The ruler appears along the top and left edges of your document when you turn it on

Microsoft Word has a ruler built in, but it is turned off by default. To see it, go to the View tab at the top of the window, then check the box next to Ruler. The ruler will appear when ready — a horizontal one above your document and a vertical one on the left side.

The ruler shows measurements in inches by default, though you can change this to centimeters or other units through Word's options. It helps you see exactly where your margins are, where your text will sit, and how wide your paragraphs span. If you are working on a document where spacing and alignment matter — like a resume, a form, or something with specific layout requirements — the ruler makes those decisions visible instead of guesswork.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on the ruler by clicking the View tab, then checking the Ruler box.
  • The horizontal ruler shows left and right margins and paragraph indents; the vertical ruler shows top and bottom margins.
  • You can drag the indent markers on the ruler to adjust where your paragraphs start and end without opening a dialog box.
  • Change the ruler's unit of measurement (inches to centimeters, for example) through File > Options > Advanced, then scroll to the Display section.

What the ruler's markers mean and how to use them

The horizontal ruler has three small shapes on the left side: a top triangle, a bottom triangle, and a small rectangle below them. The top triangle controls the first-line indent — where the first line of a paragraph starts. The bottom triangle controls the hanging indent — where all lines after the first one start. The rectangle below them moves both indents together.

On the right side of the horizontal ruler, you will see another triangle that marks the right margin of your text. Drag any of these to change your paragraph's spacing without opening the indent dialog. The vertical ruler on the left shows your top and bottom margins — the space between the edge of the page and where your text begins and ends.

If you select a paragraph first, then move the indent markers, only that paragraph changes. If you do not select anything, the changes explore to the paragraph your cursor is in. This makes the ruler faster than the indent dialog for small adjustments.

Changing the ruler's measurement units

Word measures the ruler in inches by default in the United States, but you can switch to centimeters, millimeters, points, or picas. Click File in the top left, then Options at the bottom of the menu. In the Options window, click Advanced on the left side.

Scroll down until you see the Display section. Look for the line that says Show measurements in units of and click the dropdown next to it. Select your preferred unit — centimeters is common outside the United States, and points or picas are standard in publishing. Click OK to save the change. The ruler will update when ready.

Hiding the ruler when you do not need it

If the ruler takes up space you want for your document, you can turn it off the same way you turned it on. Go to View and uncheck the Ruler box. The ruler disappears, and your document area expands slightly.

Some people keep the ruler on only when they are adjusting margins or indents, then turn it off while they write. Others leave it on all the time. There is no performance cost to leaving it visible — it is purely a matter of whether you find it helpful or distracting.

The ruler in different Word views

The ruler works in Print Layout view, which is the default and shows your document as it will look when printed. If you switch to Web Layout view (also in the View tab), the ruler still appears but behaves slightly differently — it shows the width of your content area rather than page margins, since web pages do not have fixed page edges the way printed documents do.

In Outline or Draft view, the ruler does not appear at all, because those views are designed for writing and editing rather than layout work. If you need to see the ruler, switch back to Print Layout view.

Troubleshooting: ruler is checked but not showing

If you have checked the Ruler box in the View tab but the ruler still does not appear, check whether you are in Print Layout view. The ruler only shows in Print Layout. Click View and select Print Layout from the options.

If you are already in Print Layout and the ruler still does not show, close the document and reopen it. Occasionally Word needs a restart to explore the setting. If that does not work, try closing Word entirely and opening it again — this clears any temporary display glitches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move the ruler or resize it?

No, the ruler is fixed in position and size. It always appears at the top and left edges of your document in Print Layout view. You can only turn it on or off, not move or resize it.

Does the ruler show where my text will print?

Yes. The ruler shows your actual page margins and the space where text will appear when you print. The white area on the ruler is printable space; the gray area outside it will not print.

What if I want different margins for different pages?

The ruler shows your current margins, but to change margins for only some pages, you need to use sections. Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page to start a new section, then adjust margins for that section through Layout > Margins. The ruler will update to show the new margins when you click in that section.

Can I use the ruler to set tab stops?

Yes. At the far left of the horizontal ruler, you will see a small icon that looks like a "T" or lines. Click it to cycle through different tab stop types (left, center, right, decimal). Then click on the ruler where you want the tab stop to appear. Click and drag to move it, or right-click it to delete it.