How to Change Margin on Google Docs: Page Setup & Ruler

Download Article

Quickly adjust the margins on your Google Doc

Co-authored by Kyle Smith Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: June 22, 2024

Download Article

• Using Page Setup
|
• Using the Ruler
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Changing the margins in Google Docs is quick and easy! Use Page Setup if you want to increase or decrease the margins for the entire document. Or, use the ruler if you just want to change the margins for a portion of the text. This wikiHow shows you how to change the margins on your Google document on your Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Things You Should Know

• Use File > Page setup to change the margins for the whole document.
• Use View > Show ruler to show the ruler.
• Slide the blue triangle in the ruler to change the margin for selected text.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Page Setup

Download Article

1. 1
   Click File. Open Google Docs in your preferred web browser. Then, locate the File tab at the top of your Google Doc. This method will use Page Setup to change the margins for the entire document.
2. 2
   Select Page setup. This option is located near the bottom of the File pop-up menu. A “Page setup” window will appear over your document.
   Advertisement
3. 3
   Type in new margin values. The margins are set to 1 inch by default. Type in new values to change the margins for the entire document.

   • You can set the margin to decimal values to get the exact spacing you need. For example, 0.5 will result in a margin of half an inch.
4. 4
   Click OK. This will confirm the margin settings for your Google Doc. You’re ready to share the Google Doc file with your fellow writers!
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Ruler

Download Article

1. 1
   Show the ruler. If the ruler isn’t already present on your Google Doc, follow these steps:

   • Click View in the top menu bar.
   • Click Show ruler to make the ruler appear.
2. 2
   Select the text you want to change. Using the ruler only changes the margins for the text you’ve selected, not the entire document.

   • Place your cursor in a single line to change just the margins for that line.
   • Highlight multiple lines to change their margins at the same time.
   • Press Ctrl+A (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd+A (macOS) to select everything in the document.
3. 3
   Drag the blue arrow in the ruler. This will change the margin for the selected text.

   • You can also drag the blue rectangle to change the first line indentation of paragraphs.
   • For more Google Docs tips, check out how to add borders and easily move images.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!