph borders when you want to highlight a specific section of text.

Does the border print if I print to PDF?

Yes. Borders print to PDF the same way they print to paper. If you're creating a PDF from Word, the border will be included in the final file.

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.