Want to give your document a polished and professional look? Adding page borders in Word is an easy way to elevate your content visually. Whether you’re working on a school project, formal report, invitation, or certificate, borders help your pages stand out. In this guide, you’ll learn how to add page border in Word across different devices and customize them to suit your needs.
Why Use Page Borders in Word?
Borders aren’t just decorative, they add structure and emphasis. Here’s why you might want to use them:
- 📝 To frame formal reports and documents
- 💌 Create visually appealing invitations or flyers
- 📚 Add a creative flair to school assignments
- 🎁 Design certificates or award pages
- ✍️ Enhance resumes, cover pages, or title pages
Customizing your page borders can also reflect your personal or brand style.
How to Add Page Border in Word (Windows)
To insert a page border in Word on Windows:
- Open your Word document
- Click the Design tab
- Select Page Borders from the Page Background group
- In the Borders and Shading dialog box, go to the Page Border tab
- Choose your preferred border style, color, width, and art design
- Under Apply to, select Whole document or First page only, etc.
- Click OK
🎯 Your document now has a clean, visible border on all selected pages.
How to Add Page Border in Word (macOS)
If you’re using Word on a Mac:
- Open your document
- Click Format in the top menu
- Choose Borders and Shading
- Go to the Page Border tab
- Customize your border using available options
- Click OK
🖥️ You can preview the border placement before applying.
How to Add Page Border in Word Online
Unfortunately, Word Online does not support page borders directly. Here’s a workaround:
- Open Word Online
- Insert a full-page table or shape to act as a border
- Adjust the outline color and width
- Send the shape to the back using Wrap Text > Behind Text
🛠️ For full control, consider downloading the file and editing it in the desktop version.
Customizing Your Page Border
You’re not stuck with just plain lines. Word offers:
- Line styles: dotted, dashed, double, thick
- Colors: full color palette including gradients
- Widths: thin to bold
- Art borders: fun designs like stars, trees, hearts, and more 🎉
Use these settings to match your document’s tone, whether it’s formal or fun.
Adding Borders to Specific Pages Only
To apply a border to a specific page (e.g., title page):
- Insert a section break before and after the page
- Go to Design > Page Borders
- Under Apply to, choose This section
- Click OK
📌 This ensures the border appears only on the chosen page.
Remove or Edit Existing Page Borders
To remove a border:
- Go to Design > Page Borders
- In the dialog box, select None under settings
- Click OK
To edit a border, just return to the Borders and Shading window and adjust the settings.
FAQs: Page Borders in Word
Can I add a page border in Word Online?
Not directly. Use shapes or tables as a workaround, or edit the file in the desktop version of Word.
Why doesn’t my page border appear when printing?
Go to File > Options > Display and make sure Print drawings created in Word is checked.
How can I add a border to only the first page?
Use the Apply to dropdown in the Page Borders settings and choose First page only.
Can I use custom images as page borders?
No, but you can mimic this by inserting images or decorative lines manually.
Are page borders visible on all page layouts?
Borders are visible in Print Layout and when printed, but not in Web Layout.
Do page borders affect text layout?
They don’t interfere with the text unless combined with margins that are too tight.
Conclusion: Use Page Borders in Word for Style and Clarity
Now that you know how to add page border in Word, you can instantly boost the appearance of any document. Whether for school, business, or creative use, borders offer both visual appeal and organizational value. Make your pages look sharp and professional, all with just a few clicks.
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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