Open the paragraph spacing menu

Double spacing means Word puts extra blank space between each line of text. To set it, you need to reach the paragraph formatting options. The fastest way is to select all your text first — press Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac — then look for the line spacing control.

On the Home tab in the ribbon at the top, find the paragraph section (it's the group with alignment buttons). You'll see a small icon that looks like horizontal lines with arrows pointing up and down. Click the small arrow next to it to open the spacing menu.

If you're using Word on a phone or tablet, tap the Home tab, then the paragraph icon (three horizontal lines), then look for line spacing options in the menu that appears.

Key Takeaways

  • Select all text with Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) before changing spacing so the setting applies to the whole document.
  • The line spacing control sits in the Home tab's paragraph section and shows as stacked horizontal lines with arrows.
  • Click the dropdown arrow next to the line spacing icon and choose 2.0 to double space your document.
  • Double spacing applies only to the paragraphs you select, so selecting all text first prevents having to fix spacing later.
  • You can also set line spacing through Format > Paragraph if the ribbon icon is hard to locate.

Select 2.0 from the dropdown menu

When you click the line spacing dropdown, Word shows you a list of options: 1.0, 1.15, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and sometimes "Line Spacing Options" at the bottom. Click 2.0 to double space your document.

The change happens when ready. Every line in your selected text will now have a blank line's worth of space between it and the next line. If you selected all text before opening the menu, your entire document is now double spaced.

Using the Format menu if the ribbon is hidden

Some versions of Word hide the ribbon by default, or you might have closed it to see more of your document. If you can't find the line spacing icon, use the menu instead. Click Format in the menu bar at the top, then select Paragraph.

A dialog box opens. Look for the Indents & Spacing tab (it's usually already selected). In the spacing section, find the dropdown that says "Line spacing" and change it from "Single" to "Double". Click OK to explore the change.

Changing spacing for only part of your document

You don't have to double space the whole document. If you want double spacing only in certain paragraphs — like the body of an essay but not the title — select only those paragraphs before opening the line spacing menu. Highlight the text you want to change, then follow the same steps: click the line spacing icon and choose 2.0.

This is useful when you have a title, heading, or citation block that looks better single spaced. You can mix spacing styles in one document by selecting and formatting different sections separately.

Checking that the spacing applied correctly

After you set double spacing, scroll through your document to confirm it looks right. The space between lines should be noticeably larger than before. If part of your document is still single spaced, you probably didn't select that section before changing the spacing.

To fix it, select the single-spaced section and repeat the process: open the line spacing menu and choose 2.0. Word applies spacing to whatever text is selected at the time you make the change.

Making double spacing the default for new documents

If you write documents that always need double spacing — like academic papers or formal reports — you can set it as your default. Create a new blank document, select all text (Ctrl+A or Command+A), set the line spacing to 2.0, then save the document as a template.

On Windows, go to File > Save As, change the file type to "Word Template", give it a name, and save it. On Mac, use File > Save, change the file format to "Word Template", and save. Every time you open this template to start a new document, double spacing will already be set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does double spacing make my document longer?

Yes. Double spacing adds blank lines between text, so the same content takes up more pages. A single-spaced five-page document becomes roughly ten pages when double spaced. This is why many schools and publishers require double spacing — it gives readers room to write notes.

Can I undo double spacing if I change my mind?

Yes. Select all your text again (Ctrl+A or Command+A), open the line spacing menu, and choose 1.0 for single spacing. The document returns to its original spacing when ready. You can also press Ctrl+Z (or Command+Z on Mac) right after changing the spacing if you haven't made other changes.

What's the difference between 1.5 and 2.0 spacing?

1.5 spacing puts half a blank line between each line of text, while 2.0 puts a full blank line between each line. 1.5 is a middle ground — more readable than single spacing but not as spread out as double spacing. Some organizations ask for 1.5 when double spacing feels too loose.

Why does my spacing look different than my friend's even though we both chose 2.0?

Font size affects how spacing looks. Larger fonts make the same spacing appear tighter, while smaller fonts make it appear looser. If you and your friend use different font sizes, the visual spacing will differ even though the line spacing setting is identical. The actual measurement between lines is the same.