3 Easy Ways to Adjust the Page Margins in Microsoft Word

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A user-friendly guide to changing a Word document's margins to wide, narrow, and more
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Are you trying to adjust your margins in Microsoft Word? The margins are the empty space between the edge of the page and the contents of the document. Depending on your needs, you can change the margins to become wider, narrower, or a mix of both. You'll be able to select from a few preset options or customize your own. This wikiHow will show you how to fix and change the default 1-inch margins in Microsoft Word using your iPhone, Android, or Windows or Mac computer.

How do you change margins in Word?

On desktop, click "Layout" → "Margins" → select a margin preset. For custom margins, click "Custom Margins…" and enter the values for Top, Left, Bottom, and Right. If you're on mobile, tap "•••" → "Home" → "Layout" → "Margins" → select a preset or "Custom Margins". Enter a new value and tap "Done".

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Applying Preset Margins (Desktop)

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  1. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac . You can also use the web version at https://www.microsoft.com/en/microsoft-365/ . [1]
    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
  2. This will be in the top toolbar, between Design and References .
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  3. You can find this in the upper-left corner of the Layout tab. This looks like a rectangle with blue lining the margins.
    • A pop-up menu will open.
  4. You'll see a list of preset margins: Normal, Narrow, Moderate, Wide, Mirrored, and Office 2003 Default. Click a preset margin to apply it to your document. It should be applied immediately.
    • If you don't like how it looks, you can select Normal again, or press CTRL + Z (Windows) or CMD + Z (Mac) to undo the change.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Creating Custom Margins (Desktop)

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  1. This will be in the top toolbar, between Design and References .
  2. You can find this in the upper-left corner of the Layout tab. This looks like a rectangle with blue lining the margins.
    • A menu will open.
  3. This will be at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
    • A new window will open.
  4. On the desktop application, you'll be able to edit the margin sizes for: Top, Left, Bottom, Right, Gutter, and Gutter Positions. On the web version, you'll only be able to edit the margin sizes for: Top, Left, Bottom, and Right. You'll see a preview of the document layout at the bottom of the window.
    • Click the field and enter your new margin size, or use the up/down arrow to adjust the current margins.
    • For Gutter Positions , select Left or Top .
      • Only adjust the Gutter margin if you intend to use the document in a bound format , like a book or report, and you need space for the binding. In this case, type a number in Gutter that will allow enough room for the binding and use the drop-down to indicate whether the binding will be on the top or on the left.
    • Make sure Apply to is set to Whole document , unless you only want to change the margins from This point forward .
  5. If you want to use this margin for all new documents in Microsoft Word, click Set as default in the bottom-left corner. Click Yes to confirm.
    • When you create a new document, the margins will reflect the change.
  6. The changes will be applied immediately.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using the Mobile App

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  1. Microsoft Word is available for iOS in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store .
    • If you aren't already logged in to your Microsoft account, enter your email address and password to do so now.
  2. Tap a recent project on your homepage, or tap the + tab to create a new one.
  3. This is the "•••" located at the top of your on-screen keyboard. If you don't see your keyboard, tap the document to open it.
    • A new menu will open at the bottom.
  4. This is located at the top of the new menu.
    • A pop-up menu will open.
  5. You can find this between Draw and Review .
  6. This is the first listing in the Layout tab.
  7. You'll see a list of preset margins: Normal, Narrow, Moderate, Wide, and Mirrored. Tap a preset margin to apply it to your document. It should be applied immediately.
    • If you don't like how it looks, you can select Normal again, or pick a new preset.
    • Be sure to save your document when you're finished.
  8. Tap Custom Margins at the bottom of the Margins menu. You'll be able to edit the margin sizes for: Top, Left, Bottom, and Right.
    • Tap a margin to edit it.
    • Tap the backspace button to erase the existing margin.
    • Enter a new margin value.
    • Tap Done in the top-right corner.
    • Tap Margins → Custom Margins to edit another margin.
    • The changes will be applied immediately.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I want the page ruler. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    To get the ruler, go into the View tab (Word 2010 and newer) and select the Ruler checkbox.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 17
  • Question
    Can I ever allow one more letter on a line to finish a long word rather than wrap to the next line?
    Community Answer
    No. The only thing you could possibly do would be to make all the margins wider. Making only one word go to the next line is impossible unless you do the same for all words.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 5
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-margins-in-your-word-document-c95c1ea1-70b1-4dde-a1da-f5aa2042c829

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open a Microsoft Word document.
      2. Click the Layout tab.
      3. Click Margins .
      4. Click Custom Margins... .
      5. Set the margins.
      6. Click the Apply to drop-down.
      7. Select how to apply the margins.
      8. Click OK .

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