Change your page background color in Word in three steps

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Go to the Design tab at the top of the screen. Click Page Color (it looks like a paint bucket), choose your color from the palette, and click it. The entire page background changes when ready.

That is the fastest route. If you want a color that is not in the standard palette, click More Colors at the bottom of the dropdown, and you can pick from thousands of shades. If you want to undo the change, go back to Page Color and select No Color.

The color you pick applies to every page in your document unless you set up different sections first — which is a separate step that most people do not need. For now, know that changing the page color once changes the whole document.

Key Takeaways

  • Page color in Word is found under the Design tab, not under Font or Format options where you might expect it.
  • The color applies to all pages in your document at once unless you have created separate sections with different formatting.
  • You can choose from a preset palette or click More Colors to access thousands of custom shades.
  • Changing page color does not affect the text itself — only the background behind it.
  • You can remove the color at any time by selecting No Color from the same Page Color menu.

Where to find the Page Color button

The Design tab is at the top of the Word window, next to the Home tab. If you do not see it, you may be in a view that hides the ribbon — click the arrow icon at the far right of the toolbar to expand it. Once you click Design, look for the paint bucket icon labeled Page Color in the middle section of the ribbon.

If you are using an older version of Word (2010 or earlier), the button is in a different place. Go to Page Layout instead of Design, then look for Page Color in the same area. The function works the same way in all versions.

Picking a color that works with your text

Before you choose a page color, think about whether your text will still be readable. Dark text on a dark background or light text on a light background becomes hard to read. If your document uses black text (the default), pick a light color — pale yellow, light blue, or white with a tint. If you have already changed your text to a light color, pick a dark page background.

The preset colors in Word are designed to work with standard black text, so start there if you are unsure. If you want a custom color, the More Colors dialog shows you a brightness slider on the right side — move it toward the top for lighter shades and toward the bottom for darker ones. Test by typing a sentence and seeing if you can read it comfortably before you finalize.

explore different colors to different pages

If you want page 1 to be white and page 2 to be light blue, you need to create separate sections first. Go to the page where you want the color to change. Click the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older Word), then find Breaks. Click it and select Next Page. This creates a section break, which tells Word that the formatting rules change at that point.

Now go to the Design tab and change the page color. It will only affect the current section. If you go back to the previous page, it keeps its original color. You can repeat this process for as many sections as you need. Keep in mind that section breaks can affect headers, footers, and page numbering too, so only use this if you really need different colors on different pages.

Saving your document with the new page color

When you save your document, Word saves the page color along with everything else. Press Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac) to save, or go to File and click Save. The color stays in the document when you close it and reopen it later.

If you share the document with someone else, they will see the same page color on their screen. However, if they print the document, the printer may not print the background color — most printers skip background colors by default to save ink. If you need the color to print, go to File, click Print, and look for an option that says Print Background Colors and Images or similar. The exact wording depends on your printer and Word version.

Removing or changing the page color later

If you change your mind, go back to the Design tab and click Page Color again. Select No Color at the top of the dropdown to remove the background entirely. If you want a different color instead, just click the new color you want — it replaces the old one when ready.

You can change the page color as many times as you want without damaging the document. There is no limit to how many times you can undo and redo this change, so feel free to experiment until you find a color you like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does page color print when I print my document?

Most printers skip background colors to save ink. If you want the color to print, open the Print dialog, look for an option called Print Background Colors and Images or Print Layout, and turn it on. The exact name varies by printer model and Word version.

Can I use a picture as the page background instead of a solid color?

Word does not have a built-in option to use a picture as a page background through the Design tab. You can insert an image and send it behind the text, but that requires more steps. For most documents, a solid color is simpler and looks more professional.

What if the page color does not show up on my screen?

Check that you are in Print Layout view, not Outline or Draft view. Click the View tab and select Print Layout. If the color still does not show, your display settings may be affecting it, but the color is still in the document and will appear when others open it.

Can I make just the margins a different color?

No — page color in Word fills the entire page. If you want colored margins, you would need to insert a table or shape that covers the margin area, which is more complicated. For most purposes, a full page color is what you need.

Does changing page color affect how the document prints on different printers?

Different printers handle background colors differently. Some print them, some skip them, and some print them lighter than they appear on screen. If you are sending the document to someone else to print, test it on their printer first or ask them to turn on background color printing if they want it to match your screen.