The simplest way to add a title page
A title page in Google Docs is just a blank page at the start of your document with your title, author name, and date on it. You create one by inserting a page break after you type those details, which pushes everything else to page two.
Open your Google Doc and click at the very beginning — before any text. Type your title, press Enter a few times to add space, then type your name and the date. Now place your cursor at the end of that information and go to Insert > Break > Page break. Everything that was below will move to a new page, and you now have a title page.
If your document already has content, click right before the first line of that content, insert the page break there, then go back to page one and add your title information above the break.
Key Takeaways
- A title page is created by typing your title and author information, then inserting a page break to push the rest of your document to page two.
- You can format your title page text with different fonts, sizes, and colors using the toolbar — larger fonts for the title itself look more professional.
- Centering your title page text makes it look intentional; select all the text on page one and use the alignment button to center it.
- If you need a title page in the middle of your document, insert the page break before your content, not after.
- Google Docs does not have a built-in title page template, but you can create one manually in under a minute using these steps.
Formatting your title page to look professional
Once your title page exists, you can make it look intentional by formatting the text. Select all the text on your title page (the title, name, and date) and click the alignment button in the toolbar — it looks like lines — and choose Center. This centers everything on the page.
Make your title larger and more prominent. Highlight just the title text, then click the font size dropdown (it shows a number like "11") and choose a larger size — 28 to 36 points works well for a title. You can also make it bold by clicking the B button or change the color by clicking the text color button (the A with a colored line under it).
Leave your name and date in a smaller font size, usually 12 points, so the title stands out. A common layout is title centered and large at the top, then your name and date centered lower on the page with extra space between them.
Adding space and margins to your title page
If your title page looks cramped, add vertical space by pressing Enter between elements. Type your title, press Enter several times (5 to 10, depending on how much space you want), then type your name, press Enter a few more times, then type the date.
You can also adjust the margins of your entire document, which affects all pages including the title page. Go to File > Page setup and change the top, bottom, left, and right margins. The default is 1 inch on all sides. Increasing the top margin gives your title more breathing room at the top of the page.
If you want different margins only on the title page, that requires a workaround: create the title page in a separate document, then copy it into your main document as an image. For most purposes, adjusting spacing with Enter and formatting is enough.
Removing or editing your title page later
If you need to delete your title page, select all the text on page one and press Delete. The page break will remain, so you will need to delete that too — click right before the page break (you will see a faint line) and press Delete again to remove it and bring page two back up.
To edit your title page, straightforward click on the text you want to change and type over it. You can change the title, add a subtitle, swap out the date, or reformat anything without affecting the rest of your document.
If you want to add a page number that starts on page two instead of page one, go to Insert > Page number > More and check the box that says Don't show on first page. This is common for documents with title pages.
Title pages in documents you are sharing
When you share a Google Doc with others, your title page prints and displays exactly as it appears on your screen. If you are sharing the document for feedback, a title page signals that this is a finished draft, not a rough note.
If others are editing the document with you, they can see and edit your title page just like any other page. If you want to protect it from changes, you can lock it by selecting the title page text, going to Tools > Protect ranges, and choosing who can edit it. This is useful if you are collaborating and want to keep the title page as-is while others work on the body.
Printing your document with a title page
When you print a Google Doc with a title page, the title page prints first, followed by the rest of your document. Go to File > Print to see a preview of how it will look on paper.
If you only want to print the title page, click the page range field in the print dialog and type 1 to print only page one. If you want to print everything except the title page, type 2- to start from page two onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a template for a title page instead of making one manually?
Google Docs does not have a dedicated title page template, but you can start from a template that includes a title page — search for "report" or "thesis" templates when you create a new document, and many include a formatted title page you can edit. You can also save your own title page as a template for future documents.
What if I want a different background color or image on my title page?
Go to File > Page setup and click the color button to add a background color to all pages. To add a background only to the title page, insert an image at the top of page one, right-click it, and choose Wrap text > Behind text, then resize it to cover the page. This is more advanced and may affect how your document prints.
How do I make sure my title page does not have a page number on it?
Insert your page numbers after you create the title page and the page break. Go to Insert > Page number > More and check Don't show on first page. This removes the page number from your title page while numbering the rest of your document starting at 1 or 2, depending on your choice.
Can I add a title page to a document that already has lots of content?
Yes. Click at the very beginning of your document (before the first word), insert a page break, then go back to the top and type your title information. The page break will push all your existing content down, and your title page will be page one.