The fastest way: use Word's built-in cover page templates

Microsoft Word comes with pre-designed cover pages you can insert in seconds. Open your document, go to the Insert tab at the top, click Cover Page, and choose from the gallery of designs. Word will drop a formatted cover page at the beginning of your document with placeholder text for title, subtitle, author, and date — you just click each placeholder and type your own information.

This is the method most people use because it requires no design knowledge and produces a professional result when ready. The templates handle spacing, fonts, and layout automatically, so you do not have to think about alignment or sizing.

If you do not like the first template you choose, you can delete it and pick a different one from the same gallery. Word will replace the entire page with the new design.

Key Takeaways

  • Word's built-in cover page templates are found under the Insert tab and require only that you replace the placeholder text with your own information.
  • You can change the design after inserting it by deleting the page and selecting a different template from the same gallery.
  • If you want to customize colors, fonts, or layout beyond what the template offers, you can edit the cover page like any other page in your document.
  • A cover page is typically a separate page from your document content, so Word automatically starts your main text on page two.

Customizing the template after you insert it

Once the cover page is in your document, you can edit any part of it. Click on the title placeholder and type your document title. Click the subtitle placeholder and add a subtitle, or delete it if you do not need one. The same goes for author name, date, and any other text boxes on the template.

To change the color scheme, right-click on the cover page and look for design or color options — these vary depending on which template you chose. You can also select individual text boxes and change their font, size, or color using the formatting tools in the Home tab.

If you want to remove the cover page entirely, click anywhere on it and then go to Insert > Cover Page > Remove Cover Page. This deletes the page and moves your document content back to page one.

Creating a cover page from scratch without a template

If none of Word's templates match what you need, you can build a cover page manually. Insert a blank page at the beginning of your document by clicking Insert > Page Break at the very start of your document, then move your cursor to the top of the new blank page.

Type your title and use the formatting tools to center it, increase the font size, and choose a font that stands out. Add your subtitle, author name, and date below, spacing them out so they look balanced on the page. You can insert images, shapes, or lines to add visual interest, though keeping it straightforward usually looks more professional.

This approach takes longer than using a template but gives you complete control over the design. The trade-off is that you are responsible for making sure everything is aligned and looks intentional rather than accidental.

Where your cover page sits in your document structure

A cover page is always page one. When you insert a template cover page, Word automatically starts your main document content on page two. If you are numbering pages, you can choose to start the page numbers on page two so the cover page does not show a number — this is standard for reports, theses, and formal documents.

To hide the page number on the cover page, go to Insert > Page Number, then check the box that says Different First Page. This tells Word to treat the cover page differently from the rest of the document, so you can remove the number from just that page.

Inserting images or logos on your cover page

Most cover page templates have space for an image or logo. Click the image placeholder and Word will open a dialog asking where you want to get the image from — your computer, online sources, or a stock image library. Select your image and it will replace the placeholder.

If you want to add an image that is not already in a placeholder, go to Insert > Pictures and choose your file. Once the image is on the page, you can resize it by dragging the corners, move it by clicking and dragging, and adjust how it sits relative to text by right-clicking and choosing text wrapping options.

Keeping your cover page consistent if you share the document

If you are sharing your document with others, remember that the cover page template you chose exists on your computer. If someone opens the document on a different computer that does not have the same fonts installed, the text may look different — the font might change to something else, or spacing might shift.

To avoid this, use common fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman on your cover page. These come with every version of Word. If you use a decorative or specialty font, consider converting the cover page to an image before sharing, though this means others cannot edit the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a cover page template in older versions of Word?

Yes. The Cover Page feature has been in Word since at least 2007. Go to Insert > Cover Page and you will see the template gallery. Older versions may have fewer templates than newer ones, but the process is the same.

What if I want different cover pages for different sections of my document?

You can insert multiple cover pages by placing your cursor where you want a new one and going to Insert > Cover Page again. However, this is unusual — most documents have one cover page at the start. If you need section breaks with different formatting, use section breaks instead of cover pages.

How do I make sure my cover page prints correctly?

Check your print preview before printing. Go to File > Print and look at the preview on the right side to see how the cover page will look on paper. Make sure margins, colors, and spacing match what you want. If you are printing on special paper, load that paper into your printer before printing the cover page.

Can I save a cover page design as my own template?

Yes. After you customize a cover page the way you like it, go to File > Save As Template. Word will save it as a template you can reuse for future documents. You will find it in your custom templates folder when you create a new document.

What happens to my cover page if I convert the document to PDF?

The cover page stays as page one in the PDF. All formatting, images, and text remain the same. This is one reason cover pages are useful — they look professional in both Word and PDF formats.