If you’re wondering how to format a book in Google Docs, the answer is: Yes, you absolutely can! 📚 Google Docs is a powerful and free word processing tool that offers everything an aspiring or self-published author needs to properly structure, style, and design a book—from chapter headings to consistent margins and even table of contents automation. Whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction, or a guide, formatting your manuscript in Docs is easier than you might think.
Why Format a Book in Google Docs?
Google Docs offers several advantages:
- It’s free and cloud-based.
- Automatic saving and version control.
- Easy collaboration and editing.
- Supports styles, page setup, headers/footers, and more.
Plus, when it’s time to publish, your manuscript can easily be exported to PDF or Word, compatible with platforms like Amazon KDP or Draft2Digital.
Set Up Page Layout for a Book 📄
First things first—adjust the page layout to book-friendly dimensions.
Steps to Follow:
- Go to File > Page setup.
- Set Page Size to:
- 6″ x 9″ (standard paperback) or
- A5 (for smaller books).
- Set Margins:
- Top: 1 inch
- Bottom: 1 inch
- Left: 1.25 inches
- Right: 1 inch
✅ These margins work well for printed books and offer enough space for binding.
Use Proper Paragraph Formatting
Avoid manually hitting the Tab key for indentation. Instead:
- Highlight your text.
- Go to Format > Align & indent > Indentation options.
- Set First line indent to 0.5 inches.
- Ensure Line spacing is set to 1.15 or 1.5 for easy reading.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting 📎
| Action | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Cmd + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | Cmd + U |
| Insert Page Break | Ctrl + Enter | Cmd + Enter |
| Heading Shortcut | Ctrl + Alt + 1/2/3 | Cmd + Option + 1/2/3 |
| Align Center | Ctrl + Shift + E | Cmd + Shift + E |
These shortcuts help you fly through formatting your manuscript without wasting time.
Organizing Chapters with Headings 📚
Use consistent heading styles for each chapter title.
- Go to the toolbar dropdown (default: “Normal text”).
- Select Heading 1 for Chapter titles.
- Use Heading 2 or 3 for subheadings.
📖 This not only keeps things neat, but also makes it possible to generate a table of contents later.
Insert a Table of Contents Automatically 🧭
Once you apply headings:
- Place your cursor where the TOC should appear (usually after title or on a new page).
- Go to Insert > Table of contents.
- Choose a format (with links or plain text).
✅ This updates automatically as you format your document!
Add Page Numbers and Headers/Footers 🔢
Page numbers are a must in any book!
Steps:
- Go to Insert > Page numbers.
- Choose whether you want them at the top or bottom.
- You can also select “Different first page” if needed.
Want to add your book title to the header?
- Go to Insert > Headers & footers
- Type your book title or author name in the header/footer.
Use Section Breaks for Advanced Layouts
If your chapters need to begin on a new page or have different headers:
- Place your cursor before the next chapter.
- Go to Insert > Break > Section break (next page).
This allows you to apply different header/footer formatting per section—perfect for book layouts!
Add a Title Page and Dedication 🎁
- Create a Title Page with centered text, large font, and spacing.
- Insert a Page Break (
Ctrl/Cmd + Enter) after the title to separate the next section. - Add your Acknowledgements or Dedication on the next page.
Include Images or Illustrations 🖼️
Want to insert illustrations or author photos?
- Go to Insert > Image > Upload from computer or Google Drive.
- Adjust size and use Wrap text for layout control.
💡 Tip: Keep image file sizes low for better export and upload speeds.
Spellcheck and Grammar Tools ✏️
Google Docs offers built-in tools for spelling and grammar:
- Go to Tools > Spelling and grammar > Show spelling suggestions.
- Consider using Grammarly or ProWritingAid add-ons for even better control.
Export Your Manuscript
Once your formatting is complete:
- Go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.docx).
📤 These formats are accepted by most publishing platforms including Amazon KDP, Smashwords, and others.
Can I Use Templates to Format a Book in Google Docs?
Absolutely! Google Docs offers basic templates, but you can also find book templates online that are pre-formatted for Google Docs.
Search for:
- “Free book template Google Docs”
- “Google Docs novel manuscript format”
Import, customize, and you’re good to go!
FAQs: How to Format a Book in Google Docs
Can I publish a book directly from Google Docs?
You can’t publish directly, but you can export to PDF or DOCX and upload to KDP or other platforms.
Is Google Docs good for large books (100+ pages)?
Yes! Though for very large files, Google Docs might slow down slightly.
Can I share my book with an editor?
Yes! Click Share, and set permissions for viewing or editing.
Is formatting in Docs accepted by Amazon KDP?
Yes, but export your document as a properly formatted PDF or DOCX before uploading.
How do I make a book cover in Google Docs?
While Docs isn’t ideal for cover design, you can create a simple cover using Drawing or better yet, use Canva and upload separately.
Can I use footnotes or endnotes in Google Docs?
Yes! Use Insert > Footnote to add citations or additional content.
Start Writing and Formatting Your Book Today! 🚀
Formatting your book in Google Docs is a smart, accessible, and professional solution for writers of all levels. From setting margins to styling your chapters and adding a TOC, Docs has you covered from manuscript to publishing-ready format. Whether you’re writing your first novel or a how-to guide, you now know exactly how to format a book in Google Docs—and do it beautifully. ✨
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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