The fastest way to add a text box
Open the Insert tab at the top of Word, then click Text Box. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag on your document to draw the box to the size you want — you can make it small or stretch it across the page. Once you release the mouse, you can start typing inside it.
The box appears with a border and selection handles (small squares at the corners and edges). You can move it by clicking and dragging the border itself, or resize it by dragging any of the corner handles. If you want to remove the border so the text sits directly on the page without a visible box around it, right-click the border, select Format Shape, go to Line, and choose No Line.
Key Takeaways
- Text boxes live in the Insert tab under the Text Box button, and you draw them by clicking and dragging on your document.
- You can move a text box by dragging its border, or resize it by dragging the corner handles.
- Text boxes let you place text anywhere on the page, including on top of images or in specific positions that regular paragraphs cannot reach.
- Removing the border makes the text box invisible — the text stays but the box outline disappears.
- Text boxes work best for labels, callouts, and positioned text; for most body text, regular paragraphs are simpler to manage.
When to use a text box instead of regular text
A text box is useful when you need text in a specific spot that does not follow the normal top-to-bottom flow of your document. Use one to add a label to an image, create a sidebar note, or position text at an angle. Text boxes also let you layer text on top of other content — something regular paragraphs cannot do.
For most of your document body, though, regular paragraphs are easier to work with. They reflow automatically when you add or delete content, and they stay in order. Text boxes require you to position them manually, so if you add a lot of text above them, you may need to move them down by hand.
Moving and resizing your text box
Click anywhere on the border of the text box to select it. The border will show selection handles — small squares at each corner and the middle of each side. To move the entire box, click and drag the border itself (not a handle). To resize it, click and drag any of the corner handles to change both width and height at once, or drag a side handle to change just one dimension.
If you want precise control, right-click the text box border and select Format Shape. Go to the Size & Properties tab and enter exact measurements for height and width in inches or centimeters. This is useful if you need multiple text boxes to be exactly the same size.
Changing how the text box looks
Right-click the border of the text box and select Format Shape. From here you can change the fill color (the background inside the box), the line color (the border), and the line thickness. You can also add a shadow or 3D effect if your document calls for it.
To change the text itself — font, size, color, alignment — select the text inside the box first (not the box border), then use the formatting tools in the Home tab the same way you would for regular text. You can also right-click the selected text and choose Font to open the font dialog.
Rotating a text box
Click the text box border to select it, then look for the rotation handle — a small circular arrow above the box. Click and drag this handle to rotate the text box and everything inside it. You can also right-click the border, select Format Shape, go to Size & Properties, and enter an exact rotation angle in degrees.
Rotating text is useful for labels on diagrams or for creative layouts, but it makes text harder to read, so use it sparingly. Most readers expect text to sit horizontally.
Linking text boxes together
If you have a long piece of text that you want to flow from one text box to another — for example, text that starts in a box on page one and continues in a box on page two — you can link them. Click the first text box border to select it, then go to the Insert tab and click the small arrow next to Text Box. Select Link Text Boxes. Your cursor will change. Click the second text box, and the text will flow from the first box into the second.
To unlink boxes, select the first box, go back to Insert > Text Box arrow, and choose Break Link. The text will stay in the first box and any overflow will be hidden.
Troubleshooting text boxes
If your text box is not showing up where you expect it, check the Arrange options. Right-click the text box border and look for Wrap Text or Position and Size. Text boxes can be set to wrap around other content or to stay in a fixed position on the page. If it is moving when you do not want it to, set it to Fix Position on Page.
If text is disappearing inside the box, the box may be too small. Click and drag the corner handles to make it larger, or right-click the border and select Format Shape to check the internal margins. You can also reduce the font size of the text itself to make it fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a text box transparent so only the text shows?
Yes. Right-click the text box border, select Format Shape, then go to Fill and choose No Fill. Then go to Line and choose No Line. Now only the text will be visible, with no background or border.
How do I delete a text box?
Click the border of the text box to select it (not the text inside), then press Delete. The entire box and its contents will be removed. If you only want to delete the text inside, click inside the box, select all the text with Ctrl+A, and press Delete — the empty box will remain.
Can I copy a text box and paste it somewhere else in my document?
Yes. Click the text box border to select it, then press Ctrl+C to copy. Click where you want to paste it and press Ctrl+V. The copy will appear, usually slightly offset from the original. You can then move it to the exact spot you want.
What is the difference between a text box and a shape with text inside?
A text box is designed specifically for holding text and is easier to edit. A shape (like a rectangle or circle) can also hold text, but it is meant primarily as a visual element. For most text placement, a text box is the simpler choice.